Heat Wave Alert
Guest blogger Stacie Tamaki is a Dogster member and guardian of Kitai. We encourage you to follow her example and report dogs left in hot cars. By taking just a couple of minutes to inform a security guard or call the police, you could save a life.
In California it is now illegal to leave a dog in a hot car. In 2006 Gov. Schwarzenegger signed SB 1806:
“SB 1806 makes it a crime for a person to leave a pet unattended in a vehicle in a way that endangers the well-being of the animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering or death. Unless the animal suffers great bodily injury, a first misdemeanor conviction for this crime is punishable by a fine of $100 or less per animal. If the animal suffers great bodily injury, the punishment is a fine of $500 or less, a sentence of up to six months in county jail, or both. A person convicted of felony animal cruelty is subject to a fine of $20,000 or less, time in state prison, or both.”
Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Protect Pets from Overheating in Vehicles
The bill was passed in 2006 and became a law in 2007. Last year I saw a police officer at a mall and because he was waiting for his partner to get a cup of coffee I approached him and asked if they had ever used the law yet. He was really nice and said he had heard there was a law but no, he had not responded to an incident of a dog in danger at that point in time.
He didn’t know the specifics of the law, so it may be a good idea, if you live in California, to make a copy of the statute or the article at the link above to show the police if you ever see a dog in distress and they are reluctant to do anything about it.
I find the place I most often see dogs in parked cars is at the mall, in which case I contact mall security to let them know. Even if the sun isn’t on the car at that moment, we all know that could change if the car remains for an extended period of time. Last year I called them 3 times, and for the record, none had the air conditioning running.
For those who live in states that don’t have this type of law, you could always forward a copy to your legislators and ask them to pass a similar bill where you live.
For great tips on keeping your dog heat-safe, check out our Vet Blog and today’s blog post by John Woestendiek of The Baltimore Sun.
I’m so glad I found this today! I had just posted something about keeping pets safe during this insanely hot weather last night, and I’m going to link to your post if that’s okay! It’s great to see that people are really recognizing this dangerous situation, even if it’s not 100% enforced yet.
Thanks for cross posting the link Omidog!
And if anyone wants to read more info on this subject please visit my pal Gio’s thread in the health forum about keeping dogs cool in his thread: <a href=”http://ww.dogster.com/forums/Dog_Health/thread/525407/1″ title=”Dogs in Hot Cars”
BOL I cannot figure out the hyperlinks in the blog comments. The thread is at:
http://ww.dogster.com/forums/Dog_Health/thread/525407/1
This is really a great law that came out. It is a great protection for our dogs. Just now hope that the Police have another trick to pull on us.
Dr. Robert Daniels
http://www.dognpuppyadvice.com
Only problem I have with laws like this is people tend to overreact with them. I fairly reutienly leave my dog in my car when I have to go to Wal-Mart for something quick. They are never there for more than 5 minutes unattended, and not if the temp is higher than 80 degrees. Problem is, just a few days ago, I went into the Wal-Mart to use the restroom while my mother was doing some shopping. Temp was mid-80s or so. I was inside for less than 3 minutes and when I came out, there was a couple standing by my car with a police officer about to bust the window (which was down a little for ventilation) to get my dogs out of the car. They (the dogs) were in absolutly no danger at all, and if the cop had simply run my tag, he could have gotten my phone number and called me to see how long they had been in the car. Neither dog was showing any kind of sign of heat exhaustion, and they had a bowl of water in the back floorboard.
I agree that leaving a dog in a car on hot days is a very stupid thing to do, but would-be rescuers need to have some common sense as well. There needs to be some stipulation where an officer needs to see a certain amount of time pass or believe the dog(s) are already in trouble. And, if they take action when it was not needed, they police should have to pay for damages they cause. I asked the officer during this incident if I had been 30 seconds later and he had busted my window, would I be reimbursed and he said I would not. That is just bull. Especailly when the darn car was unlocked at the time.
Well, it’s about time somebody should do something to stop this nonsense!
Hi Carter,
Perhaps in the future a note on your dashboard that says you went in to _______ store at ___:___ time and will return within 5 minutes would help to avoid situations like the one you described.
For the record when I report a dog unattended in a car I do make sure to note that the dog does or does not look to be in distress. But I can’t always sit by a car to find out how long it will take before an owner returns, or know how long they’ve been gone for. So I report the pup then leave it to mall security to take the proper steps to ensure it’s safety.
I think one of the worst dangers in situations like the one you describe is that it would be easy for any of us to become distracted once inside a store and kind of lose track of time. It could take only 5 minutes for some breeds to be in serious trouble on a hot over 80 degree day, let alone if an owner is inadvertently gone for 10, 15 or more minutes on a hot day.
True leaving the door unlocked would make access for would be rescuers possible without breaking a window but it also leaves your dogs vulnerable to being stolen.
In the Dogster forums, concern is often expressed for dogs that they may be stolen when left unattended in a car or yard as they may be used as fighting or bait dogs by people who fight dogs or if your city has Class B dog dealers, they could be taken and sold to bunchers for medical research :o(
http://www.metropettracker.com/bunchers.htm
Ever since Teddi Sue was stolen from her mom’s car my mom has never left me alone in the car since. She will leave me home if she is going into a non pet friendly location.
I do get concerned about the heat for dogs left outside on chains on in pens without any shade. We wish our governor would pass a law, protecting pets better in NC. Thanks for posting this, mom printed and left on the company fridge.
I know. That was such a trauma for her family :o(
You can send a copy of the California law to your House and Senate Reps and ask one of them to sponsor a bill to have the same law passed in your state!
I may try the note idea in the future. Just seems like that might make theives a little more willing to break into the car (for the dog or other reasons) when they have a pretty good idea when I’ll be back.
As for getting distracted and leaving them in the car longer than planned, I never do that. These are my babies, and I never forget about them. I just wish more stores would start allowing dogs because I’d take them everywhere with me, and problems like this would be far fewer.
One thing I’d like to point out is leaving a dog in a car at THE MALL!!! is just plain stupid. In the malls around here, there is no way to go in and out rapidly. You will be in there at the very least 5 minutes, and probably longer. On top of that, malls are prime locations for people to break into the car. I know Wal-Mart is not much better there, but at least you can usually get in and out quick, and I usually forget the purchase if the lines are too long and come back out. I can always go back later and buy the items when I don’t have the dogs.
One of the things I don’t get about the people who park at the mall here is there is underground and tiered parking that is all covered, yet people will choose to park in the street lot with no shade protection at all and leave their pup in the car. The worst I saw was a purebred pug, left in a car with the windows down low enough for someone to reach in and unlock the door so they could steal it but not enough that the car would stay cool parked in the sun.
Only other thing I can think of is to always take two people and make sure one person stays with the dogs with the air running while the other person runs into a store and if need be they can switch places when the first person gets back.
I think for me when I lose track of time is when I’m out and run into someone I know and we start chatting. I’ve never had my dog in the car but I can totally see how I could forget if it was someone I hadn’t seen in awhile. Or if there were an emergency. Once I almost passed out at the mall… If my dog was in the car and I was there alone? It would have been really bad.
I am lucky where I live that there are quite a few shops that are dog friendly. But more aren’t then are so Kitai does stay home a lot of times when I wish I could take him along. He loves going to shops!
I agree with Carter. I leave my dog in the car for extremely short periods of time, and I would be pissed if a cop busted my window for an offense he wasn’t sure was created. My dog goes with me everywhere and when I can help it I leave him in the car with a friend and the a/c. When I can’t, I only go in for a maximum time of 15 minutes. They should have a law that betters the owners chance of a problem, calling after running the tags would be a great example as Carter said.
Hi Erika,
Here are key points that address your concerns in the California law:
(c) (1) Nothing in this section shall prevent a peace officer, humane officer, or an animal control officer from removing an animal from a motor vehicle if the animal’s safety appears to be in immediate danger from heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal.
(2) A peace officer, humane officer, or animal control officer who removes an animal from a motor vehicle shall take it to an animal shelter or other place of safekeeping or, if the officer deems necessary, to a veterinary hospital for treatment.
(3) A peace officer, humane officer, or animal control officer is authorized to take all steps that are reasonably necessary for the removal of an animal from a motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, breaking into the motor vehicle, after a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person responsible.
—————————————
Other points regarding the dangers and need for the law are listed as follows:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Leaving companion animals unattended inside closed vehicles in the heat, even for short periods of time, has caused severe injury and death to animals.
(b) Moderately warm temperatures outside can quickly lead to deadly temperatures inside a closed car, for example, within one hour an outside temperature of 72 degrees Fahrnheit can cause unhealthful conditions inside a vehicle that can adversely affect the health, safety, or well-being of an animal.
(c) With the vehicle windows left slightly open, an outside temperature of 85 degrees can cause a temperature of 102 degrees inside a vehicle within 10 minutes, and 120 degrees within half of an hour. A healthy dog, whose normal body temperature ranges from 101 to 102.5 degrees, can withstand a body temperature of 107 to 108 for only a short time before suffering brain damage or death.
(d) Numerous organizations and individuals have worked to educate pet owners of the dangers of leaving animals unattended in vehicles in the heat, however, it is well established that educational approaches by themselves do not improve safety behavior. To be effective, educational approaches must be integrated with enforcement activities.
(e) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to improve animal health and safety by both encouraging continued public education as well as discouraging this activity by imposing a penalty upon persons who leave or confine an animal in an unattended motor vehicle.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/sen/sb_1801-1850/sb_1806_bill_20060922_chaptered.html
I would think the part about
“(3) A peace officer, humane officer, or animal control officer is authorized to take all steps that are reasonably necessary for the removal of an animal from a motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, breaking into the motor vehicle, after a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person responsible.”
should reassure most that if their dog is not in distress extreme measures like breaking a window won’t be taken. I can ask the next officer I see standing around somewhere and see what they say.
who is is walmart or any store for five minutes?
leave your dog at home and run your errands on your own time. you would not leave your kid in the car, would you? i understand dogs like to take rides in cars, but thats the extent of it - they dont LIKE to be left ALONE in the car - if you are a dog lover, you just dont leave your dog unattended. end of story.
I think it should be illegal in ALL states to leave a dog in a hot car. I have reported several people for leaving their animals in hot cars. I live in Alabama and last summer I was at the mall and it was oh about 97 degrees outside so you can imagine how hot it was in the car. These people barely had the windows cracked. That poor little dog was just a panting. So I went and found mall security and they broke into the car and got the dog out! Made me feel a lot better.
I was at Albertson’s the other day and heard a dog barking in a car. It was over 80 degrees outside, and even though the windows were down a crack, the car was black. The dog must have been miserable, and I didn’t know who to call. My boyfriend always gives me a hard time when I refuse to leave Pip in the car even for 10 minutes when it is hot or cold. Would you leave a baby in the car? No…
Someone told me when I got my dog that the best way to tell if it’s ok to take your dog with you is to go out to your car (in the sun, not in the garage), don’t turn on the motor and sit with the windows cracked as you would leave the dog for 10 minutes. If you sweat at all, don’t take the dog, it’s too hot. They also told me that leaving a dog for any more than about 10-15 minutes, regardless of the weather, isn’t a good idea.
I think common sense is missing in so much of our society. What’s sad is when dogs suffer because people are idiots.
I agree. A dog should not be left in the car, even if it’s only for a few minutes, EVER. Period. The end. Don’t even consider it to be an option. You never know what can happen in a matter of minutes. Not to mention if an emergency arises and you can’t get back to the car as quickly as you had intended, your dog could be dead. It’s simply best not to risk it. I would have called the police if I would have saw it as well.
Hi Ashely,
If it is a stand alone shop you could go back in and ask them to make an announcement to find the owner of the car. If that isn’t an option you can do what I did.
I have both my local police non-emergency number (not 911) and all of the local animal control cruelty report phone numbers as well as the number to mall security loaded into speed dial on my cell phone. If you do this? The next time you see a dog in trouble you’ll know exactly who to call. Even if you don’t have time to wait for help to arrive, at least you can do something to bring help to a dog in the same situation you described.
If you go to your shelter and AC websites now you can find the proper phone numbers. You can even call their main line and ask for the number to report a dog trapped in a hot car.
Carter,
You are one fast shopper - to get in and out of Wal-Mart in 5 minutes is an amazing accomplishment. What focus and determination!
I never take my dogs on a trip that I know I will be leaving them in the car. I know of a person whose dog was stolen out of the car - heads up people - it’s a bad plan to leave a dog in the car unattended for any reason. “Better safe than sorry” is the axiom here.
Reading all these comments, I’ve seen people say it’s ok to leave a dog in the car as long as the A/C is running and the door is locked. Well, many places have laws against running your vehicle/idling when the vehicle is parked, no matter how long or if anyone is in the vehicle. That’s due to trying to save the environment. Now do the right thing if you love your dogs, and save them by NEVER leaving them in a car alone on even a WARM day just for a few minutes to go in a store. It’s just plain selfish and foolish. Why increase the risk of having a precious member of your family STOLEN, or being left to die alone in the sweltering heat? You’re responsible for their well-being, they depend on you to make the right choice.
And don’t be under false assumptions that you have a car starter and that the car can be left on with the AC running. Cars can and do stall. It only takes minutes for your pet to suffer. Please love your pet, and if you have to, leave them home. I am one of those people who will call the police if I see a dog locked in a car under the wrong conditions. The dogs life is worth it!
This is ridiculous! You wouldn’t sit in your car with the windows cracked wearing a fur coat would you? Here’s a snip from an article I read:
On a warm, sunny day windows collect light, trapping heat inside the vehicle, and pushing the temperature inside to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree Fahrenheit day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within ten minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. At 110 degrees, pets are in danger of heatstroke. On hot and humid days, the temperature in a car parked in direct sunlight can rise more than 30 degrees per minute, and quickly become lethal.
Dogs, for example, are designed to conserve heat. Their sweat glands, which exist on their nose and the pads of their feet, are inadequate for cooling during hot days. Panting and drinking water helps cool them, but if they only have overheated air to breathe, dogs can suffer brain and organ damage after just 15 minutes. Short-nosed breeds, like pugs and bulldogs, young pets, seniors or pets with weight, respiratory, cardiovascular or other health problems are especially susceptible to heat-related stress.
Why can’t you just leave your dog at home!?!
If people just Google they will find that not only have pet owners nationwide been arrested and charged with animal cruelty when their pets have died in hot cars, even police officers have been charged when their K9 partners have died under similar circumstances. I recall one case last year, I think, where a backup alert system that was supposed to roll down the windows and honk the horn if the AC failed didn’t activate. It’s so sad and so avoidable.
What about people who actually live in motorhomes? I did this for 18 months, with a dog and a cat, after I lost my home. If I had to go into a store (to buy food for all of us, for instance) it was necessary for them to be in the vehicle, as there was nowhere else to leave them. I had a dog seatbelt rigged from a sled harness, and could leave the dog belted, with the windows fully open, and put the cat in his carrier (where he fed and slept.) I made sure they had water and that the vehicle was in shade, if it was necessary to leave them. It was some years ago, and they are no longer with me, but we were still a family, until they crossed the rainbow bridge — not as a result of neglect. Now I have no living family, either two-leggers or four-leggers, and still don’t have a home, although I have a roof until 31 August. I do try always to avoid malls and Wal-Mart for a number of reasons
I think if circumstances are as you describe oldebatte then the best one can do is the best they can do. If possible it would be best to run errands first thing in the morning like at 7:00 or 8:00 am when shops or offices open, and still look for the shade to park in. Or wait until evening to do things like grocery shopping or laundry etc. At least if the sun is down the worst one would have to worry about is theft as opposed to theft and heat stroke.
Another idea would be to find a friend you can trade pet sitting duties with watching each others pets if and when you need to go out. It takes a bit of scheduling but it’s one solution that might be worth looking into.
Usually when I’ve seen dogs in cars it’s between noon and 3:00 pm during the worst heat of the day :o(
Since you lost your home, oldebatte, there really was no choice for you. I’m sure that you, and most people in your situation would do their best under those circumstances. In addition, most people and police officers who come across pets in a motorhome are going to take that fact into consideration, and look carefully at the conditions before taking action.
But for the vast majority of people who leave their pets in vehicles there is definitely a choice. Just leave your pet at home.
When it’s hot out, put on a winter jacket, park you car in the sun and crack the windows a bit. See how long you last before it becomes unbearable. This is how your dog feels. The only way they can cool off is by panting with a smaller amount of body heat lost through their paws, making overheating especially dangerous for them. I DO leave my dog in the car, but where I live I can leave the hatch open without fear of theft. They do make locks so you can leave your door/hatch/back window open a bit to keep doggies in and thieves out @
http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=879&ParentCat=307
I also leave the moon roof half open (hot air will rise out through the top instead of staying stagnant which is what happens when the windows are only cracked), creating air circulation in the vehicle. This is only a problem if it rains. My dog also has water and a cool bed (which is kept in the fridge and taken whenever I bring him with me) and is contained in a wire kennel. He also has a fan which sucks the A/C from the front and blows it onto him when the car is running. Unless he has just been out for a run, he doesn’t pant in this set-up, so I am 100% sure he isn’t overheating. I don’t like to see him panting AT ALL. Heavy panting is one of the first signs of heat stroke, so anytime your dog is with you when it’s hot and he’s panting, more than likely he’s trying to cool himself off. My dog also does agility and most people set-up their vehicles with all the doors open, dogs in kennels, and shade cloths covering the car. He is checked on once an hour at trials and stays cool in the set-up I have for him. My advice: leave your dog at home; invest in the items needed to keep your dog cool (cool bed, hatch lock, moonroof, water); or lastly leave him in the car with the A/C running (still a risk if the car stalls). It takes less than five minutes for a car to heat up to dangerous temperatures (even with the windows cracked) and as a vet tech I have seen many dogs DIE from heat exhaustion, even when owners were just running in for a few items. This was in Colorado, I now live in Michigan, I can’t imagine how hot some parts of the country must get. Some easy signs of heat stroke are:
Heavy panting
Increased breathing rate
Excessive salivation
If you suspect your dog has suffered heat stroke, get your dog cooled off immediately by spraying his belly, feet, armpits and groin with cool water or soak him in a tub of cool water. Wet towels laid in these areas also work well. You can also spray/pour isopropyl alcohol on the same areas. A/C blowing over them will cool them off faster. Don’t use cold water, cool water is best. While you are in the process of cooling your dog off, TAKE HIM TO A VET!! Even though his body temperature may be back within a more normal range, you can’t necessarily see what damage was done when his temperature was elevated. He will need support to help him survive the secondary effects of having an elevated body temperature, including vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and clotting and death.
Carter
I want to know how you can go into Walmart or any store and it only take you 3 min, it takes that long to walk to the front doors of the store, then use the restroom, then walk back, be realistic, for all of you that think its okay to leave your kids in the car for 5 min, I want you to go to a parking lot wearing your winter coat, crack the window as far as you do for your kid and turn the car off and sit there for 5 min, and then tell me how you feel, I think this is a great law and should be passed everywhere, do unto others as you would want them to do to you
What a great way for states to make money and save dogs from senseless owners all at one time.
Great job California!
Carter, I’m sure they’re your babies and you love them. But 80 degrees is hot! You don’t think that’s hot in the car? Try it. I want you to sit in there as someone else suggested, but because dogs body temperatures are higher, and they cannot perspire, you do not realize that it is even hotter for them than it will be for you. And it is not possible you go in and out of Walmart, make a purchase and are back in 3 minutes…You are not being a caring owner, and it is plain cruel to do this to your pets. I once worked for a man who left his dogs in the car for a 5 minute run to pick up blueprints and thought he’d be right back…well someone stopped him they chatted…in 15 minutes he was back…probably as long as YOU are in Walmart. Both of his dogs were dead. He never forgave himself, and they were his babies. He never got another dog again because he was so heartbroken over what he did. No he was not intentionally a cruel person, as no one says you are…but things happen, your dogs are not safe in the car in the heat. Please for the sake of your dogs, shop while they’re home. If you can’t take the time to drive them home, you are being selfish. If the police had broken your window it would be your problem. How are they expected to know when you will be back? I’m glad they were more concerned about your dogs then the broken glass. Seems you are more concerned about the cost of the glass, then the life of your pets.
It is good to know that California has a law to protect dogs left in cars. But laws need to be enforced. Also, the article assumes that the location where a dog(s) are left in a car is either a mall or someplace where there are security guards.
There are rural locations where neither security guards, nor police are readily available. I recently sent an email to my local SPCA regarding dogs in distress and asked if dialing 911 would bring help. I was referring to a situation at a beach destination where dogs were left in a car while owners were on the beach.
In my state there is such a beach not located near a beach resort town.
I was told that it is unlikely that 911 would respond for a pet. I was advised to locate the nearest 24 hour emergency animal hospital. In most cases I’d have to transport the dog there myself. I don’t think that the average individual who likes and/or has a dog carries around a list of emergency animal hospitals.
If not in California, what can you do in such a situation? Could you break into the car using a coat hanger or credit card and take the dog for help…leaving a note for the owner to know where their dog is? How do you save a dog in a place where the usual first responders are not nearby?
Brian K
Hi Brian,
If I were you I would also call the police department and ask them if they would come out to aid a dog in distress or how best to handle a situation like this. If they say they would come I’d even ask for the officer’s name so that if you ever needed to call you can say that you spoke to officer so-and-so and they suggested you contact them. I am assuming that most likely they would ask you to call the non-emergency number and not 911. I would also ask them if you would be charged for breaking into a car to remove a stricken animal.
If your city or state doesn’t have a law to protect animals in this situation you could make a copy of the California law and send it to your local house or senate representatives asking them to pass the same or similar legislation enabling police to act when dogs are in danger.
You could also approach the city council, parks department or whoever is in charge of the beach you speak of and ask if signs can be posted in the parking lot reminding people not to leave dogs unattended in their parked cars. If there is a law prohibiting this the code could be included on the sign.
The California law is statewide, not just for urban or shopping areas. It affords protection to any dog regardless of where the car is parked.
If we didn’t have the law here in California and I were to see a dog at the beach or in the country and it appeared to be a life and death situation I would call Animal Control and the Police. If nobody was willing to take action I would call the local media and raise public awareness to the situation… Especially if it appeared to be a matter of life and death.
I wish that Oklahoma had this law. I just hope that people treat their dogs just like there is another human in the car. Have you ever sat in a car with hot temperatures? Try it and see how you like it. Even just 5-7 minutes the car especially in 100 plus temps will get over 110 temp. So if you are just running in a store or anything remember …you sit in hot car…and you will see how it feels and you will totally understand.
Have a great and Safe Summer…. Woof to all of the dogs …stay cool~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian;
I second your question about what to do when faced with this situation in areas where police and/or security forces are not readily available. Last summer I found out that the Costco I was shopping at has no PA system, and therefore they could not call the owner who’d left their dog to perish in the car for over an hour in the mid-day sun.
I work in a beach resort town that is very busy in the summer months, yet we rarely have law enforcement nearby. The nearest detachment is 20 minutes away and covers a large rural area. When I see a dog in a car (hot day or not), I go over and see how the dog is doing, and decide what to do from there. I’ve not had to bust a window yet, but I’d do it if I thought it was necessary. I would think it safe to assume that if/when you do break into someones car, you’re breaking the law, and should expect to have to deal with the consequences. I have a client who busted a car window to rescue a dog last summer. The dog was obviously suffering and the owners had not responded to multiple calls over the stores PA system. She had quite an interesting ‘chat’ with the owner afterwards but by that time the cops had arrived. No charges were laid against her or the dog owner.
I’ve created a little postcard about the dangers of Heat Stroke to leave on the windshield in an effort to provide some education for the owner. It has a little table that shows how the temps inside the car will rise depending on the outdoor temps. The numbers are quite alarming. The postcard also lists early and advanced symptoms of Heat Stroke, and what to do if you see them. I carry them with me at all times in my purse, and I have them available for free in my shop. Having the pet shop in a small town, the local kids like to visit here, so I also pass them out to them to slap on windshields of cars with dogs trapped inside. That way we’re educating the next generation of pet owners BEFORE they go and do something reckless.
For those concerned with areas where law enforcement and security are not available to intervene I would urge you to contact the police department the areas in question would be under the jurisdiction of before there is another incident and ask what can be done. How far can you go? Would a good samaritan law protect you if you broke into a car? If not asking your legislators to pass laws to protect both dogs in distress and good samaritans who want to save them when their lives are in danger would be a great next step.
That way instead of breaking laws you could save the dogs and without fear of being prosecuted for anything.
Find out who within the city parks and recreation department or whoever runs the beach parking lots and seek permanent signs to be posted in the beach parking lots reminding owners of the dangers. If the city won’t pay for them start a fundraiser offer to donate the money. Even better, if possible, ask for a local ordinance banning leaving dogs in cars at or near the beach during certain hours when the heat is at its worst.
Just yesterday 6-26-08 my friend and I were in a parking lot when a car pulled in just a head of us. She had a quick errand to run and I stayed in the car with all windows open because we had my neo mastiff with us. Just as we were leaving we noticed that car that pulled in before us had a puppy in it with all the windows rolled up. My friend went to all the stores in the center to find out who owned the car and no one admitted to it. So we preceeded to call the sherriff, which told us it was animal control problem, then they told us it was the city police problem then they told us to csll the sherriff.. No one would help. It ieas in the sun ad 81 degrees outside. Just then the owners finally came out of Starbucks. Boy did they get a severe tongue lashing from 4 very irate women. But it just amazed me that no authority figure would do anything. If I have to take my dog, I will lock the car and run the ac full blast. But normally if it is hot she stays home or a friend is with me so they can take her out of the car and walk around with her even if I am just stopping to put gas in my car.
It’s really just as simple as this. You know how it feels when you get into your car on a hot day. Even with the windows cracked open it’s very hot, stifling, and more often then not vinyl seats are too hot to sit on and steering wheels are too hot to touch. The first thing you do is open the windows or turn on the air. Your dog can’t do either! Practice tough love on yourself and leave your much loved pet at home.
Hi Jo,
This is why it is so important that people contact their local legislators and ask them to pass a law similar to the one California passed. I urge you to contact everyone.
Here’s how you can do it:
To contact your Congressmen and women click here:
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
and enter your state and zip code. The website will show you contact information of who your local representatives are.
To contact your Senators click here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
and select the state you live in and the website will give you the contact information you need.
Then send them the information about SB1806 on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/ywcgw5
Write a brief introduction and let them know you think your city and state need a bill similar to SB 1806 in California. That it protects dogs left in hot cars that would otherwise suffer heat stroke and be injured or perish. That as it is now when you’ve tried to report a dog in this condition neither the sheriff or animal control were willing to help and something needs to be done about this.
Don’t forget to contact your local city council people. Ask your Mayor for help. Be a squeaky wheel. You can call, email or send a letter. Just do something to get the ball rolling. Please take the time to do this. The animals are counting on you.
IT HAPPENED TO ME!!! Take it from someone who has been through it. My husband went grocery shopping and while unloading at home our little Bishon jumped in the back seat. Hubby closed the car door, brought the groceries upstairs and I put them away. (No more than a few minuets) I looked around and couldn’t fine the dog- had a bad feeling and ran downstairs to the car. The widows were covered with saliva and smeared with paw marks. Inside she was already gone. REMEMBER to make sure to also check that they have not jumped in the car without your knowledge!! It happened so fast- and I will never get over the shock and loss.
Lynn I am so sorry for your loss :o(
In many ways they are just like kids. A Bishon is small, quick, and it would be easy to lose site of them. Thank you for sharing your cautionary story. A dog slipping unnoticed into a hot car isn’t something I’d ever thought about before and hadn’t been mentioned in this thread.
I agree with Carter. Some people totally overreact. We have a vacation home that is out-of-state. Many years ago we took a trip and would always bring our dog. It was 60 degrees out and overcast at the time. We stopped to eat and left our dog with the window cracked in the car. Since it was 60 degrees and overcast there was no way the car would get too hot. When we got finished about 45 minutes later there was a LONG letter on our car window telling us what horrible dog owners we were. Some people are just crazy and like drama. I agree that if the weather was too hot then it is irresponsible to have your dog in a hot car even for 5 minutes. But most people do not use judgement if they are looking to make a point. So again I agree with Carter. By the way she passed a few years later at the age of 16 of old-age, not heat strolke.