You, madam, fail as a human being.

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

Ok so I've read on several posts here that police do not hesitate to break a window to save the animal. Does this also mean then, that a citizen could do the same and not get in trouble for vandalism? I fear that if I was ever in that situation that I could get nailed with destruction of property...

Thoughts?

[Arcade Man D]

I think it's kind of a grey area there. It may be the right thing to do ethically, but legally is a whole other matter.

[ahanix1989]

I'm sure if you can prove the animal was in danger, it's legal. But, if the dog is happily wagging his tail in 40°F weather, they'd frown on breaking the glass. Plus, you should put in an effort to reach the owner beforehand. Maybe hang by the car for 5-10 minutes if you have time.

[Noelegy]

I can't believe how careless and ignorant people can be.

Words just can't express how I'm feeling.

I don't understand it, either. But then again, despite the media attention it gets whenever this happens, people still keep "forgetting" their babies in hot cars. This is one of those phenomena, like peanut allergies, that never seemed to happen when I was growing up. I've lived in Texas all my life, and as one of my online friends put it so succinctly, you don't even leave a quart of ice cream in the car on a hot day, let alone a living being.

I was at my college's department of public safety office, getting a new parking permit, when I saw a huge poster, in English and Spanish, explaining in short, simple words why it was a bad idea to leave your baby in a hot car. I can't believe people have to be TOLD this.

If I ever see an animal locked in a car, I won't hesitate to take action. People with consciences have to take action for those who can't speak up for themselves, animal or human (who far too often seem to be at the mercy of people without conscience).

[XCashier]

I don't understand it, either. But then again, despite the media attention it gets whenever this happens, people still keep "forgetting" their babies in hot cars. ...I was at my college's department of public safety office, getting a new parking permit, when I saw a huge poster, in English and Spanish, explaining in short, simple words why it was a bad idea to leave your baby in a hot car. I can't believe people have to be TOLD this.

I'm originally from Phoenix, AZ so I know what you mean. Triple digit temperatures + car parked in sun = oven on wheels. Even a car parked in the shade with the windows down a crack will get bloody hot in the summer. Common sense and logic would tell you not to leave a living being in a car under such conditions, but alas, common sense and logic are being bred out of the human species.

[Tria]

I'm sure if you can prove the animal was in danger, it's legal. But, if the dog is happily wagging his tail in 40°F weather, they'd frown on breaking the glass. Plus, you should put in an effort to reach the owner beforehand. Maybe hang by the car for 5-10 minutes if you have time.

I think the 40 mentioned was C, not F....

[myswtghst]

I'm not allowed to watch Animal Cops anymore. I either end up bawling or cussing out the tv and angry beyond belief.

I had a miniature poodle named Daisy when I was in high school, she went with me places all the time, and was perfectly content in the car for short periods of time, with windows cracked. She was a laid back little dog.

My mom has a yellow lab, Sunny, who loves car rides, but only gets to go with when I go somewhere to drop something off (i.e. the post office, the video store) as she's too wild to be trusted not to destroy my car if I left her there for long.

ETA: And I'm assuming as long as the danger to the animal/child is real, or perceived to be severe, they wouldn't be to harsh about pressing charges.

[Shironu-Akaineko]

My mom has a yellow lab, Sunny, who loves car rides, but only gets to go with when I go somewhere to drop something off (i.e. the post office, the video store) as she's too wild to be trusted not to destroy my car if I left her there for long.

Phantom goes totally crazy if I leave the car with her in. She knows I'm coming back, but still, she will bark her irritating SC-style high pitched bark till I come back.

So far I didn't have anybody run after me in the store for animal cruelty for abandoning my poor desperate miniature sheltie in my well ventilated car...

She makes me look real bad when she does that. Kinda like a kid throwing a tantrum over a piece of licorice.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I'd break the window, laws be damned.

I have to live inside my own head regardless of what the law is. You know?

[myswtghst]

I know exactly what you me, RK. If I thought it was a serious issue and the dog was in danger, I'd use my own common sense. I'd rather get in trouble than risk the animal being sick/injured/dying.

[Getoutofmylobby]

I'm going to chime in with some hate too. Some people don't deserve the privelege of being a pet owner.

And I can't watch animal cops either.

[ShootMePlease]

That "lady" is a worthless piece of garbage. I would have smashed her window AND called the cops. There is NO excuse for mistreating an animal. PERIOD.

[Chained to the counter]

Sorry the 40 i mentioned is celcius not farnheight.

Sorry for the confusion

[CrazedClerk]

You know if it came down to it, I'd have no problem smashing the damn window to save the dog.

[toomanycalls1]

My question

My question is why would you put your dog in the car if you were going somewhere you were needing to stop for anything more than a minute in the first place?

My dog loves car rides and we take him out on them sometimes just a quick ride in the car he loves it.

The only time I have ever left a dog in a car is a time we were coming back from the vet and I had to stop and pick up some medication at another vet's office. It was an usual kind and our vet called around to find one that had it. I didn't want to take him in with me because he was sleeping. I cracked open a window and worried the entire 5 minutes it took me. It was only an early April nice Chicago day. I would have gone home and dropped him off and then drove over but we only had one car at the time and my husband had to go to work.