Dogs in hot cars - dial 101

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Lunchbox legend

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It never ends does it? There's always some selfish idiot who'll leave their dog/s in the car on a sunny day. I've just seen 2 GSD sized dogs in an estate car with, staggeringly, not one single window open (the sun is out around here today and I know from how hot the inside of my car was, that it would have been horrible for them) :( . It beggers belief! I just don't get it :confused: .

It took me at least 10 mins to find a pen so I could leave a note under the windscreen wiper to let them know what I thought and that I'd reported them, so it's a fair bet those poor dogs were in that car at least 15 minutes already.

Anyway, the point of my rant is to pass on the police phone number 101 just in case there's anyone who doesn't know it, so the police can then contact the RSPCA.
 
I think the weather we've had lately had lulled people into a false sense of security. Even on an overcast rainy day the temperatures inside a car can soar, it's so bloody muggy at the moment.

Mine spend a lot of time in the car but there's endless options of car crates and tailgate guards so that the car can be left open safely (dogs travelling unrestrained in cars is another bugbear of mine).
 
No excuse I agree I have never left my dogs in a car on their own. There is no need for it. Also if they are in a car in crates they don't have room to get up and move around if they are hot. It's simple don't leave your dog in the car.
 
Kaylum said:
No excuse I agree I have never left my dogs in a car on their own. There is no need for it.
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To be fair, there is often a need for it. I have to leave my dog in the car alone when we are at flyball competitions and I have to go and help in the ring. My dog is left in his travel crate in the boot but I leave windows open, use a ventlock and make sure the car is as shaded as possible.
 
Likewise, my dog comes pretty much everywhere with me when I am not at work and have left him in his crate, he overnights in the vehicle frequently, he has plenty of shade, ventilation and water and he has not carked it yet....while I agree the original post is not ideal there is also a lot of hysteria about dogs being left in cars. How on earth would people take part in dog sports, use dogs in work or service, or travel their dogs if they did not have to leave them in vehicles if even for very short amounts of time.
 
This weather is really scary though.

I popped into the supermarket this morning at 8.45 am, rain pouring, very dark skies all around.

Met a friend, had a coffee and came back to the car at 9.10 am. Bright, sunny day and getting warm.

Dog was fine, but I wouldn't have left them in the car in the weather I returned to (though that is being very conservative), just in case.

Half an hour later (whilst walking said dog), back to dark skies and heavy rain and we got soaked!
 
It's cruel to leave dogs in cars on warm days. Your dog will be better off safely at home (even if he suffers from separation anxiety) rather than being forced into this risky situation.

On hot days, it doesn't make much of a difference to leave windows open and to put water down.

http://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/faq/-/question/ENQCADDogsInHotCars

"When it is just 22°C (72°F) outside, the temperature inside a car can soar to 47°C (117°F) or even higher. For this reason, the RSPCA advises that animals are never left inside cars."

I once returned to my car in a car park. It was a hot summer day, with no breeze at all. The idiot car owners who parked directly next to me, have decided that it's fine to leave their dog in the car while they go and do shopping. I decided that I'm going to stay inside my car until they return - with all my windows shut too - and then to explain to them how I felt in my hot car and what I thought about their treatment of their dog. Within a few minutes I was bright red in the face, had sweat absolutely pouring down my face, and I started to feel very light-headed and really unwell. A traffic warden did his rounds and stopped at my car and looked really shocked when he saw me, and asked me if I was OK. I must have looked even worse than I felt! After explaining the whole situation, he said that he would stay with the dog and report it to the RSPCA.

Don't do it!!
 
Don't know where you live but where I am sunny it is not!!! lol!

Harley does spend a fair amount of time in the car, but generally it will be the yard/where I am teaching and I can keep an eye on him and the weather and take whatever action is necessary. Although I will pop into he garage shop to get milk on the way back from the yard.

If it is sunny he won't be in the car. The way some peoples lives work mean that it is a nicer life for the dog to be out and about with them having fun. Short bursts of time in a cool car is hardly a crime!
 
I think we need to differentiate between dogs left in a sealed car, or with the windows cracked open and a token bowl of water - totally unacceptable and something that will catch people out in such changeable weather - and dogs in a car with a tailgate or crate, boot lid left open, or specially designed vans for working dogs which are crated out and can be left entirely open, usually with roof vents as well.

I took the rear seats out of my car in order to fit a big crate in; with windows and tailgate open it's basically a big travelling kennel. They come everywhere with me, get to do exciting stuff and then flake out in their crate. Could do with being a bit bigger for overnighting but we make do (they end up in the tent with me :o).
 
Just had a look at the link for the advice given by the RSPCA and they say to dail 999. This made me think whether I'd actually make a 999 call for a dog or would I call 101 as the OP recommends.

In the past I've always found the owner pretty quickly, but if I couldn't and the situation was critical, I think I'd break the window and get the dog out after dialling 101.
 
Agree with BC - dog does not have separation anxiety, he just likes to be out and about and stimulated rather than shut up at home, if I pop to the shop for a packet of crisps he will come with me :p I am not cruel, my vehicle choice and the fact that I will probably never be able to sell it on now :p was entirely based around the dog, who has travelled and will continue to travel all over the country with me.
 
Nowt wrong with your vehicle choice CC, my 18 year old son thinks they are cool and keeps borrowing mine.:p I am awaiting delivery of a tailgate guard and then my dogs will be coming around more with me. There is a big difference between cars kitted out for carrying dogs and a normal vehicle. We used to go to a big agility competition in Jersey, around 30 exhibitors from the mainland, the show was 3 days then we would spend rest of week on beaches. It was a sight to see, all these vehicles, tailgates up,vehicles sheeted, windows open, roof fans going etc, on the beach car parks. We used to have a rota for checking on the dogs so they were never left for longer than 10 minutes.
 
I have been looking at a lot of crate porn of late as I will hopefully have a new car before winter. There's actually a Facebook group called 'Pimp My Van' dedicated to van mods and caging for husky racing people. :o

Agree nothing wrong with vehicle choice, if I wait a bit longer I may scrape enough together for an old Skoda estate, currently looking at older models of Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. Either can be pimped with a tailgate guard and a roof rack for the rig which is arriving next month. :)

The guy who is making my rig does van caging in custom colours, you can have hot pink, sparkly purple etc. if you want it. :p

One of mine does have separation anxiety but is crate trained (or car trained?) to an extent that whenever she enters the car she just switches off and is totally content no matter what is going on outside or where I go which is very useful.
 
As a further explanation to my earlier reply - when I said that IMO it's cruel to leave dogs in hot cars, I was referring to them being left in there unattended for longer periods of time, when the temperature inside just increase by the minute and when the owners are oblivious to it all. Obviously it's a different scenario if you check on your dog regularly to make sure that he's fine, which all of us as responsible dog owners do :)

I'm not sure if it's appropriate to dial 999 in all cases. I think the RSPCA advise this as according to the Animal Welfare Act you have a legal duty to care for your animals, and they would like to see people prosecuted if they put their animal at risk.

Here's another link:

http://www.dogstodaymagazine.co.uk/dontcookyourdog/firstaid.htm

I'd probably call a non-emergency police number or the RSPCA if I come across a suffering dog again, unless the dog is nearly dying of heatstroke and it would save his life to do something about it immediately.

Before smashing someone's windows in though, just be aware of the following (copied from the website as in the link above):

"There has been much debate online as to what to do if no one comes in time and the clock is ticking. Consensus is to try to take photos/video of the scene, using your phone. If you decide things are serious and you need to break in to release the dog try to make sure you record what you are doing and to protect yourself from accusations of criminal damage. Certainly advise the police of your intention to do this, so they are aware."
 
That's alright then. :) Though with the price of tailgate wotsits it probably would work out cheaper to buy one complete!

Would kill for a Skoda Yeti. :o
 
blackcob said:
I think we need to differentiate between dogs left in a sealed car, or with the windows cracked open and a token bowl of water - totally unacceptable and something that will catch people out in such changeable weather - and dogs in a car with a tailgate or crate, boot lid left open, or specially designed vans for working dogs which are crated out and can be left entirely open, usually with roof vents as well.

I took the rear seats out of my car in order to fit a big crate in; with windows and tailgate open it's basically a big travelling kennel. They come everywhere with me, get to do exciting stuff and then flake out in their crate. Could do with being a bit bigger for overnighting but we make do (they end up in the tent with me :o).
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Spot on:)
 
I remember the days of cute little hot hatches and clean seats..... Stares into space wistfully.

Now I have Cheerios (and worse) down the seats (kids) and crates in the back. It gets a full valet when serviced and you should see the face of the poor apprentice they give that job to!




I am not arguing the "don't leave dogs in cars on warm days" message at all. I'm just pointing out that you can leave a car on a cold day and find at it is a warm day on your return, at the moment.
 
GRRRRRRRRRRR - makes me so mad. Why do people not get the message.

We have a big Sprinter all caged out, no windows, double fans etc (but no ridiculous sign writing all over it!!) which is the norm. This keeps it as cool as possible. However, on a hot day the dogs would never be in there, let alone left in there.

It's frightening how quickly a car heats up in the sun. It's effectively a greenhouse. I too have sat in a car when it's been sunny (unplanned, I was on the phone) and within about 3 minutes I was very uncomfortable. Dogs can't cool down very effectively anyway so they are worse off than us.
 
suzysparkle said:
GRRRRRRRRRRR - makes me so mad. Why do people not get the message.

We have a big Sprinter all caged out, no windows, double fans etc (but no ridiculous sign writing all over it!!) which is the norm. This keeps it as cool as possible. However, on a hot day the dogs would never be in there, let alone left in there.

It's frightening how quickly a car heats up in the sun. It's effectively a greenhouse. I too have sat in a car when it's been sunny (unplanned, I was on the phone) and within about 3 minutes I was very uncomfortable. Dogs can't cool down very effectively anyway so they are worse off than us.
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Agree And don't forget if we were wearing fur coats we would be able to take them off. What's tolerable for a human is not for an animal.
 
It is quite difficult sometimes, especially at the moment. There's a whole bunch of ways to keep dogs cool in cars depending on the vehicle and location. If only some people would think about it. Most of us do take care, thank dog.

I've always taken my dogs with me to as many places as possible, which means them spending time in the car. One of my cars had a sunroof, so I left the sunroof open enough not to let burglers in and stood a fishing umbrella in through the roof to make shade. Sometimes a sheet would be draped from the umbrella over the windscreen. Other windows open with window guards, water in each cage and car not left for very long - or not left at all in many situations.

The best car I had was a Peugeot Partner, which could open all 4 doors and the rear door - could leave them while at dog shows very happily :).

Other times I've left a couple of fans on in the car (both dogs were in their cages so couldn't get to the fans). Fortunately, we don't get too many of those kinds of days in this country :rolleyes: ;) but sometimes you simply DON'T take the dogs as it's just too hot.

It's just a case of common sense really.
 
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