Dog locked in hot car!

[Pearlulm]

Okay, I need to vent! At 2:45 today I went over to Costco to pick up my truck (new tires). When I walked in I noticed there was a car in a handicap space with a pekingese locked in the car with only the front two windows cracked about 2 inches. (The weather is about 80 and sunny. ) I parked my truck so I could watch the car. I sat there for about 15 more minutes. I went up to the car and the dog was laying in the back floor panting. I called the police from my cellphone. They said that they would send someone out. Well...I sat there until 3:50 and no patrol car showed up. An old man and lady finally came out with there buggy full! I don't know how long they had been inside but I was there for an hour and five minutes! They loaded there crap in the trunk without even checking the poor dog! I don't know if I am more upset at them or the wonderful Fairfax Co. Police for their non-response!

[shandoggy1]

What is wrong with people! I have called the cops on people before for doing that and I have also told the owners that it is wrong and there dog could die from the car getting to hot inside . Some people have no common sense . Did you say anything to the owners? I would have

[britishbandit]

That's so depressing
I wouldn't even bother with the cops. I'd have the number of the humane society (which I know by heart since volunteering..LOL) or the like handy. They are more likely to come and investigate.

[Pearlulm]

I didn't say anything. I should have but figured they were so stupid that it wouldn't do any good. I was just too upset. I couldn't believe how many people walked by the car...looked in and just kept walking! I am so upset at the police for not doing anything. I pay $5300 a year in property tax on my house and $1000 taxes on my cars. What kind of service do we get for it...nothing! (It's only 1 mile to Costco from the police station!)

[mrsgrubby]

ohhhh, I hate that!!!!

Because I take my dogs to work with me, they sometimes have to sit in the truck. Usually this is not an issue as it is cold here 7 months out of the year, and in the cold months there are lots of blankets in the truck, but in the summer months they either have to wait in the office if I have a meeting, or I leave the truck running with the air conditioning on.

Usually I schedule my meetings like at 7:00am while it is still cool out as well, even if I leave the air on, so the sun doesn't beat on them, and my meetings are never longer than 1 hour.

I am constantly turning down lunch meetings because I don't want the dogs to get hot.


I find it so frustrating that some people don't even think of their dogs getting hot, and some people even leave their little kids in the car and they get hot/sick/die.

How can you not think of that stuff?!?!!?!? I know people get frustrated with me if I turn down a meeting or leave because I am worried about the dogs. But I don't care, when I took them into my family I made a commitment that I would properly care for them!!!

[Pugdawg1]

They keep that up and the dog will be dead by the end of summer.

[Shelties]

This reminds me of when i used to work at a grocery store and i was helping a customer out to her car. Well when i was heading back to the store i heard a yelp and turned to look and sure enough it was a miniature poodle barking his/her head off. If you think 80 is bad try 110 on a summer day!.
This poor dog was being fried alive.

IF people think that dogs cannot get hot in a car, maybe they should sit in the car with no a/c on with an inch of a crack in the windows when it's 80 or even 110 outside!!. I've done it before sitting in a hot car and i know if i get hot i open the car door.

People have no brains sometimes

[ladydog]

i agree!
we usually have to leave my moms dog, spud in the car when he goes with us to my little cuzins baseball games. most of the time hes out but we have to put him up if he tries jumping on the kids up there. we leave the a.c on and\or the windows down while the cool breeze is blowing.

that there makes me think of a woman at wal*mart! she left her 13 mnth old baby and her gsd mix in the car! i noticed them when i was chasing a buggy( my cuz works there) across the parking lot that hed let go and it blew away. well when i pass the car the baby sat in the car crying cause the dog was licking her face! i went in and told my mom and he told mr.e the manager person what ever and he called over the thang and she went outside got her baby out and LEFT the poor dog!!! thats when i ask if shed let the windows down. the police came and i dont know what happened, after she went inside someone else had complaints about it and they called the police.

people are sooooooo careless!

[linnie]

Why didnt you simply break the window I would have and I sure would have said something to the people.
I found 2 bullmastiffs in a terrible condition locked in a car in extreme heat, I called the police, broke into the car and watered the dogs, waited for the woman to come and the police and laid charges.
Poor dogs cant speak up for themselves so someone has to.

[D.Schäferhund]

I was just about to ask, if you are allowed to brake a window here if you see that a lifethreatening condition is up for dogs and who has to pay for the window and the policecall?

[ladydog]

that was one of my questions.

[mulroony]

D. - I think that would depend on where you are at, seeing how a lot of places legally see pets as property w/out the basic rights to life they should have allowed I could see you getting in trouble for it. I would do it in a heart beat if the dog appeared to be in immediate danger.

I saw the opposite today, which I think is almost worse. A lady at the bank left her dog in the car with the windows all the way down. All it takes is one thing to motivate that dog to jump out and it could easily cause an accident that could kill it and possibly other people. Esp since the entire time Shelby was in my car (it was actually quite nice today, and we are only talking 4 minutes) and the dog was freaking out about it. It also would have been terrifying to anyone that is affraid of dogs. Now I wish I had said something to her.

EDIT: Oh yeah D if you ever have to do i and get in trouble, let me know and I will help cover the cost

[D.Schäferhund]

Well I guess I have to find out how this is handled here....
Summer is comming arround....
If I have to pay, I sure will get back to you mulroony ;o)

[linnie]

No I didnt have to pay as it is a crime to leave any live thing unattended in a car. But by laying formal charges she had to pay a fine and could have lost her dogs as well.
But I will confess if I had to pay for the window to save a dogs life I would do it in a heartbeat.
These dogs were drinking their own urine they were in so much distress

[Pearlulm]

I have a friend who is a Farifax Co. police officer (in another district). He stopped by last night to visit and I told him about the dog incident. He told me that the police here do not "like" to answer animal calls! I have put the phone number for the animal shelter in my cellphone so if this ever happens again I will call them!