Dog locked in car, I called cops

[Jainarayan]

A few months ago when we had a very rare warm day I saw a dog locked in a small pickup truck parked next to mine. I went into each of the offices in the office park asking the receptionists to find out who had a green pickup truck with a dog locked in there. I said I was about to call the police.

By the time I left the last office, there was an older woman sitting in the passenger's seat holding the dog. When I went to get in my truck (which was already warm) she opened her window and got in my face that it was none of my business, she's had dogs all her life, blah blah blah. She heard me in one of the offices. I told her people as stupid as she is shouldn't have animals and that I was taking her license plate and calling the police. I didn't, but I figured it put the fear of God into her. I'm sure it didn't.

Yesterday I was leaving the diner, and what do I see? A car with a small dog locked inside, windows closed tighter than a frog's butt. The dog was lying on top of the dashboard looking scared. I got my phone out, while husbear says "you're not calling the police are you?" I said damn skippy I am. I don't know if I was more peed off at him for not wanting me to call the cops, or at the owners of the dog.

It wasn't very warm out, but the sun was playing peek-a-boo with the clouds. I don't know how long the people were in the diner, and how long they would be. I took a picture of the car showing the dog and license plate in the same frame, and gave the police dispatcher the color, make, license plate and location of the car. I said the dog did not to appear to be in distress, but looked scared. She asked for my name and number (as if it didn't come up on her terminal ) and said she would send an officer right away. I asked if I should stay there (I soooo wanted to press charges), but she said no, it was OK for me to leave. I didn't, and knew I probably wouldn't, hear back from the police.

 

[Quintessence]

I would have approached the situation a bit differently. Saying you're going to call the police would be perceived as a threat, and I think their upset is perfectly understandable. Next time, I would suggest educating them about how hot it gets inside closed automobiles in hot weather. Some people genuinely don't know, or don't understand, and would be alarmed to know the level of risk they're exposing their beloved pets to (or in some cases, their human children!). This route is more likely o have long-term positive impacts on their future behavior, because their response isn't tangled up with resentment and fear over some stranger calling cops on them.

Or, if you can't find the owner at all, by all means call for the police or local animal control. Being trapped in a closed vehicle is a very dangerous situation for any animal, human or otherwise.

 

[Jainarayan]

I would have approached the situation a bit differently. Saying you're going to call the police would be perceived as a threat, and I think their upset is perfectly understandable. Next time, I would suggest educating them about how hot it gets inside closed automobiles in hot weather.

You're probably right, she got really nasty defensive, but I was so incensed that anyone would lock a dog inside a vehicle. I wasn't going to say anything more when I saw her in the truck. It was enough that I got some action. When she opened the window to yell at me I told her it was my business and that it was illegal to keep an animal locked in a vehicle even with the windows opened a few inches, not to mention cruel and dangerous.

I can't believe that adults, who hear the warnings every year about leaving animals or children in vehicles, still do it. It's as stupid as the people who drive with their dogs in their laps or sitting in the front seat. If they have a collision and the airbag deploys, that dog is dead. When I take the dogs anywhere, they are in their harnesses and their leashes wrapped around the headrests in the back seat. But that's me.

 

[Asha]

Namaste

I dont know what is the matter with people ? A freind of ours does it all the time we keep droping hints , and he keeps on saying ''I must go and let the dog out'' but theen he dosent. He leves it in his camper van all day ok its got al little ventilation ?

But all day ? We keep droping hints, saying the dog must need to go releive it self !!!
And this is a person who loves animals ???

I dont get it, it is realy cruel, but people just cant see it. We want to lock him in his van for a day see how heed like it ???

 

[BSM1]

A few months ago when we had a very rare warm day I saw a dog locked in a small pickup truck parked next to mine. I went into each of the offices in the office park asking the receptionists to find out who had a green pickup truck with a dog locked in there. I said I was about to call the police.

By the time I left the last office, there was an older woman sitting in the passenger's seat holding the dog. When I went to get in my truck (which was already warm) she opened her window and got in my face that it was none of my business, she's had dogs all her life, blah blah blah. She heard me in one of the offices. I told her people as stupid as she is shouldn't have animals and that I was taking her license plate and calling the police. I didn't, but I figured it put the fear of God into her. I'm sure it didn't.

Yesterday I was leaving the diner, and what do I see? A car with a small dog locked inside, windows closed tighter than a frog's butt. The dog was lying on top of the dashboard looking scared. I got my phone out, while husbear says "you're not calling the police are you?" I said damn skippy I am. I don't know if I was more peed off at him for not wanting me to call the cops, or at the owners of the dog.

It wasn't very warm out, but the sun was playing peek-a-boo with the clouds. I don't know how long the people were in the diner, and how long they would be. I took a picture of the car showing the dog and license plate in the same frame, and gave the police dispatcher the color, make, license plate and location of the car. I said the dog did not to appear to be in distress, but looked scared. She asked for my name and number (as if it didn't come up on her terminal ) and said she would send an officer right away. I asked if I should stay there (I soooo wanted to press charges), but she said no, it was OK for me to leave. I didn't, and knew I probably wouldn't, hear back from the police.

Good on you, but you might want to consider calling animal control instead of the cops next time.

 

[Jainarayan]

Animal control in our country is way understaffed and only handles problem animals... if that. For my raccoon invasions they offered to rent traps. I have one, but it's illegal to release trapped wildlife unless you are licensed. I have to call a wildlife removal service to come get the animal. So, the cops it is. Leaving an animal in a locked vehicle is a ticketable offense, at least here in NJ.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

It is very rare to see here. If dogs are traveling along, they're usually allowed to go inside unless it is a fancy business like Walmart, but I've seen some dogs tied up just outside the doors of Walmart before. Often times, though, pets are left at home.

When I do see a dog in a car, and I have a feeling they'll be in there a while, I really do feel guilty but never had the guts to actually do anything about it. A neighbor of mine (very filthy, three vehicles, a new boyfriend every month, three kids, yellow grass, zero jobs...) has a dog always chained up outside, it's a pitbull and it's very skinny. It's up the road a little ways, but whenever I pass her house by walking, I will see the dog outside barking, go up to pet it and will drop a piece of food if I bring something along.

I do support your actions and think you should not feel bad at them at ALL! Thank you for having the guts to do something like this - sometimes I feel people forget that animals are more than just objects, and it is people like you that makes me regain faith in humanity.

 

[Jainarayan]

Thanks. I don't feel bad at all, I'm kind of surprised at myself being the wimp I usually am. Actually in the first incident I pulled out of the parking lot after seeing the dog, got down the road and made an Emergency Bat Turn saying to myself "no, no, no, this is not right". That's when I went back and went into the offices. I would never leave my dog tied outside a store, not even for 5 minutes, I don't know how people can do that.

 

[freethinker44]

Good on you, but you might want to consider calling animal control instead of the cops next time.

I think it depends on where you live, but around here animal control would just call the police anyways because they don't have authority to break into a locked vehicle, and in some polaces animal control is just a department within the local police department anyways, like an extra duty for police or something.

 

[Jainarayan]

I was trying to be diplomatic, but in a word animal control is useless. The SPCA, on the other hand, has the authority to prosecute. But they also are understaffed and don't respond off-hours. So again, it's a call to the boys (and girls) in blue. The SPCA has gotten at least one pet shop closed down for the abhorrent conditions. One was in a huge local shopping mall. The animals were then taken by the SPCA for adopting out. Guess who was one of the many people who called to complain.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Thanks. I don't feel bad at all, I'm kind of surprised at myself being the wimp I usually am. Actually in the first incident I pulled out of the parking lot after seeing the dog, got down the road and made an Emergency Bat Turn saying to myself "no, no, no, this is not right". That's when I went back and went into the offices. I would never leave my dog tied outside a store, not even for 5 minutes, I don't know how people can do that.

Iowa is trustworthy I guess! This does not go on in another nearby store to me though (Prarie Du Chen, Wisconsin), only have seen it done in Iowa, and it's not often - as I said, most people leave their pets at home.

I am happy that you turned around. Perhaps this is one of those moments when deeper ethics conflict deeper true actions... and WIN!

 

[Jainarayan]

I would not be able to get it out of my head not knowing what happened to that first dog. It would also bother me being someone who saw something and did nothing. I checked further and found the actual NJ statute N. J. S. A. 4:22-10 to 4:22-60.

Part of the summary:

It is unlawful to ... leave the living animal or creature unattended in a vehicle under inhumane conditions adverse to the health or welfare of the living animal or creature. A person who violates these provisions is guilty of a disorderly persons offense and shall be fined not less than $250 nor more than $1,000, or be imprisoned for a term of not more than six months, or both.

My feeling is to leave the pets at home. If these people were traveling (they were NJ residents) from one area of the state to another with their pet, get drive-thru, or a to-go order. Another time I was in the diner at the counter a woman came in for a to-go order. She said she had her dog in the car. I looked at my watch and began the countdown. Fortunately she was done in about 5-10 mins., but in hot weather that is enough time for a dog to get sick, even with a partially window open.

 

[Runewolf1973]

The problem is that some people have a tendency to overreact to situations as well and take uncalled for or unwarranted actions. There are some otherwise responsible pet owners that are being targeted by people who just want to "feel good" about doing what they think is the right thing even though the animal is not actually in any danger or distress.

 

[dust1n]

People probably shouldn't enslave animals in general without a pretty good reason.

 

[Valjean]

A blanket "No animals in locked vehicles" might be going too far. That would preclude any stops between home and the dog park, for example. There are also people who live in their vehicles and might have a pet.
I once rescued a cat from a bad situation in Reno. It was a two day drive home in my van. I'd stop for food or gas/petrol, or for a can of cat food, and leave to cat in the locked but ventilated van for short periods. She was fine.

That said, if the animal really appeared to be in imminent danger and the car owner nowhere to be found, It would be your duty to save the imperiled animal by any means necessary.