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?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Funny, but just today I found 3 tiny children playing and pretending to drive in a running SUV, keys in the car and running. I called the police.  At the same time the father returned (25 minutes later) the police arrived.   He told me, " My 12 year old daughter is in the car"  Yet  I never saw her the entire time I was standing there.  My response was, " Yes, but a 12 year old cant drive either"   I have no idea if she was in there or not as the windows were shaded dark.   Unreal.  I left to let the officer talk with the angry father.

With dogs, we all worry as so many die per year.   I really cant answer your question. Most of the time, the rule in our home is that Spud stays home during the summer when we run errands.  We do take him with us in cooler weather.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There have been cases in the news of the air conditioner compressors failing and dogs dying as a result of being left in cars with the engine running and the air on. Personally, I wouldn't take a chance.

I also don't like to leave my car running and the air on because it's a huge waste of expensive fuel. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

We leave Luna at home when we're running errands even if the weather is cool.  I wouldn't feel comfortable with leaving her there - I'd be worried about her safety, not to mention she would get anxious and I'd be worried she'd get stolen.  Dogs get stolen to be used as bait dogs for fighting.

Here there's a by-law that your'e not allowed to leave a car idling (even if you're in it) more than 3 minutes.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I also leave JD at home if I'm going anywhere he can't go, too. I'm not comfortable leaving him alone in the car, regardless of the weather, either.

[F, Calla & Luca]

We have a similar idling law.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do leave the dogs in the car, not running, if I'm doing a quick errand. Just now I got back from a run to the library since it is delightfully cool this evening. I was gone less than 5 minutes and the dogs were just outside next to the police station in a small town. Then we got to take a walk. But tomorrow I have to go to the mall, unfortunately, and even if it were cool enough it's not a place I'd leave them. Too big, too far from the store, too many strangers and goings on.

[Stephanie Brown]

We do not have any idling law in our state or my area for motor vehicles, just diesel powered trucks and school buses. We don't leave it running for hours either. This weekend we were in NY state and someone mentioned the idling limit to me and I had never heard of that before. I didn't think of the air conditioner failing though, we have a 2013 vehicle, but it could happen anyway. I check on him often when we are out and since my hubby is disabled, many times he will go back to the car and sit with him because the vehicle is more comfortable. So I guess it's more than 3 min. at times but not more than a half an hour.

[Breanna]

Someone posted an article the other day on here. It said that even just 60 degrees outside is too hot inside for the dog. Personally if it's just a few minutes running in and out, I think it's okay. For longer than a couple minutes it's not comfortable for me. It's just never worth the risk. Aside from the temperature, I know of someone who had his truck stolen with his dog inside. I would be absolutely devastated if that happened to me. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Of course it depends if the sun is shining. In the evening that kind of temperature should be fine. But the sun heats up a car like an oven in a short while.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I will add that we leave Spud in his harness in the back if we have to run into a store.  Shaded windows where others cant see him.  He has gotten really upset with people at the windows.  This is the only time I believe Spud becomes reactive. 

He minds his own business unless people approach him. I have returned to find one woman pestering him, two children making him bark by barking back and sticking their fingers and hands on the windows then jumping back.  All kinds of people just bother him at the window. And, yes, my friendly dog hates this

I hate it.  So, we hide him.  If I am in my little car, he does not go. If he does, I never leave the car

[F, Calla & Luca]

I worry about people tormenting the dogs too but this has never happened to them as far as I know.

[Heather & Brinkley]

We've only left the car on when one of us was taking a very long trip alone with Brinkley and we had to stop off at the rest stops.  It's not ideal but in my opinion it is the best of the two options since dogs can't come into the building.  I worry about the air conditioning failing so I leave him at home while I'm running errands.