[Floridagal]

I am an animal lover, and this morning I feel like I have to vent.

Yesterday evening my husband and I went to Bob Evens. There was a car next to us with one window slightly open. Inside was this poor dog barking and wanting to get out. Why must people take their pet to a restaurant and leave them in a car in this terrible heat? Is it that important that your dog has to be with you all the time. I was going to go back in to find out who owned that dog, but I was not looking to start an argument in a restaurant.

Please pet owners, think before taking your pet with you if you are going to leave the pet in a car for a long or even a short time. The pet would love you more for leaving him/her home in an air conditioned house.

[njbchbum]

if this ever happens to you again - please return to the restaurant and give the make/model of the car to the hostess and ask her to locate the owner because there is a distressed animal in the vehicle in need of assistance. you just might save a dog's life. thanx for considering this.

[graciegirl]

Would it help to call Village Watch and have them handle it?

How very wrong to lock a pet inside a car in this heat!

[DonH57]

It's way to hot here to have a dog in a car.

[gomoho]

call the sheriff - they need to be sited for animal abuse.

[billethkid]

we are always mindful of the weather whenever we decide to bring our dog anywhere that might include a short stay in the car.

It is difficult to go in and "start an argument" unless one KNOWS the situation....did they stop to use a rest room? Did they go in to pick up take out? et al? All that was known was there was a dog left in a car with a window open and it was warm/hot out.

May still need to be checked out....just suggesting one not make a conclusion before knowing...for sure.

btk

[gocubsgo]

You should have said something to the hostess or manager. I wouldn't have been able to sit at a meal knowing that dog was in that car!

[Parker]

None of us likes confrontation, but someone should have at least called the police. They get paid to rescue those in need, and to handle sticky situations. "ASAP" is what was needed here.

[MikeV]

We just had to put our 13 year old Maltese to sleep because of health issues. I hate to tell you what I would do if I found a helpless dog in that situation.

[lovsthosebigdogs]

Sometimes we need to put the good (ultimately the life) of the dog over the uncomfortable situation we might feel. Maybe the people didn't realize how incredibly dangerous it was and needed to hear it. It must have been very hard for you to have to see that and struggle with what to do. The very smart people on this list have offered some wonderful suggestions for anyone who encounters this during warm months. It would be my first inclination to go into the restaurant frantic and angry but thanks to their suggestions I might (maybe) have a better way to handle it.

[KARENNN]

You can print this and leave it on the windshield whenever you see a dog in a car....

Whew! Glad you are back! I know I
really wanted to go in the car with you,
but you were right, it is too hot today and
I should have listened to you.
I can't sweat, so I have just been panting and
taking in more of the hot air making me even hotter!
Even with the windows open, I'm still dying in here!
I may not remember this next time and will ask to
go with you again, but PLEASE LEAVE ME HOME!
Love,
"Woof"

[gomoho]

[GeoGeo]

I would not rely on the personnel at the restaurant to make the call to the police. I would do it myself, if possible, to make sure it was done.

When we travel out of state, we make sure we have two sets of keys with us. We leave the car running with the air conditioner on. We lock the doors so nobody steals the dogs. Then while in the restaurant, I will go outside a number of times to make sure the car is still running. A little inconvenient, but great peace of mind. There is no way I'm leaving my pets in a hot car. I wouldn't sit in a hot car. Why should my pets? I can't figure out why all people who have pets, don't think the same way.

[wendyquat]

IMHO you were wrong. I could not ave left without finding help for the dog!

[kittygilchrist]

I tried to shut up. lost cause.
Assuming a barking dog in a car in the evening is in jeopardy is not using the best judgment and neither is doing nothing to follow through for the animal.
A barking dog is protesting, therefore not using survival instinct to pant and not in immediate danger.

As a former expert witness and evaluator of child abuse, I would put my hand into the window to judge the heat, determine whether the AC is on, evaluate temperature,clouds, shade.
If I thought the dog was in impending danger:

1. Call 911, note the time
2. Get tag # and vehicle description, take photos
3. Give the scenario to the restaurant mgr and determine if a patron is there for pickup or an employee getting their check, etc
4. Ask manager to find owner of car
5. Failing cooperation of mgr, yell that I just wrecked into a so and so vehicle (avoid confrontation about animal in restaurant)
6. Get a big man for witness and backup to come outside with me
7. Wait for law enforcement