Traveling with doodle and leaving vehicle idling?

[Stephanie Brown]

Since Rigby was very young, we've taken him everywhere with us. He loves going along on any ride and is already a pro at long distance travel and hotels. When we go places we usually leave him in the car and when it's 66 degrees or hotter we leave it running so he has air conditioning. This past weekend someone had an issue with us leaving our vehicle idling. Anyone else do this? Has anyone had any issues? Does your state have an idling law?

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Years ago we left a car run so it would stay cool and when we came back the compressor had failed and the car overheated.  We did not have a pet at the time but I keep that in mind with Meg.  I love taking her everywhere I can but if we have more than five minutes in the car unattended she can't go.  When she hears keys she starts dancing in circles and I hate not having her with me but I would hate the consequences worse.  We do not leave the car running unless there is a person in there to monitor.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

If it's hot enough were I would have to leave the car running, I wouldn't bring my guys.  If it's a cool day, I would leave them if I were just running in somewhere and could at least see the car from where I am.  If I have them out to walk them and I just need to run into the Post Office or a store for a quick errand I would be okay with them in the car (parked right in front)....anything longer than that and I'd bring them home first.

[Jennifer Tramell]

There are times when I'm going somewhere with the dogs (the vet, 4H dog class, the pet store, a park, etc) and I need to make another stop.  At those times, I'll park in the shade and leave the car idling (doors locked, spare key or key fob in my pocket).  I don't leave them for a long time, but I'm not worried about them either.  If it is longer than 15 minutes, I make sure to check on them.  I'm not a worrier, but I do make sure that my dogs are safe.  I don't take the dogs just along for the ride until the weather gets cool enough that they are safe parked in the shade.  To me this depends on more than just temperature - wind, humidity, sun location - are all considered.

 

We did have an incident years ago with our non-doodle dogs.  A close friend was having a small birthday party (small as in her family of 4, my hubby & me, and maybe 1 or 2 other friends?).  My dogs had known them all their lives and they frequently came over our house.  This was our pre-kids days and we frequently took the dogs with us.  Anyway, our golden/collie mix, Cody, was loving the attention but our shepherd mix, Dixie, was not enjoying herself.  My hubby put her in the car and left the engine running so she would have air conditioning.  Oh, and this was back in day of 96cent per gallon gas - remember those days? ;-)  Well, the last time we went to check on Dixie, we found that our car had run out of gas.  There was never any danger to Dixie (it wasn't that hot, she was closely monitored, she was in the shade, etc)  but it definitely made an impression. 

[Jennifer and Jack]

I used to leave Jack in the car, locked in with the air conditioning blasting when I would run in the pharmacy or something like that but there are so many idiots that  I am afraid someone would try to take him.. Jack also can unlock the door in the car but stepping on the door handle.

Not worth it to me.. If he is with me, he goes in with me..  

Before DK I was so not aware of anything.. and always thought the best of people and now I have seen too much. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

We take Quincy on occasion, but only if the weather is cool and we will be in and out of a store.  I would be uncomfortable leaving him more than a few minutes.  

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Living the dogs in the car, regardless of weather, car running or not, doors locked or not, makes my Murphy go ballistic. He has such separation anxiety, even with Bella in the car, that its just not worth it. I can't lock my car if its running (safety feature) so leaving it running and unattended isn't an option. Talk about an open invitation to stealing my car, but more importantly, my dogs. I guess it's a comfort level question for each individual and dog. But if there is a law, then I'd have to stay in its guidelines as well.

[Pat and Traveler]

I leave Trav in the car sometimes while running into the store or doing some other quick errand.  Never when the temp is over about 60 degrees, which is my cutoff point, and I don't leave the car running.

I went to a K9 nosework event recently, and it was interesting to see the various ways people have devised to keep their dogs cool.  Dogs stay in vehicles between runs, and this was a summer morning, probably high 70's.  Some people have a silver mesh 'blanket' that fits over the whole vehicle, even big SUV's.  Strange looking things!  I had a battery operated fan and a cooler of ice, but also had a daughter on board to take Trav out for walks if I was busy. 

 

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Accidents and mistakes happen.

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=933791#.UhDbY4zD9es

 

K-9 officer dies from heat stroke!!!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a sad story.

[Pat and Traveler]

I've done some lengthy road trips with Trav, and several trips of 2-4 hours.  If it's hot out, I just bring him into rest stop restrooms with me.  So far, nobody has complained.  I know--ugly floors and such, but I always carry wipes!   If it's not hot, he stays in the car.  

On trips to the beach, for example, he has stayed in the car while I eat in a restaurant.  I've almost always found a place to sit where I can see the car.  On the couple of occasions when I couldn't see the car, I went out to check on him two or three times.  A friend and I left both of our dogs in the car while we ate dinner.  We could see them, and they are both good car dogs.  Needless to say, the weather was cool on all these occasions.  Motels don't let you leave a dog alone in the room and I don't know for sure that Trav wouldn't bark if he were left alone in a strange room.  He's used to waiting a while in the car, and just watches for me, or watches the world go by.  I know this wouldn't work for everybody, but it's been working for us since Trav was a baby!