# Dogs shut in car in parking lot. Need answer fast. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 12, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646 "2011-05-12T13:09:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/1 "2011-05-12T13:09:30Z")
So, I pull into the parking lot at the coffee shop this morning, and next to my spot there’s a car with yapping little dogs in it. “Ugh, yapping dogs,” I think, and then I realize, hey, yapping dogs. In car. With windows rolled up. No owner in sight. It’s 71 F outside right now, temps forecast to get up into the mid-80s. I alerted the baristas at the coffee shop and it looks like the car doesn’t belong to anyone who is in here. They can’t just call the cops for a tow for illegal parking because the parking lot is also used by a couple of other businesses. They/I are now debating what to do - call the cops? Animal control? Give the guy a few more minutes to show up? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/2 "2011-05-12T13:15:01Z")
Nevermind, crisis averted. Baristas went next door to the other business and found the owner, who has now left, with dogs, in what appears to be a huff. Although if anyone wants to answer the GQ about who, generally, you would contact in such a situation, that would be OK with me. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/3 "2011-05-12T13:16:48Z")
Call an animal control officer. Said officer will usually take a long time to arrive, in order to give the driver the maximum chance to arrive and drive off, thereby negating the need to do the paperwork. But call anyway. Use the police “non-emergency” number, not 911. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/4 "2011-05-12T13:21:17Z")
In my experience, the “owner” _always, always_ insists he or she was only gone for a few moments – even when I have timed the incident precisely. These people always get huffy or storm off in a rage. Almost without exception, they’re all wrong, lying, selfish, or easily distracted – and they’re often in violation of the local law (many places don’t allow leaving an animal in the car for any length of time at all, regardless of temperature). Ignore all that and call anyway. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/5 "2011-05-12T13:22:55Z")
Well, the car is gone now. When I say “left” I mean, left completely, as in, drove away. However, I appreciate the advice and I’m sure the dogs appreciate the intervention, although frankly I’m not optimistic this incident is going to change the guy’s behavior, based on what I saw. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/6 "2011-05-12T13:25:37Z")
When I take my dog out to run errands, I often leave him in the car for a while I go in a store. If it’s get’s above 90 or so I wouldn’t do this. But if he will only be alone for 10 minutes or less, I don’t see a problem. If someone called animal control, I would be highly pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/7 "2011-05-12T13:30:17Z")
It was probably about 20 minutes total from noticing the car to finding the owner, **LWIBR**. And seriously, I wouldn’t want to be in a closed-up car for 20 minutes in this weather, so I’m sure it wasn’t particularly comfortable for the dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/8 "2011-05-12T13:30:23Z")
How long were the dogs alone in the car, by your estimate? Oh, simulpost. 20 minutes, yeah, I’d say that is about 10 minutes too long. Do most stores have aplace where you can tie a dog down near the entrance if they aren’t allowed in the store and you can’t leave them in the car? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/9 "2011-05-12T13:31:57Z")
Dunno. At least 20 minutes. I have no idea how long they were out there before I showed up. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/10 "2011-05-12T13:32:20Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > When I take my dog out to run errands, I often leave him in the car for a while I go in a store. If it’s get’s above 90 or so I wouldn’t do this. But if he will only be alone for 10 minutes or less, I don’t see a problem. If someone called animal control, I would be highly pissed off. Do you leave the window open? ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/11 "2011-05-12T13:45:57Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > When I take my dog out to run errands, I often leave him in the car for a while I go in a store. If it’s get’s above 90 or so I wouldn’t do this. But if he will only be alone for 10 minutes or less, I don’t see a problem. If someone called animal control, I would be highly pissed off. As the OP’s experience illustrates, passers by have no idea how long you have been gone or how long you intend to be. Don’t be surprised if one of them calls animal control. I am sure you will be pissed off. I am sure no one will care. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/12 "2011-05-12T13:48:02Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Do you leave the window open? Oh yeah definitely. And I park in shade. If it was direct sunlight, I wouldn’t leave him alone. And 20 minutes would be too long. 10 minutes would be my limit. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/13 "2011-05-12T13:49:05Z")
> [@ethelbert](#): > > As the OP’s experience illustrates, passers by have no idea how long you have been gone or how long you intend to be. Don’t be surprised if one of them calls animal control. I am sure you will be pissed off. I am sure no one will care. Fair enough. But my dog is not neglected or mistreated. I take him with me on these errands to get him out of the house more and spend more time with him. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/14 "2011-05-12T14:26:16Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > They/I are now debating what to do - call the cops? Animal control? Give the guy a few more minutes to show up? At some point, I think the answer is to call the police (who may advise you to call a different number for animal control) and to look for a small rock with which to smash the window open. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/15 "2011-05-12T14:35:22Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Baristas went next door to the other business and found the owner, who has now left, with dogs, in what appears to be a huff. A Huff? I’m not familiar with that model … Is it a foreign car? ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/16 "2011-05-12T14:35:53Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > At some point, I think the answer is to call the police (who may advise you to call a different number for animal control) and to look for a small rock with which to smash the window open. At what point would you decide to smash someone’s car window? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/17 "2011-05-12T14:39:07Z")
> [@SCSimmons](#): > > A Huff? I’m not familiar with that model … Is it a foreign car? You can leave in a huff. If that’s too soon, you can leave in a minute and a huff. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/18 "2011-05-12T14:41:18Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > At what point would you decide to smash someone’s car window? At the point at which the dogs appear to be in danger. I mean, I’m not saying it’s an easy decision to make, but depending on how long the police and/or animal control take to respond, it may be necessary. And that’s why I’d call the police first. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/19 "2011-05-12T14:45:00Z")
In this large urban area, I feel confident that animal control would show up before window-smashing became an issue. Although, side tangent, I don’t think a small rock would really do it. I have a friend that needed to break the window of his car once (long story) and wound up having to use a crowbar. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646/20 "2011-05-12T14:52:21Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > At the point at which the dogs appear to be in danger. I mean, I’m not saying it’s an easy decision to make, but depending on how long the police and/or animal control take to respond, it may be necessary. And that’s why I’d call the police first. Before considering a rock, I would go in the store or wherever and see if they could make an announcement or do something to alert the owner of the dog that the dog appeared to be in danger. Last fall I left my dog in the backseat while I ran into Starbucks. It was cloudy and maybe 80 degrees. The windows were down half way and my dog laid down and waited for me. When I came back, a woman was waiting by my car and proceeded to lecture me about how irresponsible I was. I told her to mind her own business. But in retrospect I am thankful she cared enough to look out for my dog. But I was annoyed she assumed the worst at the same time. I would never put my dog in danger. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-shut-in-car-in-parking-lot-need-answer-fast/581646.md?page=2)