So my sister and i went to superstore today cause we were picking up munchies so we could have a picnic with my children. We pull into a parking spot and I could see that on the windshield of a van in front of us was a note. Not sure of what it says I see that this person has there dog in there with no windows down and the vehicle was not running, this poor animal was panting sooo bad it was drooling and scratching at the window wanting to get out. So me being a BIG animal lover I called the police and told them of the incident in progress, the police officer told us to wait with the vehicle until animal control could arrive. While waiting for 45 minutes the owner of the vehicle comes out and I approached the woman and told her I had called the police. She asked why I said to her because you left your dog in the vehicle with no windows rolled down, she proceeded to say she was only in the store for 15 mins but meaning while I had been sitting there waiting for animal control for over 15 min so obviously the poor dog was in there for longer then 15 mins. Well after waiting for animal control they FINALLY show up but 10 mins later they drive away didn't not issue her a fine or even remove the dog from her care, all they told her was how to "properly" keep an animal in a vehicle If you have to go into the store. This ABSOLUTLEY disgusts me because to me the let her away with animal cruelty, what happens if next time this woman does it again an maybe next time it's even hotter out and no one sees it the next time. Any ideas on how I can further this to make sure the proper action is takin?

Edited by admin, 2012-08-09 16:42:55. Reason: title

I would assume its safe to say most people feel bad for any animal in a bad situation. And I agree that its not the best situation for a dog to be left in the car like that. I also bet the owner of the animal was aware she needed to hurray.  
Calling animal control was a good thing, Im sure they know how to deal with it

That took a long time to get from the police station to Superstore?? Quite a distance!  
 
Anyone who does that to an animal will tell you they are an animal lover. I would have to disagree. That is terrible.

You did right by calling the authorities. Keep good thoughts by caring for the animals more than worrying about punishment for the folks who put their pets in harms way.

Brenda said "That took a long time to get from the police station to Superstore?? Quite a distance!     Anyone who does that to an animal will tell you they are an animal lover. I would have to disagree. That is terrible. "

I highly doubt that the animal control officer was just sitting in the station, they have to go all over to respond to different situations. I always find that these officers do their job well and take animal welfare seriously.  
 
I too wish that people would just leave their pets at home especially if it is too hot.

i found today quite mild here but what is was like in brandon IDK, you felt it was needed to call animal control, they did their job and made the call, they are in charge and have the info needed after that its beyond your control, who knows what the lady said but whatever it was it was enough for the authorities, maybe she had water in the vehicle or animal control assessed the situation and found it to be ok, or ok enough to let her away with a lecture? but i too agree that animals should be left at home but their are many animal loves that compare animals to children so they think their dog needs to go everywhere with them

I'm thinking if the Animal Control Officer was satisfied with the Issue then You should just do Your shopping and mind Your Own Business..!! My dog travels with Me all the time and I have to lock My doors to keep People out of My vehicle not to keep My dog in..!! I can leave the windows down and My dog will not leave MY vehicle in any kind of weather..!!  
I know there are cases of dogs & Kids being left in vehicles but I don't see what right everyone has to come along and call the Police or etc.... a serious case Yes I agree..!!

ROCKER said "I'm thinking if the Animal Control Officer was satisfied with the Issue then You should just do Your shopping and mind Your Own Business..!! My dog travels with Me all the time and I have to lock My doors to keep People out of My vehicle not to keep My dog in..!! I can leave the windows down and My dog will not leave MY vehicle in any kind of weather..!!   I know there are cases of dogs & Kids being left in vehicles but I don't see what right everyone has to come along and call the Police or etc.... a serious case Yes I agree..!! "

If you would have seen that poor dog today you would have understood the sad part of it all was once I told her I had called the police this woman proceeded to put her children in the van as well not turn it on walk away and put the cart away so no only was it animal cruelty it was bad parenting as well

Trista Creasy said "    ROCKER said "I'm thinking if the Animal Control Officer was satisfied with the Issue then You should just do Your shopping and mind Your Own Business..!! My dog travels with Me all the time and I have to lock My doors to keep People out of My vehicle not to keep My dog in..!! I can leave the windows down and My dog will not leave MY vehicle in any kind of weather..!!   I know there are cases of dogs & Kids being left in vehicles but I don't see what right everyone has to come along and call the Police or etc.... a serious case Yes I agree..!! " If you would have seen that poor dog today you would have understood the sad part of it all was once I told her I had called the police this woman proceeded to put her children in the van as well not turn it on walk away and put the cart away so no only was it animal cruelty it was bad parenting as well "

why is that bad parenting?

traveller said "    Trista Creasy said "    ROCKER said "I'm thinking if the Animal Control Officer was satisfied with the Issue then You should just do Your shopping and mind Your Own Business..!! My dog travels with Me all the time and I have to lock My doors to keep People out of My vehicle not to keep My dog in..!! I can leave the windows down and My dog will not leave MY vehicle in any kind of weather..!!   I know there are cases of dogs & Kids being left in vehicles but I don't see what right everyone has to come along and call the Police or etc.... a serious case Yes I agree..!! " If you would have seen that poor dog today you would have understood the sad part of it all was once I told her I had called the police this woman proceeded to put her children in the van as well not turn it on walk away and put the cart away so no only was it animal cruelty it was bad parenting as well " why is that bad parenting? "

Because she left her children in a vehicle unattended just like that poor dog

Trista Creasy said "So my sister and i went to superstore today cause we were picking up munchies so we could have a picnic with my children. We pull into a parking spot and I could see that on the windshield of a van in front of us was a note. Not sure of what it says I see that this person has there dog in there with no windows down and the vehicle was not running, this poor animal was panting sooo bad it was drooling and scratching at the window wanting to get out. So me being a BIG animal lover I called the police and told them of the incident in progress, the police officer told us to wait with the vehicle until animal control could arrive. While waiting for 45 minutes the owner of the vehicle comes out and I approached the woman and told her I had called the police. She asked why I said to her because you left your dog in the vehicle with no windows rolled down, she proceeded to say she was only in the store for 15 mins but meaning while I had been sitting there waiting for animal control for over 15 min so obviously the poor dog was in there for longer then 15 mins. Well after waiting for animal control they FINALLY show up but 10 mins later they drive away didn't not issue her a fine or even remove the dog from her care, all they told her was how to "properly" keep an animal in a vehicle If you have to go into the store. This ABSOLUTLEY disgusts me because to me the let her away with animal cruelty, what happens if next time this woman does it again an maybe next time it's even hotter out and no one sees it the next time. Any ideas on how I can further this to make sure the proper action is takin? Edited by admin, 2012-08-09 16:42:55. Reason: title"

what further action do you want taken? The animal control officers are awesome guys who have always taken appropriate action when we have called them. I have no problem with them whatsoever and feel that they probably have regulations and laws they must follow just like police would. They can't go around taking peoples pets away willy nilly and what "fine" are you suggesting they give this woman? Does such a fine even exist?  
 
I think you did the right thing however, calling the authorities and standing by. You are obviously a good person: just may have wished that something was done that couldn't be at this time.  
 
Also, I am not sure why people think that just because the police station is next door makes calls to superstore a priority all of a sudden. Brenda, your comment has no merit.

im confused. i agree with traveller, it was NOT hot today, at least not hot enough for me to think that this was something to call the police over. however, you did, thats fine.  
 
i dont see how her putting her kids in the van and then putting the cart away was bad parenting though?? i take my daycare kids out and i have done this as well. i buckle them into their car seats and return the cart. i always manage to find a parking spot near the carts so it takes me less then a minute to do this and jump back into the car. im confused as to what i should do so that ppl dont think im being a bad parent(daycare provider but everyone just assumes im the mom when im out with them lol)  
 
and slightly off topic, but it irritates me more to see animals loose in the vehicle. like i have mentioned on other threads, i dont want your freaking 100+ pd dog come flying at me if im in a car accident with you!!!!!! would you let your child ride in a car unbuckled??? it really annoys me when i hear ppl say they love animals and treat their fur babies like family but then dont take the precautions to make sure they are safe! end of rant...phew!! lol

Trista Creasy said "    traveller said "    Trista Creasy said "    ROCKER said "I'm thinking if the Animal Control Officer was satisfied with the Issue then You should just do Your shopping and mind Your Own Business..!! My dog travels with Me all the time and I have to lock My doors to keep People out of My vehicle not to keep My dog in..!! I can leave the windows down and My dog will not leave MY vehicle in any kind of weather..!!   I know there are cases of dogs & Kids being left in vehicles but I don't see what right everyone has to come along and call the Police or etc.... a serious case Yes I agree..!! " If you would have seen that poor dog today you would have understood the sad part of it all was once I told her I had called the police this woman proceeded to put her children in the van as well not turn it on walk away and put the cart away so no only was it animal cruelty it was bad parenting as well " why is that bad parenting? " Because she left her children in a vehicle unattended just like that poor dog "

for what, a minute to put her cart away? hardly child abuse imo

Too many people do this and I think you did the right thing by bringing it to their attention and to the police. It is to bad she did not get more of a stern warning or a fine.  
I tell people to go sit in a car with the windows rolled up (or even down) on a hot day and see how long they can last. Really go do it and then you will know what is appropriate and what is not.  
Also remember dogs have a coat that makes them hotter as well as they do not sweat like we do to cool off.

Their coat also keeps them cool. It wasn't really that hot today. But I do disagree with owners leaving their pets in vehicles on hot days.

ROCKER said "I'm thinking if the Animal Control Officer was satisfied with the Issue then You should just do Your shopping and mind Your Own Business..!! My dog travels with Me all the time and I have to lock My doors to keep People out of My vehicle not to keep My dog in..!! I can leave the windows down and My dog will not leave MY vehicle in any kind of weather..!!   I know there are cases of dogs & Kids being left in vehicles but I don't see what right everyone has to come along and call the Police or etc.... a serious case Yes I agree..!! "

Maybe someone should lock you in a car without the windows down or without the car running and see how u like it in plus 25-30 degrees. And leaving an animal or children in a hot car on a hot day is everyone's business that's how people/animals die

The animal control officer was there talking to the woman, however, the dog was still in the car with the windows up! I watched for a minute while they talked and went over to ask them if they could stop for a minute to roll the windows down...yeesh

22.2º C was the maximum temperature in Brandon yesterday according to Environment Canada. No mention in this story of the time of day but it just didn't get extremely hot yesterday. Personally, I felt a little chilly when I went out and had the car heater on for a few minutes.  
 
"Dog was panting and scratching at windows." Were you standing there with the "poor doggie" routine and getting it excited? Was it "dying to get out"? or just wanting to play with you because you were giving it attention?  
 
My dogs love to go for a ride. If the weather is suitable and I don't have any long stops planned I will take them with me. And, just shoot me now, I sometimes leave them UNATTENDED in a locked vehicle for short periods of time (weather permitting and YES I am aware that it will get hotter in a vehicle than it is outdoors. Now you want me to leave them at home, and I guess I have to get them a sitter cause you want a new law to never leave a pet unattended.  
 
If the animal control person did not lay any charges then I would expect that they did not find anything too alarming. You were wasting their time. The dog was fine. You over-reacted and were looking to cause trouble. You must be so disappointed that they did not confiscate this dog and euthanize it.  
 
We certainly need more laws so that we can find fault with even those who use common sense.  
 
DO NOT get me wrong - if I saw an animal in real distress I would do something about it. But really people, why is someone always looking for trouble and trying to find fault with everyone in the world? There are many truly terrible things happening on this planet all the time - pick one of them to fix.  
 
 
 

You did the right thing

Nothing wrong with a locked car but roll down the window 4-8 inches.

Some ppl commenting that "it wasn't that hot today" -- park your car, sit in it with the windows up and see how long until you are hot and sweaty.  
 
Doesn't matter if "not very hot today"...the sun heats the interior of the car to over double the outside temperature in under a half-hour. Don't believe me? Try it yourself.  
 
To another person, yes the coat *can* help them cool, BUT that requires air movement for the process to occur. So that is not a valid point in this instance.  
 
As an animal owner/lover myself, I would do the same thing - call the police. In addition, if the animal was in severe distress I would also ask permission of the police to smash the window.  
 

is much hotter than the temperature outside. We all know that! How many times have you opened up the car after it has been parked in the sun and it is absolutely roasting inside, (glass windows have a tendency to do that). You did the right thing, I would leave it at that. I know the feeling of seeing that poor dog will stay with you for a while, just know you did what was right, and don't hesitate to do it again. Thank you for stepping up.

I agree. You did the right thing. When I see dogs barking non-stop in vehicles in parking lots I feel very sorry for them. I am deeply concerned on sunny days! I don't think those animals appreciate the waiting for their owner. Just because your dog wants to be with you doesn't mean it's always the best thing for it!

Although I am disappointed Animal Control took so long when it could have been a life threatening situation for the dog. I wish they could have made the woman put on a fur coat and sit in the car for how long she made the dog stay there!  
 
From the PETA website:  
 
"Every year, dogs suffer and die when their guardians make the mistake of leaving them in a parked car—even for "just a minute"—while they run an errand. Parked cars are deathtraps for dogs: On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes.  
 
Animals can sustain brain damage or even die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes. Beating the heat is extra tough for dogs because they can only cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paw pads.  
 
If you see a dog left alone in a hot car, take down the car's color, model, make, and license plate number. Have the owner paged in the nearest buildings, or call local humane authorities or police. Have someone keep an eye on the dog. Don't leave the scene until the situation has been resolved.  
 
If the authorities are unresponsive or too slow and the dog's life appears to be in imminent danger, find a witness (or several) who will back up your assessment, take steps to remove the suffering animal from the car, and then wait for authorities to arrive.  
 
Watch for heatstroke symptoms such as restlessness, excessive thirst, thick saliva, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, dark tongue, rapid heartbeat, fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and lack of coordination. If a dog shows any of these symptoms, get him or her out of the heat, preferably into an air-conditioned vehicle, and then to a veterinarian immediately. If you are unable to transport the dog yourself, take him or her into an air-conditioned building if possible and call animal control: Tell them it is an emergency.  
 
Provide water to drink, and if possible spray the dog with a garden hose or immerse him or her in a tub of cool (but not iced) water for up to two minutes in order to lower the body temperature gradually. You can also place the dog in front of an electric fan. Applying cool, wet towels to the groin area, stomach, chest, and paws can also help. Be careful not to use ice or cold water, and don't overcool the animal."  
 

Trista Creasy said "So my sister and i went to superstore today cause we were picking up munchies so we could have a picnic with my children. We pull into a parking spot and I could see that on the windshield of a van in front of us was a note. Not sure of what it says I see that this person has there dog in there with no windows down and the vehicle was not running, this poor animal was panting sooo bad it was drooling and scratching at the window wanting to get out. So me being a BIG animal lover I called the police and told them of the incident in progress, the police officer told us to wait with the vehicle until animal control could arrive. While waiting for 45 minutes the owner of the vehicle comes out and I approached the woman and told her I had called the police. She asked why I said to her because you left your dog in the vehicle with no windows rolled down, she proceeded to say she was only in the store for 15 mins but meaning while I had been sitting there waiting for animal control for over 15 min so obviously the poor dog was in there for longer then 15 mins. Well after waiting for animal control they FINALLY show up but 10 mins later they drive away didn't not issue her a fine or even remove the dog from her care, all they told her was how to "properly" keep an animal in a vehicle If you have to go into the store. This ABSOLUTLEY disgusts me because to me the let her away with animal cruelty, what happens if next time this woman does it again an maybe next time it's even hotter out and no one sees it the next time. Any ideas on how I can further this to make sure the proper action is takin? Edited by admin, 2012-08-09 16:42:55. Reason: title"

by saying, I certainly do not agree with leaving animals in a hot vehicle without fresh air, etc.  
 
However....need to get the facts right here.....you state you waited for 45 minutes....but then you say..waited for more than 15 minutes?  
 
just curious....which was it?  
 

one of you shuld have gone into the store and had them page the owner of the said car. would have been faster than waiting for them to come out.

Dogluvr said "Although I am disappointed Animal Control took so long when it could have been a life threatening situation for the dog. I wish they could have made the woman put on a fur coat and sit in the car for how long she made the dog stay there!     From the PETA website:     "Every year, dogs suffer and die when their guardians make the mistake of leaving them in a parked car—even for "just a minute"—while they run an errand. Parked cars are deathtraps for dogs: On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes.     Animals can sustain brain damage or even die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes. Beating the heat is extra tough for dogs because they can only cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paw pads.     If you see a dog left alone in a hot car, take down the car's color, model, make, and license plate number. Have the owner paged in the nearest buildings, or call local humane authorities or police. Have someone keep an eye on the dog. Don't leave the scene until the situation has been resolved.     If the authorities are unresponsive or too slow and the dog's life appears to be in imminent danger, find a witness (or several) who will back up your assessment, take steps to remove the suffering animal from the car, and then wait for authorities to arrive.     Watch for heatstroke symptoms such as restlessness, excessive thirst, thick saliva, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, dark tongue, rapid heartbeat, fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and lack of coordination. If a dog shows any of these symptoms, get him or her out of the heat, preferably into an air-conditioned vehicle, and then to a veterinarian immediately. If you are unable to transport the dog yourself, take him or her into an air-conditioned building if possible and call animal control: Tell them it is an emergency.     Provide water to drink, and if possible spray the dog with a garden hose or immerse him or her in a tub of cool (but not iced) water for up to two minutes in order to lower the body temperature gradually. You can also place the dog in front of an electric fan. Applying cool, wet towels to the groin area, stomach, chest, and paws can also help. Be careful not to use ice or cold water, and don't overcool the animal."     "

I am glad that someone has enough guts to actually do something when they see a situation happening. Bravo and good on ya!  
 
I am also glad to see that Dogluvr has quoted the facts about how hot it gets in a parked vehicle. Apparently, those that do not have a animal or don't care enough about them, keep their animals in vehicles without a window cracked. I agree with those who have said, "sit in the vehicle without the windows open and see how hot it gets". Its not easy ... I give you approximately 3 mins on a mildly warm day before you are gasping for air!  
 
Good Samaritans are hard to come by!!!

but there are busy bodies on every corner LOL

crack all 4 windows to have air flowing through I hardly doubt anyone is going to try to get into the car with a dog sitting it, and it does not cost anything so why can't u crack all 4 windows down 2-3 inches while u are shopping And enjoying the air condition.

In a matter of just a few minutes, a dog can be overcome by the heat. It’s no joke. Temperatures in a closed automobile will rise approximately:  
19 degrees in 10 minutes  
29 degrees in 20 minutes  
34 degrees in 30 minutes  
43 degrees in an hour  
http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-health/dog-heatstroke-survival-guide.aspx  
 
Dogs feel heat differently than humans do. They sweat differently too. Dogs sweat by panting and by sweating from their paws. However, a dog trapped in a hot car cannot effectively rid its body of enough of the heat by panting and sweating...simply because there’s not enough cool, fresh air to replace the heated, stale air. Therefore, a dog breathing in warm/hot air for too long will suffer heatstroke..…or worse.