I left my dog in the car for under 10 minutes. Did I abuse my dog?
November 29, 2015 5:16 PM   Subscribe

I take my great dane everywhere except for the grocery store. I left her in the car for ten minutes tops, came back to a mean note citing animal abuse. What should I do?

I ran to the grocery store after a long day of dog parks and Christmas shopping at the outdoor-mall. I hate leaving her in the car alone, let alone my house, and I made sure to pump the heat up on the way to the grocery so she wouldn't be cold. I ran in, grabbed some bell peppers and feta, ran out. In the meantime someone left a note on my car that read 'Hi! You've been reported to the police for animal abuse. Have a nice day!" I'm freaking out, anxious, and now I'm worried I abuse my dog. Did I? Or am I just being anxious?
posted by Marinara to Pets & Animals (37 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: Oh Marinara, I am so sorry to hear that. Of course you didn't abuse your dog! That person is an asshole, plain and simple. The "have a nice day" is a dead give away.

My dog loves car rides, and as long as the temperature isn't too hot, I bring her with and leave her in the backseat if I need to run in a store or the post office. The car is never a dangerous temperature, and a car isn't inherently a dangerous environment for a dog. Seriously, I wouldn't freak about it. I am just sorry you had to experience this!
posted by msali at 5:21 PM on November 29, 2015 [11 favorites]


Best answer: I don't see how this is animal abuse. Yes, it would be bad on a 100 degree summer day, but if the weather was warm enough that the dog did fine at the outdoor mall and the dog park, I don't see how 10 minutes in a similar-temperature car would be abuse!
posted by rainbowbrite at 5:21 PM on November 29, 2015 [4 favorites]


Best answer: A concerned passer-by has no way of knowing how long your dog has been there. I'm not so familiar with cold weather but I know in warm weather the temperature in a car can rise to shockingingly high levels very fast. Police spokespeople here have praised people for smashing windows to retrieve children left in cars (and encouraged people to do so since even waiting for the emergency services could be fatal) and I think if you did that for a dog you probably wouldn't be in too much trouble either.
posted by kitten magic at 5:23 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Provo City Code Statue 8.02.030 reads:

"The following are unlawful . . . (4) To carry or confine any animal in or upon any vehicle in a cruel or inhumane manner, including but not limited to carrying or confining such animal without adequate ventilation."

So yes, it's possible that what you did could be seen as illegal depending on how the courts define "ventilation"; non-legally speaking, I do not know if it could be termed "abuse".

IANAL, TINLA
posted by chainsofreedom at 5:24 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Best answer: The "have a nice day" is a dead give away.

Yeah, I do agree with this! If they were really concerned they would have stayed with the dog.

I don't think you abused your dog in the situation you described but do be careful. It doesn't need to be 100 degrees for it to be dangerous in summer. Again, can't comment on winter.
posted by kitten magic at 5:26 PM on November 29, 2015 [5 favorites]


Best answer: If the person was concerned about the dog they would have waited until the cops came to rescue the dog. They're just a jerk, unless there's something I'm missing and it was especially hot or cold in the car after the ten minutes. I can't imagine it was especially hot in Utah in late November, and I can't imagine it got dangerously or even uncomfortably cold in ten minutes either.
posted by ftm at 5:28 PM on November 29, 2015 [2 favorites]


Best answer: I am someone who freaks out when I see unattended animals in cars. I also have the tendency to think the worst of the owners, because I have more automatic respect for animals than I do for people.

People like me sometimes jump to conclusions about things like seeing a dog in a parked car, when the real story is that the dog has a very loving owner who just zipped in to the store on a not-hot day, and really everything is fine.

I don't think you did anything wrong, and I'm sure you are very careful to take excellent care of your awesome Great Dane, and I apologize on behalf of people whose knee-jerk, misanthropic, animal-loving instinct sometimes prompts them to do dickish things like leave that note on your car when the situation doesn't warrant it.

On preview: Yeah, I do agree with this! If they were really concerned they would have stayed with the dog.

Exactly.
posted by mudpuppie at 5:28 PM on November 29, 2015 [4 favorites]


Best answer: People are nasty cowards and that person should be ashamed of themselves. Sorry that happened to you—you did not abuse your dog.

I also have a Great Dane that I like to take with me almost everywhere! I never worried about her waiting in the car for 10-15 minutes in the winter but a law passed where I live that comes with a fine and, as kitten magic says, allows them to smash open the windows if they think a dog might be harmed by the hot or the cold (or anything else) so I don't like the risk it anymore.

This is not because I don't think she can handle waiting in the car for 10 minutes when it's 35–65ish degrees out, but because people are busybodies and love the drama of thinking that they are "rescuing" a dog. I think you probably want to avoid leaving the dog alone in the car during the winter or summer for this reason, NOT because you're a bad dog owner but because people are bad observers.
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 5:29 PM on November 29, 2015 [22 favorites]


Best answer: Leaving your dog in a *hot* car is problematic, but not in the scenario you describe.
posted by noonday at 5:29 PM on November 29, 2015 [2 favorites]


Best answer: PS: The very fact that you're asking this question says a lot, I think. You're not a dog abuser.
posted by mudpuppie at 5:30 PM on November 29, 2015 [5 favorites]


Best answer: This person is a self-righteous a-hole, and you did not abuse your dog. The highest temperature I see in Utah for today was about 40 degrees. Dogs have fur coats. The dog had adequate ventilation ... i.e. standard airflow in a closed vehicle. The police probably would have laughed at them if they had actually reported it.
posted by jferg at 5:30 PM on November 29, 2015 [6 favorites]


Best answer: (To clarify, I mean that you should avoid it in the summer and winter because it can get too hot and cold, not only because people are busybodies.)
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 5:30 PM on November 29, 2015


Best answer: We're not supposed to edit for content so I just wanted to add that I'm really mad for you that someone did a crummy thing to try to ruin your day just because they could. It was just a mad person who thought it would be fun to try to make someone else feel as crummy as they do every day and I hope you won't let them succeed.
posted by ftm at 5:31 PM on November 29, 2015 [14 favorites]


Best answer: And according to this (which google turned up, I'm not a lawyer and it's not legal advice), Utah doesn't even have a law against it.

https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-laws-protect-animals-left-parked-vehicles
posted by kitten magic at 5:33 PM on November 29, 2015


Best answer: It's unsafe to leave your dog in a hot, unventilated car.

But it's winter right now. Your dog was in no danger at all, your actions were not abusive, and the person who left you the note is a moron.

You did nothing wrong. Don't freak out, nothing will come of this.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:33 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Best answer: 'Hi! You've been reported to the police for animal abuse. Have a nice day!"

These are the words of an asshole. Those go in the round file.

I would be tempted to leave a note on my car basically saying "yes, i'm nearby, yes these are the circumstances, leave me alone". But i probably wouldn't, and would keep ignoring assholes.
posted by emptythought at 5:40 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Best answer: I forget what the actual guidelines are, but I've read that you're generally fine to leave your dog in the car for a few minutes when the outside temperatures are between 40 and 70 F. You are good here.

I think it's good, in some respects, people may be concerned if they see a dog in a car. In this case, from what you've said? It was just a weird over-reaction. I seriously doubt you were actually reported. Like others have said, if this person was actually concerned, they would've hung around and have seen how long you were in the store. I've done that in some situations (not like stood right by the car or anything, but just waited to make sure everything seemed OK/dog wasn't distressed/etc.).

Go hug your pup. You seem to be smart and caring when it comes to your dog. You're fine.
posted by darksong at 5:40 PM on November 29, 2015


Best answer: Hi! I'm that person that calls 911 for stuff like this. I live in Los Angeles...

I wouldn't think twice about reporting you given today's weather! Ridiculous!! I think the person who wrote the note is a misinformed asshole. It's only dangerous when it's hot outside. It's no where near hot today. You did nothing wrong.
posted by jbenben at 5:47 PM on November 29, 2015 [3 favorites]


Best answer: My dog does not love the car, but my elderly mother's sweet lab does SO MUCH. Mom hates to leave her home during the hot months in Memphis, and they both eagerly await the cooler months so Remi can go run errands with her. She is very, very careful. If someone left a note like this on her car, I would be so furious. There are ignorant people in this world, and lately it seems they are feeling more entitled every day. I'm so sorry you happened to encounter one today. You did nothing wrong, please don't give this a minute's more worry.
posted by raisingsand at 5:47 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Yeah hi, I am a person who gets really concerned about dogs left in cars. I have waited by cars for up to 20 minutes waiting for owners to return. I have called my local spca before to report dogs in cars. I have called my local spca to report other kinds of animal abuse. I am also a person who has left her dog alone in the car for 10 minutes to run into the store or use the bathroom on trips.

There's a huge difference between a car on a hot summer day and a car in November. There's a huge difference between leaving a dog in a car for a few minutes and leaving them for hours. Anyone who isn't a complete busybody ass knows that. This person is a complete busybody ass. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.
posted by phunniemee at 5:53 PM on November 29, 2015 [3 favorites]


Best answer: I'm sorry this happened to you. I don't understand why people think this kind of nasty note leaving behavior is okay. As noted, if the letter writer were really worried, they would have waited by the car for 15 minutes to make sure you were coming back out in short order. As it is, they're just mean. And mean people suck.
posted by frumiousb at 5:54 PM on November 29, 2015


Best answer: Well....the busybody had no idea how long your dog was in the car or how long your dog was going to be in the car. Much as I think they sound like a jerk (and let's face it, anyone leaving a note on a car sounds like a jerk), they probably were concerned on some level.

Also, have you actually heard from police so far? I would probably guess they're too busy to deal with you, especially if any cops came by to look at the dog and you had driven off by then.

I don't think you meant to be abusive, but at the same time I don't think this is a super great practice to be doing even in winter, mostly because of (a) scenarios like this, and (b) "it'll only be ten minutes" sometimes ends up taking a whole lot longer due to circumstances not under your control. So it might be a good idea to reconsider doing this sort of thing.
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:54 PM on November 29, 2015


Best answer: Every Saturday morning from October to April (i.e., cool weather) I take my two dogs to the park, then pop into the grocery store on the way home to pick up a few things. I roll down the windows about 4 inches on each side and lock the doors. They know the routine. It's one of the best parts of my week.

I'm a long time dog owner and a volunteer at a local animal rescue. I never even considered this as something that could be interpreted as abuse.

I don't think there is anything wrong with what you did at all, but I find your story worrisome. What kind of person would report this, and leave a note like that? Hopefully the police ignored the call.
posted by mulcahy at 6:06 PM on November 29, 2015


Response by poster: Thank you to everyone who answered. I feel much less anxious and worried. Police haven't been in contact, though I thought about calling in on them and following up. I appreciate you all for letting me know what's what. I'm going to definitely be more cautious now, though I don't know how to best go about doing that. Luna comes seriously everywhere with me (work, volunteering, shopping, paddle-boarding, 6am yoga class, and cross-country flights) and it often feels more "abusive" to leave her home because we both get separation anxiety. I love the note idea, emptythought, and I might leave one with my phone number in case people were worried if I had to do it again. I'm marking everything as best answer because I'm really grateful that all of you took time to answer and give me something to think about.
posted by Marinara at 6:06 PM on November 29, 2015 [2 favorites]


I'm from Australia, I've seen a strangers dog in the throws of heat stroke after being left in a car for a few minutes in an Australian summer & am the sort of person to call the cops if I see a dog left in a hot car and I don't think you did anything at all abusive. I now live in the US Midwest & would do the same thing in the weather we are having here currently.

IF they did report you they didn't stay around long enough to give a police statement etc so it would be there word against yours. If worst came to worst the only evidence that might count would be surveillance footage, which would show you were only gone a short time. As everyone else says it's most likely some asshole being a dick because of the "have a nice day" comment.
posted by wwax at 6:09 PM on November 29, 2015


Like you, I take my dog with me a lot of places, leaving her in the car when I need to (including much longer than 10 minutes when the weather is cool enough and it's after dark or overcast). I feel it would be abusive *not* to do so because she's a very smart, active dog and needs the stimulation of car rides and new scents to sniff.

She has a lush fur coat, and used to prefer spending most of the night outside even down into the high 30's (when I had a fenced yard and doggie door). 40 degrees outside, and tucked into a car out of the wind? No problem whatsoever, in fact I believe she prefers it to the temperature inside the house!

I've had her 5 years, and have never once had some cretin leave a nasty note on my car. I think this was a very unusual occurrence and that you should try to put it out of your mind and continue to be an active dog parent who involves your dog in your life.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 7:11 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


For dogs with severe separation anxiety one of the recommendations is to take your dog in the car if you can't be with them because they deal with the separation better there. That's why I take my dog with me everywhere unless it's above sixty-five or so. He is fine and your dog is fine, too.

The note leaver was a sad little jerk. Forget about them.
posted by winna at 7:22 PM on November 29, 2015 [2 favorites]


Marinara: "Police haven't been in contact, though I thought about calling in on them and following up."

IF this idiot actually called the cops -- WHICH I RATHER DOUBT, you don't leave a threatening note when you do that -- the cops literal LOLed and promptly ignored the whole thing because it's not the middle of summer and THEY HAVE ACTUAL COP JOBS TO TEND TO. Cops are not responding to "there's a dog in the car" unless it's over 80 AND it's a slow day. (In fact, if they actually called the cops, which again they clearly did not, the dispatcher probably told them, "Did you go in the grocery store and ask to have the owner paged?" "Uh ... no?" "Go do that first.")
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:16 PM on November 29, 2015 [6 favorites]


Can confirm, left my dogs in parked car today while traveling back from family fun times. They were all in sight while we met other family, that left their dog in their jeep as well, to get a pizza lunch admist all the shitty traveling we were doing.

Anyway, I am not an abuser, not are they, nor are you.

If I'd have seen some nosy fuck leave a note on my car he/she and I would have had *words*, I tell you what...
posted by RolandOfEld at 9:13 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Jesus Christ, it's 19 degrees here and when I go to the grocery store virtually every single car has a dog or two waiting in it. If the car is warm to begin with they are good for at least a half hour of comfort and hours and hours of being totally fine albeit not in the lap of luxury. I hate that these vigilantes are condemning our dogs to a life of being left behind at home because we're afraid of some nut job breaking into our cars to "rescue" them. You did nothing wrong.
posted by HotToddy at 10:15 PM on November 29, 2015 [4 favorites]


If this makes you very anxious about doing this in the future, I would consider laminating a little notice with a cute picture of your dog and a message like "Marinara's Dog loves sitting in her car and is quite happy here for short lengths of time in cool weather. I will be back before ....." Keep some post-it notes in the car, and if you have to leave the car put the notice in the window with a post-it showing the actual time you'll be back. If that busybody is hanging around, that would reduce the chances of them persuading the police or anyone else to break into your car.
posted by Azara at 4:16 AM on November 30, 2015


An old man yelled at me the other day because I was using my mobile phone in a movie theatre DURING THE COMMERCIALS. Apparently I was distracting him from the Coke and U.S. Army recruitment ads. I told him I would shut the phone off when the commercials were over, then did exactly that.

Never mind the bollocks... or the trolls. You did NOT abuse your dog. The holidays are here and some people will do anything to avoid looking at their miserable lives.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 4:17 AM on November 30, 2015 [1 favorite]


Nthing everyone.

I too am an animal lover, current cat owner, previous dog owner, who has phoned the police to report dogs shut in cars on hot summer days. I stay with the dog, watching for the owners (in case it is a few-minutes thing, but even then it's dangerous on a hot day) and so I can be there when the police arrive.

I don't even look at cars once temperatures get below 70F. You did not abuse your dog. Also nthing that the police likely paid no heed to the person IF they did actually call (I don't think they did either). There's no need for you to follow up with them, you're fine.

Maybe do make a reusable note if you want. Brings a smile to those of us who wouldn't worry anyway, too.
posted by fraula at 7:18 AM on November 30, 2015 [1 favorite]


I'm sure you haven't been reported to the police. That person was just being an asshole. I wouldn't even consider spending a minute worrying about legal consequences.

Dogs don't do well in the heat (because they can't sweat, and car temperatures can rise very fast in the sun). Most are fine in the cold, although even in winter a car won't get that cold in 10 minutes of the windows are closed.

I make sure windows are open if it's above, say, 60 Fahrenheit. But unless it's at least 70 out, I don't worry at all, and I'm pretty comfortable with temperatures as high as 80 if it's just a few minutes.
posted by J. Wilson at 7:55 AM on November 30, 2015 [1 favorite]


My dog often lies in the car while I'm on the job, and the other day I was in a strange town, and at some point the police calls me! Super scary!! It's about the dog in the car, and the officer asks me about when I have walked him, and how long we have been in town. I reply anxiously, and the officer tells me to relax: I'm doing the right thing, and the people who called the police were busybodies. His (police)dog is in the car all the time, and sees it as his doghouse. Like mine does.
This is obviously during temperate weather and out of the sun.

Anyway, I still ran down to the car, to find a relaxed dog who didn't even want the water I offered him. And no, there were no "worried" people there to keep an eye on him. To be honest, I think what they were really upset about was that I had parked illegally, because I don't want to put my dog in a garage. I actually discussed this with the policeman, who agreed that I had been sensible to risk a fine for my dogs fresh air and view. (I did get a parking ticket).
posted by mumimor at 1:46 PM on November 30, 2015


I also have a dog with separation anxiety, and he also is totally fine in the car. My only fear is that someone will try to smash a window to "save" him, and he will see someone smashing up his den to get to him and bite the fuck out of them.

People are insufferable busybodies about dogs. Don't let them get to you.
posted by corb at 2:09 PM on November 30, 2015 [1 favorite]


I had to take Dogs #1 and #3 to the vet tonight. Dog #3 is the WORST at going to the vet (he's pretty young and very new to the family so we're figuring this out as we go along). He was nonstop barking at every damn thing, and Dog #1 was getting riled up and it was bad. The vet, after trying to explain something to me over the barking told me that it'd be just another few minutes and I could go ahead and load them in the car and come back for my meds and to pay.

TL;DR: my vet encouraged me to put my dogs in my car for a little bit, unattended. You didn't abuse your dog, and the letter-writer is a human version of my obnoxiously barky min-pin.
posted by Fig at 8:21 PM on November 30, 2015 [1 favorite]


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