Dogs in cars

Re: Dogs in cars

Sal the 1st — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:48:23 GMT

[quote user="Bizzy McClure SVN"]

I wonder if you would get in trouble for smashing a car window to get a dog out if it was visably suffering from the heat? I wouldn't hesitate but i'd be interested to know what I would be charged with?

[/quote]

criminal damage - thats what I was threatened with, charges were dropped as the dog died (police had been contacted prior to me breaking a window and repeated urgent requests had been made over the garden centre tannoy for the owner to return to their vehicle as their dog was in severe difficulties)

Re: Dogs in cars

Gemma Morley — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:18:09 GMT

It's certainly interesting reading all your experiences.... there're certainly some whacky people out there!!!

I, like most people, alsoleve my dogs in the car for some reason or another, and for varying lengths of time... the main reason I don't take them as often as I otherwise would, is that I have an opionated little mdam who hs to bark t pretty much *everything*!!

But I go camping fairly regularly (as does my friend who triggered my original post), and my dogs would rather be in the car than not when we're sat around the campsite - so much so, they do *ask* to get in sometimes! - that said, they are usually on a tie-out line attatchd to the car with the tailgate wide open so they can get in & out, but they choose to be in.

And yes, I agree, it's better to have someone question whether or not it's right, rather than not care, but they don't necessarily hve to go around accusing and judging us (as dog owners) when our dogs are obviously perfectly happy and safe where they are! :-)

I will now step down from my soap box! :-)

Thanks for all your replies and views

Re: Dogs in cars

Louise B — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 11:44:36 GMT

Mine are kept in my car all day while I am at work - all year round without any problems whatsoever.

I have a barjo dog cage (the ones with the sloping side designed for car use) so I can leave the boot of my car wide open and padlock my dogs in. It was custom-made for my model of car so it wasn't cheap (c£600 new - I got mine off ebay though) and is heavy duty so I can leave my car open anywhere and feel confident my dogs aren't going to get stolen. I can honestly say that in 10 years I have never had a problem with my dogs overheating - they are checked on regularly and are always fast asleep or looking chilled.

I do get quite a bit of opposition on occasion though from people who feel strongly that dogs should not be left in cars, including, one on occasion somebody calling the police as they thought the dogs had been abandoned as I was parked on a main road. TBH this drives me absolutely insane but I keep my cool as I think I would rather have opinionated busy bodies who mean well than people who couldn't careless about animal welfare. However, IMO my dogs' welfare is best served by being in the car (when the choice is between being left at home all day with no attention or being in my car with regular checks/walks throughout the day). One of mine has severe separation anxiety and I wouldn't come home to a house if I left him home alone but, after considerable training, he can be successfully left in a car and I know that a) he's happy/not distressed, and b) my car won't get wrecked. I cannot say the same on either account if I left him at home.

Re: Dogs in cars

zalenski81 — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:12:03 GMT

[quote user="Calli D"]

But when I think back to what happened to the police officer last year (or was it the year before?) who's two police dogs died in the car whilst he popped into the station - it can happen to anyone when you least expect it ... it has certainly made me more cautious.

[/quote]

He didn't just pop in though did he? He forgot about them and went and did paper work and had a meeting, I think all in all he was gone for about 2 hours so probably shouldn't feel too guilty about nipping in to a shop tbh.

Re: Dogs in cars

Calli D — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:23:21 GMT

Definitely sounded like a screw or two had gone awol somewhere there. Some people were just born to complain and cause problems. I'd be lying if I said that I had never left my dog in the car whilst I popped into a shop or nipped into a friends house quickly - but never if it was a hot day. I've got a car fan but its pants so not much good there and Its just not safe to leave windows open when parking in public round here. But when I think back to what happened to the police officer last year (or was it the year before?) who's two police dogs died in the car whilst he popped into the station - it can happen to anyone when you least expect it ... it has certainly made me more cautious.

It has also saved me loads of money too ... as I have a new puppy now and I have not left her alone for more than 3-4 hrs yet, so I can't really go for those long aimless wanderings around the highstreet or local shopping centres. Can't wait for my mum to visit then she can puppy sit for a day too

Re: Dogs in cars

Rachel Jayne — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:28:15 GMT

I got attacked by my cousin's crazy neighbour once for leaving my dog in the car round the back of her house (my cousin is petrified of dogs & had just moved into a newly decorated rented cottage where animals aren't allowed).

Granted it was for about an hour and a half, but all the windows were open & we'd been to flyball for 2 hours beforehand, so I was pretty sure he was gonna just sleep.

The woman actually came to knock on my cousin's door to ask about it & then set about attacking me telling me what an irresponsible owner I was leaving him out there like that, claiming that he'd been whining in distress for the whole time (not that I could hear him- funny that..) and barking when she went out to look. Well yes of course he's gonna bark if you're pacing my car - stupid woman.

We ended up having a massive row on the communal driveway round the back of the houses, she was harping on about "I work for animal charities you know & I know this is neglect.." (turns out she volunteers for cat protection fostering cats!), kept threatening to call the RSPCA out, until I explained that I know they wouldn't come out & even if they did, owing to my job, I know the inspectors in the area, so if they did turn up, it would more likely be a case of "Oh Hi, haven't seen you in a while, chat", not the spectacular show-down & me getting cautioned or something like she was obviously winding up in her head!

She said she was "disgusted" that someone like me was an RVN & that I should lose my job/be struck off for what I'd done..... Cheeky b****h!

My cousin is quite a meek & mild, gentle kinda person, so kinda stood there the whole time not quite knowing what to say, but agreed (being a GP) that the woman was probably had a few screws loose.

Needless to say, I ended up leaving quite soon after that & the woman retreated back to her garden mumbling to herself about my "poor dog"...

Re: Dogs in cars

Calli D — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:13:01 GMT

Thats a good thing today, but like you I would probably want to call the police first so have some back up if the owner got funny with me.

The worst I saw was a couple years back in an ADSA car park where an Akita was sharing the boot with a ton of other junk. No windows open, nothing. There were a few complaints and a tannoy message went out for the owner of the car. They can be reported and ultimately prosecuted if it came to it but I don't know what the outcome of this case was. If no-one came forward I am pretty sure the staff would have smashed the window to get him out. what do you do if the dog is aggressive? but I guess by in hindsight by the time it has got to the stage where you feel the need to smash the window it wouldn't be in much of a fit state to be aggressive.

My dad always says, if you are not going to take your dog out, leave it at home.

Re: Dogs in cars

Gemma Morley — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:18:29 GMT

We were informed, by the police, last week that actually *anyone* can put a car window in if there is a dog/animal in distress in that car... tho, if it were me I may just ring the local police to say what I was about to do just in case there were any come back from it!!!! :-)

Re: Dogs in cars

zalenski81 — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:13:39 GMT

[quote user="Leanne Guest RVN MBVNA"]

[quote user="Bizzy McClure SVN"]

[/quote]

I have heard cases of the police actively doing the above so I would hope you wouldnt be charged with anything!!

[/quote]

I have actually called the police once before about a woman leaving her dog in the car with no windows open on a hot day and they were about to come out when the woman came back and was really surprised when I told her that her dog could die. Idiot!

Re: Dogs in cars

Sally Howe — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:01:57 GMT

At the dog shows they give 3 tannoy warnings then they smash the window provided dog is not in a state. If in a state they will smash your window. They are getting more stringent now and it is written into the rules within the schedules

Re: Dogs in cars

Leanne Tyreman-Guest — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:56:14 GMT

[quote user="Bizzy McClure SVN"]

[/quote]

I have heard cases of the police actively doing the above so I would hope you wouldnt be charged with anything!!

Re: Dogs in cars

Honeybadger — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:13:19 GMT

Re: Dogs in cars

zalenski81 — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:37:04 GMT

My dog is always in the car because thats where he likes to be. I obviously leave all the windows open in shade etc if it's hot but he loves it in the car. If I try to put him in a kennel he goes mental! Sometimes I feel really bad but if that's what he likes whats a girl to do?

Re: Dogs in cars

Gemma Morley — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:29:03 GMT

Thanks for your thoughts, I'm thinking my friend has a 'Special' kinda boss!!! :-)

Re: Dogs in cars

Phrin Vernon RVN — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:44:29 GMT

My Pooch trashes the house if left alonein the house, so I usually either leave her in the car (with water, shading, windows open & regular checks) for shopping, visiting non-doggy people etc, or if off out for the day/ more than a couple of hours or so, or a hot day, leave her in a kennel at work.

One of our LA vets has a 'car dog' - pooch travels to all his farm calls with him etc, but when said vet is on ops or consults, pooch stays in the car, in all weathers, with regular checks and no ill effects.

He has locked the vet out of his car a few times though.....I know I shouldn't laugh but it was funny watching the vet trying to pry open the window with some obscure piece of LA equipment, which got bent to bits, while the wee pooch just sat 'laughing' at him

PS - despite being a house trasher, if in kennels or the car my pooch is fine, and just sleeps! Odd creature!

Re: Dogs in cars

Stella Skelton RVN — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:39:57 GMT

i honestly don't think it's actually illegal...just insensible on obvious days for obvious reasons...we've actually had a few heatstroke cases this year...the last dog wasn't actually in a car but died... :o(

Re: Dogs in cars

Vicky RVN — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:29:45 GMT

I haven't heard that before. When it's not hot i will leave Jack in the boot for 10min while i pop into a shop occasionally. I don't see why they wouldn't allow that.

Re: Dogs in cars

Steph Phillips — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:28:47 GMT

The only time I leave Jess in hte car is during the school run! I take her to work everyday, but first take my son to school - and as dogs are not allowed on school grounds, she stays in the car (window down obviously) .. she is in the car for about 5mins max!

[quote user="Gemma Morley"]boss is saying it is actually illegal to leave any dog in any car for any length of time! - I can't find any evidence to confirm this tho'[/quote]

I can't either!