OMD, how awful. I saw something on the news the other day about a woman who smashed a car window to save a dog, but I didn't see what consequences she faced. It made me wonder what I would do in the same situation. I'm like you - I hate confrontation! Luckily where we live it tends to rarely get that hot, so I've never been in the situation of seeing a distressed dog in a hot car.

Hopefully the owner came out in time, found the dog passed out and not only was able to save it - but learned their damn lesson!! I don't understand how people do that... I'm sure they think "oh I'll just be a sec." Ugh. So awful.

Last week I encountered a similar situation in a parking lot. I watched the dog for a few minutes and when it became clear that the yapping, circling and panting were not stopping, I did call 911. Thankfully I had my phone that day though sometimes I forget it. I told the 911 person I wasn't sure if it was a 911-type call but it might be life or death for the dog. She transferred me to the local police department and I gave them details. They said they would have their closest officer come.

I did not stay to make sure because I live in a part of the country that takes this kind of thing very seriously. We are lucky that way. But I do feel for you. It's very hard to know how far you can go, and largely it's because the rules aren't clear. If someone would print an article in the paper that said "here's what you can legally do when you see a dog locked in a hot car," then you'd know.

Once I got home, I checked our thermometer. It was 93. I found an online calculator that showed how many minutes it takes in different temps for the internal car temp to get to lethal for a dog. But windows matter. Some are down 2 inches, some are down 4 inches, etc. So that's confusing, too. 

Happily, about a month ago I watched an animal control officer put her ticket book away in a parking lot when a family came to their car. Instead of writing them up, she opted to take their good attitude (I was parked next to them and heard it all) and educate them. I think that's one family that will leave the dog home next time.

Shari

I live in phoenix and you would be surprised who people leave in cars around here - dogs, kids & elderly to name a few. We were eating somewhere and i realized there was a dog in a car - windows were mostly rolled down - but it is 115 and 4pm. So I looked and try to determine my next step - while my husband sat and wondered- gracious what is my wife going to do:) This place had windows all around - so I went out there and went to the back of the car and started to take a pic of the license plate and then dog- sure enough here comes the owner- looking at me and not a word was said between us.

I just cannot believe people are not conscious of the fact (or don't care) how hot, uncomfortable, or deadly a car is in the summer to a dog. Even me, when I get in my car and it is 100 degrees, I feel like I can't even breathe. I cannot imagine being TRAPPED in that hot car, even for 5 or 10 minutes. I think if someone does this, they should have their dog taken away and the law should have a ZERO tolerance policy. I think there is enough education about it out there and it should just be common sense in my opinion. It is not rocket science to know that animals and babies will die quickly if left to bake in a hot car. I included a picture of Cadence from this past weekend, fresh from the groomer saving big money at Menards. 

There was NO way I was leaving her in the car and I had to make this stop on the way back home. So there was no other alternative but to take her in. I just walk in like I own the place and I have never had any trouble. She has been in Menards, Lowe's, and Home Depot. I have had some looks but no one has said a peep. If they do, I will say, why don't you go sit in your car with your windows cracked and see how you feel after 10 minutes. Of course if I had a choice I would take her home first, and then go back but in this case, I didn't have that choice. --Cadence's Mom

jerry said
Good for you Heather. Our philosophy is, we will push the envelope and take our Wyatt into any stores as long as they don't have a "No Dogs" sign out front. 

People ask all the time if Chloe is a therapy dog when she walks around in her red ruffwear harness .  Pretty sure I could also 'push the envelope' if I needed to

-Chloe's mom

I was in Whole Foods in Houston several years ago and there was a BABY in the car, engine off, windows up, probably 95 outside.  Went into Whole Foods to have them page the customer to return the car-- just like Fedex-- they wouldn't do a thing (company policy).  Long story short, 20 minutes later, large crowd gathered, Whole Foods still refusing to page the person-- fire dept came and took the baby out of the car.  Crazy.

The OKC zoo (a fabulous zoo-- one of the best in the country) has a great idea-- huge signs as you go in asking if you've forgotten something in your car-- then tells you how deadly hot cars are for pets and directs visitors to their pet playroom where pets can stay while their owners visit zoo.

OK Scout said
 Long story short, 20 minutes later, large crowd gathered, Whole Foods still refusing to page the person-- fire dept came and took the baby out of the car. 

 

Dumb with a capital D!!!!! Whole Food should be FINED for the cost of the time/money that was spent (And in my opinion, for just being stupid) for causing a fire truck to be dispatched when they could have easily paged the mother/father or caregiver and told them that their baby was still in the car. Not the mention the TIME that was wasted refusing to page the person and waiting for the firetruck which could have meant life or death for the baby trapped. Has our society just gone stupid? I would have busted the car windows in and dared them to sue me.