[Fanackapan]

It appears that it will be a pretty widespread heat wave in the UK for the next week at least, must say I am happy about that.
However, I am not happy with the warnings that the likes of SSPCA. Dogs Trust etc are having to put out in the media, advising against leaving dogs in hot cars. Not unhappy with the warnings BUT at the need for them time and again. Just what is wrong with these dog owners that think its ok to leave the dog in a vehicle unattended while they shop, have lunch etc, if you can't take your dog with you everywhere , then leave it at home where it will be comfortable and able to get a drink.
What course of action do other forum members take if they see a dog in this situation may I ask ?

[doganjo]

I agree.  Inevitably there is at least one call at Championship dog shows for owners to return to their cars where a dog is in distress.  I just don't understand leaving a dog when there is benching on site under canvas or in a  hall.  Car parks are now regularly policed and if the owner isn't quick enough his car gets broken in to and the dog removed and treated as required.

I would make it mandatory fro Supermarkets to have such policing too.  If a car next to where I'd parked had a dog in distress I'd get the management out and if they refused to do anything I'd bash a window in.  I hope I never have to do it.

[happygolucky]

I had that a few years back, I saw a car parked opposite with a big dog in the back, it looked uncomfortable so I went to look for the owner, they were visiting a relative but we were all franticly trying to find the owner in the shop, hairdressers etc, the next step was breaking the door open but thankfully it did not come to that.  I love taking mine everywhere but not in the heat...they can sunbath in the garden where they also find shade!!

[xnbacon]

I've always felt my dogs preferred to come out and sit in the car and wait for us rather than be left at home.  Obviously one does need to use a bit of common sense with regard to weather and length of time!
I'm not sure about all this policing business though, definitely some people do seem to lack common sense also accidents do (genuinely) happen.  BUT it does become very subjective especially with regard to animals with different factions inflicting their differing views on each other.  For instance, I would (and do) happily leave the dog in the car whilst I pay a short (5 mins) visit to my relative (on a cool day), passing stranger calls in and gives said relative a mouthful of abuse.  Not nice.  Again common sense needs to be used
 

[doganjo]

I would (and do) happily leave the dog in the car whilst I pay a short (5 mins) visit to my relative (on a cool day), passing stranger calls in and gives said relative a mouthful of abuse.  Not nice.  Again common sense needs to be used
 

I agree that is uncalled for. I have no problem with leaving dogs on a cool day - but for instance today it has alternated in my car between 14 and 20 degrees - I took my dogs out in teh morning when it was cooler, was going to stop in fro groceries on the way home but decided to take them home first because the temperature had climbed rapidly - just a break in the clouds can do it. A dog can die in a hot car in 10 minutes!

[Fanackapan]

The question was more related to the upcoming heatwave that is predicted, rather than in general. I would be two faced to say my dogs don't get left in the car when I pop into the Co op on the way home from taking them to their favourite walkies because they do...................in the average climate here but as soon as it rises, they are taken home first..

[Beewyched]

Our dogs frequently come out in the car with us - & yes, we sometimes leave them in the car for a short time with the windows open, in the shade, bowl of water etc.
They always come with us to check the pigs twice a day & have a gallop around the fields while were spot checking everyone.  This includes a 4 mile car trip, but ... given the news of the expected heat-wave we'll probably leave them at home in the cool.
To specifically answer the post though - we'd probably try & find the owner, phone the police & last resort smash a window to get the dog out.  TBH if it was the other way round (hope I'd never leave ours in that situation, but then I could get run over crossing the road) I would rather have a smashed window than any of our dogs suffer like that.

[Alistair]

I'm stupendously busy!

Love it

50% off for any TAS members in the nw who can be arsed to get to me

I shaved my collies today ( just their bellies ) so theyve got something cool to lye on

Oh and I don't lea fe the dogs in the. Van, I've got a gazebo thing and tie out stakes

[Old Shep]

A trip to an agility show will demonstrate all ways of keeping dogs cool!  ON hot days it looks like some sort of Bedouin camp with sheets draped all over the cars!  All car doors are left open - and thank fully a very trustworthy community means you don't have to worry about your purse! My best buys are reflective windscreen shet, reflective sheet to cover the car and a ventlock. http://www.ventlock.com/


you can secure your car bit leave ventilation space for your dogs.

[funkyfish]

Its not just people leaving their dogs in a car thats a problem, I frequently see people walking their dogs and even worse their overweight dogs in the heat- or even playing ball with them! And they wonder why they have a 'funny turn'!


In this weather my dogs get walked at 6 am or 10pm- even then it can be too warm. We bikejour and canix with 2 of our dogs and I wouldn't even consider taking them out unless its cool- like 12 degrees. Even then our collie cross has his swamp cooler coat on- I get abuse for taking him out with a coat on in the heat- its a special cooling by evaporation coat.

[colliewobbles]

Friend of mine was at a breed show today (of the highest calibre) and still dogs were being left in cars with just a slip of window open.     It is beyond belief and I think people at organised dog events should start banning anyone that leaves their dog in this situation.

On another note - I saw a Samoyed in a car last summer on a similar day to today.  I went into the shop and spoke to the manager who put a call out whilst I stood by the car.  When the 'owner' came out they were absolutely vile to me and I feared I might me on the receiving end of something physical at one point.  He even shouted at me that I didn't know what I was on about and probably didn't even know what sort of dog it was - when I said it was clearly a Samoyed he was rather surprised!  He also told me that the dog was distressed because I was near the car - I was a few feet in front and the dog was in the boot!

The shop staff then asked me to leave - their reason that because I was a dog lover clearly I was emotional about the subject and they didn't want things stirred up.   

Suffice to say they got an official complaint in writing and my husband met with the manager to complain about my treatment.  We never got anything further back though.

Despite all that - I would still do the same again.

[Beewyched]

Good on you CW 

[sabrina]

I would complain without a doubt. Not only to a dog owner but about kids left in cars as well. People are just so stupid.

[shygirl]

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/man-arrested-after-three-dogs-2058207


do people really not realise??? 

[colliewobbles]

  Beggars belief - poor babies