Woman angry about a dog in a hot car

[Anna]

I went to library today w my kids.  I was in the sci fi section - when all of a sudden I hear a VERY loud woman asking everyone in her path - if someone owned a nissan suv with a dog in the car.  

(Just a overview.  The temp is 87 - but really really humid.)

I heard a man - asking if the windows were rolled down?  the woman replied that the windows were rolled down but that it didn't matter b/c it was so hot and that the person needed to take their dog home.  I think then - asking people individually wasn't working - so she started almost yelling.  she proceeded to stomp thru the library - asking this repeatedly

 

Now - I'm not saying this woman's actions were wrong.  I have never left my pup in the car(but my main reason is that he can't be trusted to do so and also I would never leave a dog in a hot car) but I really think that she could have handled herself better.  Most people were staring at her and giving really odd looks and muttering that - it wasn't any of her business.

I think there are a couple issues here. 

1.  Its the library (where its really quiet). 

2. 87 degrees (which is not unbearably hot)  but very humid

3.  she wasn't "asking"   She seemed really confrontational. 

 

I tried to think - what would have been a better way..  I was thinking - maybe talking to someone in the library = who could make some sort of an announcement or maybe call the police or maybe leave a note - I don't know.  I know it can be very bad for the dog - but I feel like this woman came off as - one of those crazy obsessive pet people - on a war path.

 

I myself did not see the dog or the car.

what do you guys think would have been the right thing to do?

  

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

 

This is one of my pet peeves.  I think everyone should ask themselves if it was a baby what would you do?

 

The woman obviously felt the dog was in danger.  I think making a commotion was correct - it was aimed at getting attention for the poor animal.  After making a commotion I would call the police and see if there was any way I could help this dog.

 

Please read this discussion that I started 2 years ago.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/leaving-chidren-or-animals...

 

Unfortunately dogs and children are still dieing in cars.

 

 

 

[Stella]

We had a dog die in a car in our town a couple of weeks ago.  This lady was doing what she thought was right to save that dogs life.  If I saw a dog in a car on a hot day, I would whatever was in my power to get that dog out.  Personally, I would probably call the Police.  But, in her own way she raised the issue and got people talking so I don't think she was wrong.  If it came down to it, I would be a crazy lady and break that dog out of the car, even if it meant breaking the car window to do it.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

I think she could have gone about it in a "quieter" manor BUT 87 degrees is HOT, even with a car parked in the shade.  For over 15 years I have kept cards in my car and have put them on windshields of cars. I have had some very angry people but I got my point across.

Here is the link: You used to be able to order them but now you can print them out. www.mydogiscool.com/b_flyer.php" target="_blank">http://vetmedicine.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=vetmedicine&cdn=homegarden&tm=5&f=00&tt=13&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.mydogiscool.com/b_flyer.php

 

People love their dogs and love to take them everywhere. Even dogs love to go with their owners. BUT on hot days the safest place for them is in their home. It's the owners job to keep their loved ones be it furry or human, safe.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I don't care how she handled it...87 degrees is way too hot for a dog in a car. It only takes minutes for this to turn into a dangerous situation for that dog. I would have called the police. I hope it embarrassed the idiot who left the dog in the car. Sorry, I am on the side of the crazy lady.

[Michael Gurley]

I am also on the crazy dog lady's side. In fact, I have on multiple occasions been called a crazy dog lady myself.

 

I would have called the police.

 

At Petsmart where I work, we have had several occasions of people leaving their dogs in the car (WHY? They could have brought them into PETSMART) in the oppressive heat. Luckily, Petsmart is one place where people will speak up and say that there is a dog in danger outside, and we can come on the intercom and call the owner of the car up to the front, where they are asked to either bring the dog inside or take the dog home.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm with the other crazy ladies too!  Here is an interesting story about what happens when a child is left in a car in the same temperature you mention:

 

http://www.lex18.com/news/father-accused-of-leaving-child-in-hot-ca...

 

For me a dog's life is no less important!  Maybe her approach was a bit offensive but her heart was in the right place. Many people are ignorant about the temp. inside the car vs the temp outside of the car.  Killing your dog is a tough way to learn.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I agree, but I did love the first comment on the article you referenced. Somebody wrote in and said and I quote, I hope they throw the book at him cause he is an idoit. It reminds me of when my oldest daughter wrote on our car window (in the frost) that her sister was an idit. I told her the same thing I would tell that poster, "learn to spell idiot before you call someone that name!"

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

LOL, Laurie!! 

[Adrianne Matzkin]

My approach would not have been to yell throughout the library, I would have called the police.

 

A town here in NJ is targeting people who keep their dogs in hot cars. Now a $250-$1,000 fine. 

http://www.news12.com/articleDetail.jsp?articleId=286569&positi...

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Crazy lady all the way. Although I wouldn't have yelled. I think I might have taken the dog. I learned a lot by reading this. I knew it was bad to leave a dog in a car, but now I know just how bad and just how quickly it can go from bad to deadly. I didn't know I could call the police about something like this. Thanks for posting.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I would have called the police first then I would have gone into the Library and asked for an anouncement to be made calling out the reg of the car and stating that there was an emergency involving the car.  That would have smoked out the owner very fast.  I think that by yelling she may have lost valuable time as the owner probably thought there is a crazy person yelling and would not come forward.  In all emergencies (and this was one if the temparature was 87%) the primary concern is to save a life  ( in this case a dog) after that it's time to educate the owner.

[Heather & Brinkley]

I went into Walgreens a few weeks back when I passed a dog in a truck with windows up and the car was not on.  It's very hot and humid in Virginia Beach.  I was baking and I wasn't held up in a car with no active air flow.  I went to the manager right away and they paged the person and tracked him down.  The manager told the guy that if he didn't remdedy the situation right away they'd call the police for animal creulty.