Dogs left in cars!

If I saw that on a hot day, I would call 911 and if I felt that the dogs lives were in jeopardy, I would break the car window without hesitation.  ( same thing if I saw a child in the same situation. )  Stories like this would be reduced..

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/5016503.html

I usually call AC or the police. Its way to hot to leave a dog in the car with no airconditioning or anything.

We have laws against it, but people do it anyway.  I never hesitate to call animal control or the cops if I think a dog in a car is in danger -heat stroke can happen fast!  If I see where the person went, I might tell a store clerk to make an announcement, but if the owner doesn't show in a few, I call the law on them.  Better than having a dead dog...

my cousin and her mom called AC on someone who stopped at an all you can buffett. they left two little dogs in their van, and we saw pet carriers in the back. true they left the van running, but cars over heat all the time... which is why its not acceptable to leave a child in a car even with the motor running.... when these people parked their car it was in the shade, but ten minutes later, and since the earth DOES actually revolve.... the shade was completely gone.
it took AC a while to show up, but they finally did. my cousin and her mom didnt hang around, but they did go inside to find the owners... after that i have no idea what happened..

...i guess i'm weird because i dont need a law to tell me to do something that seems like common sense... wearing a seat belt, not leaving kids or animals in the car alone, jay walking, running red lights.... stupid laws in my opinion, but they were designed for stupid people.

I have only seen one situation with a dog in a car that I was unhappy about and when I rang dog control. They asked a few questions then to my surprise told me to smash the window and rescue the dog. He was very dehyrdrated by the time I got him out. The owners came back not long after I had got the dog out and gave him a drink. They were shocked and thought I was crazy. They had been gone for 20 mins in the middle of summer I don't think I was mad I was looking out for their dogs welfare! Of course dog control turned up just after they were having a go at me good timing I thought hehe. I felt very akward standing their holding their dog with my tool kit next to me.

I was in another state this past weekend when I went outside the store and heard a dog barking so of course I started looking for it knowing it was in a car. it was about 85 out and I called 911 the cop asked if the windows were cracked! I was so pissed I asked if there were laws in this state which I knew there was and asked him how long he though he could sit in that car with the windows cracked. I waited for them to show up to talk to the owner, I just can't get over people!

Some jerk broke the window of my friend's car back in March when she ran in to drop off a rent check at the leasing office, and then had the balls to scream at her about what a horrible pet owner she was for leaving her dogs in the car.

I definately agree that dogs shouldn't ever be left in the car unattended when it's hot but for the love of little grene apples, COMMON SENSE, PEOPLE.

I was at a Barnes & Noble on a screaming hot day (OK thats pretty much all we have from early June to mid september)  I digress.
anyway someone left a small dog ( by the bark) in a minivan and I told the customer service agent at the store.  Don't know what she said to the owner but they called them to cs. It is against the law here - check out this flyer my spca recommends you hand out
[linkhttp://www.spcawake.org/site/DocServer/Hotcarflyer.pdf?docID=341]http://www.spcawake.org/site/DocServer/Hotcarflyer.pdf?docID=341[/link]

ORIGINAL: Jen D

I was in another state this past weekend when I went outside the stcore and heard a dog barking so of course I started looking for it knowing it was in a car. it was about 85 out and I called 911 the cop asked if the windows were cracked! I was so pissed I asked if there were laws in this state which I knew there was and asked him how long he though he could sit in that car with the windows cracked. I waited for them to show up to talk to the owner, I just can't get over people!

cops hate paper work....

1. There is a dogs in cars law in Maryland (where I work), but I am not sure about Pennsylvania (where I live).
2. If I see a dog in a car I'll time it. For example, I pulled in to Home Depot and saw a dog in a car (summer - heat). So I said to myself, if that dog is still in the car when I come back out (I was running in to get a thing that would take a few minutes), fair enough I'm calling the cops. The dog was still in the car when I came out and I called the police.  Police came - people got in trouble.

It was not by any means the worst case. Once I was having dog play date with a friend on a day so hot we kept calling the dogs inside for breaks. Her yard was up on a slope and backed up to the parking lot of a Red Lobster. Much to our surprise there was a car with two beagles in it! I don't know why people need to bring their dogs to a restaurant and then leave the dogs in the car and go in to eat! Anyway, like I said, it was a hot as heck day. I called the police right away and kept an eye on the beagles until they there. I figured if the dogs stopped panting (they were frantically panting) I was busting a window!

3. Use sense. I know, despite our planning, there is going to be a time you dog is going to be stuck in your car long enough for you to do a thing - whatever. I lock the car with the spare key, leave the engine running and the AC on, and I'm still just running in to get something.

Paula

more than once i've went up to the service desk, manager, whatever and have had them page over the intercom. I had to leave Kaiser in my car the other day for about 5 minutes while i paid my sears card bill, but i left it running with the extra set in it and AC on high...not that hard!

ORIGINAL: RidgebackGermansShep

more than once i've went up to the service desk, manager, whatever and have had them page over the intercom. I had to leave Kaiser in my car the other day for about 5 minutes while i paid my sears card bill, but i left it running with the extra set in it and AC on high...not that hard!

 
 
I try to always plan ahead,  but once i had to leave them on a warm day for 5 mins, I did exactly this, I took the extra set of keys and left the car running with the air on.  Not the best thing, but certainly better than the alternative.  I do make a rule of NEVER leaving them in the car if I cannot see the car from inside the store, no matter what temp it is ouside.  Call me crazy, but Im too scared someone will steal them from the car.

Just a word of warning, in some cities/states, it is illegal to leave a car running. Houston is that way. They passed a law in the city due to the number of cars being stolen that were left running with kids/dogs in them. Talk about give you a heartattack when the cop walks in and ask to speak with you. Ugh!

ORIGINAL: Jen D

What are some of the things you have done or someone you know when you see a dog left in a hot car? Do they have laws in the states you live in to protect them and does the authorities care in your area?

I leave my boy in the car all the time.  Though the car is on and the a/c is running full blast.  Heck it's usually about 30 degrees cooler inside than out.