What would you do - dog in car?

[bridgetosomewhere]

So I went to a meeting today and car shared with a lady who lives near me.

She had her dog in the car and let her out at lunch. Turns out she does this every day at work too.

The car is a tiny thing like a KA size and the dog has half the tiny boot, with the parcel shelf on top! So it's in the dark all day. It's a spaniel type dog.

I was speechless - I said oh...okay. But it's really not okay. I didn't know what to say, apparently it cries if left alone at home.

Surely you can't do this to a dog? I know I don't like leaving mine in the car while I pop to the shop if it's cold let alone leaving him all day!

[TheBestThingsInLifeAreFreee]

She should at least take the bloody parcel shelf out, poor dog. I hope she is not stupid enough to keep the dog in the car when the weather warms up.

[bridgetosomewhere]

I know I said do you leave the parcel shelf in?? And she said oh yes dog is fine

I feel awful for the poor dog - what a way to spend your day in a dark tiny box :(

[fivedogstofeed]

That's really not ok, you're right.
She leaves her dog confined in the dark for 3
-4 hours at a time? Even if he had food and water that's a horrible existence.

[MotorcycleMayhem]

No way it's that ok, especially with the temperature dropping. In the summer, what the hell does she do?! Is she even leaving a window open?

If you don't feel ok confronting her, I'd check the car during the day and see if the dog is making noise. If it is, call the police and RSPCA anonymously - they'll come and break the dog out, and she'll be dealt with for animal cruelty offences.

If it's quiet, it's hard to say you've seen a dog in there when it's hidden by the parcel shelf.

[pilates]

Oh jeez that has really upset me. Yes an anonymous phone call to RSPCA is needed.

[ImMeantToBeWorking]

Like you I feel bad if I have to leave the dog in the car to go into the shop, after he has had his hour long run. I would defiantly report her for it!!

Leaving a dog in a car is like leaving a child in one!!

[spot102]

Saw someone pick up a dog like this once. Dog didn't seem fazed at all, just jumped in the back of the car! To be fair it was a terrier and probably did like dark places, and I believe they were only going round the corner, but still....!
Mine do spend a fair amount in the car, but not 3-4 hours in the dark, that does seem a bit mean!

[Ollivander84]

Colleague at work would do this but she had a giant car, bed, water etc and we would let the dog out on every break so probably every 45-60 mins? When on a night shift

[LEMtheoriginal]

So not ok. Report her

[spot102]

One of my colleagues did similar (ie bought dog in car on night shift and checked regularly). I believe someone complained and stopped her doing it. Not saying I think it was justified though. Its very much an 'it depends' thing!

[Aprilshowersarecomingsoon]

Report her next time you get into work.. Get the reg and ring the rspca /police.

[bridgetosomewhere]

I'm glad you all agree with me -I will ring and say I heard it yelping!

[billybagpuss]

Definitely report, thats awful

[Beamur]

I'm in two minds about this. It doesn't sound ideal. But as long as the dog is warm and has sufficient space and air, it's not that bad.
It means the dog isn't left home alone, it's probably used to the routine (and sleeps until walkies).
My DH and some of his colleagues used to do this at work, it was secure parking, so they left the cars in the shade with a window open, offices overlooked the cars so they weren't unobserved and then the dogs had a lovely walk and play at lunchtime in the nearby park. Until someone complained because they were concerned about the dogs, so they were all told not to bring the dogs anymore. So instead of being with their owners during the drive to work and walks at lunchtime the dogs got left at home with maybe a quick walk from a neighbour or walker.
If you do decide to report this, don't lie and say you've heard the dog crying - unless you have heard it crying, in which case, fair enough.

[trulybadlydeeply]

I would be extremely concerned, especially in these recent temperatures. A couple of weeks ago I left mine in a crate in the boot for less than 10 minutes, and when I went back to him he was starting to shiver. He was fine because he went for a run immediately after, but I certainly won't do that again, even for 5 minutes.

What on earth happens to the dog in the heat of the summer? Surely she doesn't do it then?

[Booboostwo]

While some dogs like dark, small, enclosed spaces and some dogs are settled in the car but anxious if left home alone, this is only an irregular solution for short periods of time. Aside from anything else most of the year the car will be either too cold or too hot for the dog.

Not sure what you can do about it though. You could try the RSPCA but they only tend to respond to really shocking abuse and neglect cases.

[terriertantrums]

How about the obvious solution of actually speaking to her?!

[CherryPavlova]

Meh. Not ideal but it’s a dog and none of your business. If the dog is well fed, has access to water and has exercise outside those times, it’s probably cosier than a kennel.

Ours loves his boot. He has a dog guard, a bed, water bowl and a Kong so is very happy to stay there for an hour whilst I shop or go to church etc. No different to his crate but he gets a lovely walk afterwards.

[Aprilshowersarecomingsoon]

Poor ddog.
Outside noise must be frightening for it.
And just bloody awful imo.

[Dontfuckingsaycheese]

Several teachers at our school used to do it, including the head. Ok for the pe teacher's lab and yorkie as they would run around on the games field. We used to grab them and the head's and walk them round at lunch. But one history teacher used to leave her dog squished in the boot on top of the parcel shelf, kind of squished between the glass of a hatchback and the shelf - that did look miserable :-(

[Dontfuckingsaycheese]

(I mean when I was at school - not working there!)