Characterization as ‘angrily rant’ IME tends to follow from the principle of people not liking to be criticized.
Like I said, I wasn’t there and I specifically said I might reconsider if I had been.
As to ‘virtue signaling’ I didn’t say anything about that, though you’re entitled of course to add other points starting with a response to mine. But this seems going even further into speculation: really cares about dogs, pretending to care about dogs, how could we possibly know which? Whereas it’s not a good idea to leave dogs alone in cars, generally.
What a great way to help a rescue. You are a gem. Getting this one to just SIT dammit, was a red letter day. She’s sleeping on my lap as I type. Cuteness overload.
I haven’t rejected crate training. All my previous dogs were crated from day one. What I’ve rejected is the airline approved rigid crates, which all my puppies grew up in and which my 7 pounder regards as an Iron Maiden. I am investigating more open crates, like the fold up one I had for one dog. But as I’m moving closer to $3,000 in vet bills on this 7 pounder, and that’s not including the premium dog food to keep her innards happy, canned because she has so few teeth, that purchase will have to wait. She does have a safety car seat, as well as a safety car harness which is separate from the seat.
If you have grown up in an alcoholic home, been taught by neurotic nuns, married into a Gaslight environment, you know what angrily rant is and you can sense it the minute you look into the other person’s eyes.
“Assaulted”? Man we sure have spread out the definitions of some words, havent we. The “assaulter” was merely concerned about the OP dog, a very real and reasonable concern. And yes, in many jurisdictions there are now laws allowing that concerned person to break the car window and rescue that dog. 100% perfectly legal.
Really? You want the police called off a patrol,stopping felonies (or eating donuts, who knows) just to have them come out for this call? They will lecture the dog owner about the dog in the car, then leave. The person who called will not be arrested or even lectured, very likely.
“Animal abuse” is not so very open ended. Where would you get the idea that it is? It does not include all that you as an individual have decided that you disapprove of.
People have been charged with animal cruelty for leaving dogs in hot cars, like for hours on a 97 degree day, maybe even hours on an 80 degree day, hours while going to a movie let in the sun in Texas on a “very hot, sunny, dry day” … but it does require something that actually put an animal at risk.
FWIW here’s the ASPCA information pageon the subject. Going into a store and threatening the dog’s owner is not the action they’d advise if you come upon a dog in a hot car that you believe is suffering.
Some states do have Good Samaritan laws allowing breaking a window if one believes a rescue is needed … but most states do not (11 apparently do) and most require law enforcement be called first.
Again, temperature starting at 70 and a few minutes of a stop? Not animal cruelty. But a person walking by does not know how long the dog has been there alone and an anxious dog panting looks awfully like a dog in distress. They are also unlikely to check the weather app to see what the current temperature is.
Well meaning people will call the police when they see the op’s dog in the car panting anxiously. If it was warm out I would. The op really needs to figure out some other solutions. IMHO.
No, I want people to use their eyes and their brains, and telling someone to go ahead and call the police has always resulted in the person re-evaluating the situation, in my experience.
I used to try to explain, she’s fine, she’s just a drooler, the windows are open/the AC is on, she’s not barking because she’s in distress she barking because you approached the car, to absolutely no avail. If people want to believe the worst of you, they will, with any excuse they can come up with.
Without passing judgment on the OP, I completely agree. My dog stays home, unless I have to take him someplace such as the vet, where his presence is not only desirable, but necessary. He’s devoted to me, but he’s such a chill dog, that when I leave the house, he looks at me as if to say, “It’s all right, Boss. You go ahead, I’ll take care of the place while you’re gone.”
Yelling at strangers in a store is not 100% legal nor does it do anything to help a dog, and it is an assault. And if you break a window to rescue a dog you better damn well know that dog is in danger because it’s not illegal to leave a dog in a car. The law wasn’t made to allow someone’s superior attitude to be used to destroy people’s property.
Don’t leave the dog alone in the car. Because you could be delayed, someone could take your car, you could become ill in the store they don’t know you left a dog in the car alone. instead bring your dog into the store with you, and if someone complains tell them to call the cops, because it is too hot to leave your dog in the car. So often I would bring our dog with us into stores, public library, etc. I would stop at the front and say, “Is it OK, he’s good and I will be quick” and most of the time I could just bring him in. They allow dogs in the store as Guide Dogs, so I don’t see how you bringing your dog in as any difference. But I would ask first. If that doesn’t work, then make other plans, don’t leave the dog in the car alone.
Please don’t do that – there are way too many people abusing this, and it’s really screwing up those who have legit therapy animals. (I’d love to be able to take my cat everywhere, but I know it wouldn’t be fair)
