Heat Warning: Please do not leave your dogs in your car!

BadCat! Jul 22, 2014 8 Comments

Yes, even though it’s Duluth, summer is way too hot to leave your dog inside a car, windows cracked or not! Yesterday, I encountered a women at Home Depot who was a few minutes from having her windows smashed to rescue her dog.

Even if you don’t have dogs (or are a responsible owner and already know that you shouldn’t leave your dog in the car), please be aware of other cars in parking lots. If you see a dog in distress, you can call the police/animal control, or contact the store to have the vehicle owner paged. Please do not assume the owner will be out in time – death can occur within minutes!

And true, the thoughtful dog owner may thank you for your concern for their animal by denying the danger of hot cars and flicking you off, but at least you may have helped the save the dog’s life by getting their ungrateful asshole owner called out of the store. 🙂

How Hot Does it Get in a Parked Car Dr Ernie Ward

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8 Comments

Dorkus

about 10 years ago 

You should have simply called the police. 

But then again, that would likely have resulted in the dog sitting in the car for longer than it did on this occasion. 

I would have liked you to break the window, so I could see the dashcam video of the aftermath on DNT.

BadCat!

about 10 years ago 

The dog was agitated, but not yet showing signs of heat stroke, so I gave her a few minutes to get to her car. Had the dog been having immediate health problems, I would have brought friendly Mr. Tire Iron on to the scene.

Dawn Marie

about 10 years ago 

Honest question.  I would like to hear someone from Law Enforcement chime in as to what would happen if a person did smash a car window if the dog was showing obvious signs of distress and health problems. I understand it's vandalism or whatever the correct term would be, but if the alternative was the death of the dog (and again it was obvious the dog was having health problems), what would happen to the window smasher? We all know that some things take precedence over others when it comes to law enforcement, so if they are tied up with a major problem and cannot spare an officer, do we let the dog die or do we smash the window and suffer the consequences later?

jen

about 10 years ago 

Despite observant animal lovers, some pets die due to owner negligence or preventable accidents. This can be in a car, house, backyard, busy street, or anywhere else pets are allowed. However, until it becomes a crime in Minnesota to leave an animal in a car, I don't think it's appropriate for people to call the authorities simpy because an animal is in a car. There are exceptions if the animal is in distress or their health may be in danger, but absent an immediate threat, if you are concerned, you should either investigate more (look for a sign in the car indicating the pet owners name/number, and consider opening the car door to see if it is unlocked if the animal doesn't look dangerous). I leave a sign in my car when I leave my dog in it now because I have had the cops called on me in Two Harbors last summer-- with an undistressed sleeping dog, windows down half way, doors unlocked, internal car temp in 80s, and a full water dish. Yes -- it's illegal to leave a pet in a car in some states like Florida, but until laws change up here, think before just calling the cops -- they may have more important things to attend to than a safe, healthy animal and an overreacting concerned citizen.

BadCat!

about 10 years ago 

If an animal is in a car, it doesn't automatically make it a dangerous situation. However, Monday was very hot and humid - dangerous weather to be stuck inside of a dark vehicle for an extended period of time.

Dawn Marie

about 10 years ago 

I should have specified that I would never call in just because I saw a dog in a car, there would be more to the circumstances first. I take mine everywhere possible in the car, (while always practicing good pet ownership by not cooking her in it - obviously).  

I'm more of a "what if" person.  What if the windows and doors were shut and locked, the dog was very obviously suffering, the business paged the owner and they didn't show up.  What if law enforcement was called and after 15-20 minutes they too had not shown up and now the dog's looking like it's done for, so someone breaks the window. That is what I'm curious to hear the opinion on from law enforcement and what would happen to the window breaker.    

I like the sign idea, Jen, I am going to have to make one for myself. We do have one for our RV that goes on the door and says there is a dog inside and lists my name and phone # in case there is an emergency (like a fire - my worst RV nightmare!).

Special K

about 10 years ago 

Just keep one of these handy devices on your keychain and be discreet (compared to a tire iron) about dog rescuing/delivering sweet karmic retribution.

Swiss+Tech ST81010 BodyGard PTX KeyChain Window-Punch with LED Flashlight and Seatbelt Cutter

BadCat!

about 10 years ago 

In related news, there was a similar situation at Gordy's Hi-Hat, but the dogs were in distress. A customer asked to use their phone to call 911 and the business refused. They were able to get someone with a cell phone to call the police and the dogs were released from the car.

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