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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Leaving a dog in the car

32 replies

BoredAdminGirl · 25/03/2015 10:44

So, I'm after your opinion. We are going away for Easter weekend and were hoping to stop off in a restaurant for a quick breakfast on the way. We are taking the dog to the cottage with us so obviously she will be in the car with us.

Would it be wrong to leave her in the car with windows open ajar whilst we have breakfast or should we just do the safe thing and make a fry up before we leave? I can't imagine the weather being hot but I am a little worried. DP said she will be fine but I think it will definitely be frowned upon!

OP posts:
tinymeteor · 25/03/2015 10:48

If it's not a hot day, you park in shade, leave water and crack a window, I think it's ok.

dexter73 · 25/03/2015 10:48

It think it would be ok if it isn't too hot (chance would be a fine thing!), your dog is ok with being left in the car and you aren't too long . I imagine you will let her out for a quick wee/sniff about when you get to the restaurant anyway.

itosh · 25/03/2015 10:48

Ofcourse weather dependant but if cool enough then yes leave dog in car. If it is freak weather you will have to make alternative arrangements as I am sure you know. If the case could you not plan a back up place to eat with outside sitting so your dog can be outside with you all?

Gileswithachainsaw · 25/03/2015 10:51

It doesn't have to be a hot day. If your car catches the sun it can be dangerous.

weather can also change whole you are inside eating.

I think it looks bad tbh even if it's not hot weather.

plus there have been alot of fog thefts. I really wouldn't leave your dog

PurpleSwift · 25/03/2015 10:53

Hmmmm. Weather dependant you could be okay aka of it's a cold day and you're in the shade BUT if anyone else sees the dog and doesn't know how long it's been left for you could have some issues, it really isn't worth the hassle.

Stinkle · 25/03/2015 10:57

It's weather dependant, and how long you plan to be gone I think.

I leave mine in the car occasionally - we've been on a walk and I need to run in and get a few bits in Tesco (milk, bread, potatoes for dinner, not a full on weekly shop), if we're travelling back to my Mum's (usually late evening or early morning) and we stop in the services for something to eat

If it's not hot we park in the shade, leave the windows slightly open and are gone no more than half an hour or so.

Otherwise, DH or I get food as a takeaway and take it back to the car

Gileswithachainsaw · 25/03/2015 10:59

trouble is people don't know if it's been five mins or five hours.

EponasWildDaughter · 25/03/2015 11:05

If it's cloudy, and for less than an hour i'd do it. I'd also leave the window open more than just a crack - more like a few inches (you can buy trellis sort of stuff to fix into the gap) and leave a note on the window saying what time you left the dog and that you will be back within the hour. Leave the dog some water and some nibbles :)

If it's hot/very sunny, i'd be looking for a dog friendly alternative. Eating outside with dog by the table. Or a posh pic-nic en route somewhere nice.

NurseP · 25/03/2015 11:05

Too risky in my opinion
It doesn't need to be hot for the temp in the car to rise quickly, even with windows down.many people would call the police if they saw a dog left in a car. Could you not pack food up and eat in the car? Or get food to go to eat in the car? You hear of so many stodies regarding animals left in cars which have a sad ending I really don't think it's worth the risk. Hope you find a solution that works well. X

Original poster
BoredAdminGirl · 25/03/2015 11:12

Thanks all, I think it could attract some attention and probably isn't worth it. I guess I'll be slaving away in the kitchen then! :)

OP posts:
Stinkersmum · 25/03/2015 11:16

I'm still surprised at the amount of idiotspeople that think as long as it's not hot outside it's ok. Even if it's cold, if there is direct sunlight, it will warm the car up!!!! OP, don't leave the dog in the car.

NeedABumChange · 25/03/2015 11:19

I would say it's fine if parked in shade, windows cracked, water available. But I'd either want the car in view or to pop out after ordering and before getting food just to check. But by quick breakfast I'd assume you'd be 30 mins max.

YouBetterWerk · 25/03/2015 11:27

It's a tricky one OP. On balance I'd say probably not worth the hassle.
My mum leaves her dog in her car all the time and it always makes me so uncomfortable. Literally, every time she's here she'll leave her for hours on end, sometimes she'll go out and let her out for a bit but we were all at a meal for five hours on Sunday and thinking about it, I'm not sure I saw her go out Shock
She'll say 'If you left me in the car I wouldn't suddenly bake' and I have to tell her that dogs don't have sweat glands (that's why they pant I believe) and cannot regulate their body temperature like we can. I even told her about that awful story a few years back where a police officer left two police dogs in the car for half an hour while he popped into HQ and they both died, but she just said 'I doubt it was that quick' Sad
She does always have a bowl of water for her and leave the windows open about a third but it still makes me so unnerved. She travels about 250 miles whenever she visits so I can't exactly tell her to take the dog back. It's only a matter of time before someone says something to her and I wouldn't want to be them

jopickles · 25/03/2015 11:27

it is not ok to do this even parked in the shade with a window open, dogs cannot regulate their body heat in the same way as a human and can die within minutes even in a ventilated car as there is no air flow as there would be when moving. If you decide to do this please don't be surprised if you come back to either the loss of a beloved pet either as they have died or been removed from your vehicle by someone who knows how dangerous this is

NotPennysBoat · 25/03/2015 11:29

I'd also say it's fine as long as you park out of the sun. An alternative is to tie your dog up outside the restaurant (this is what I do if I have to nip to Tesco or whatever with the dog in the car), maybe check on it a couple of times or try to sit near the window.

SabrinnaOfDystopia · 25/03/2015 11:35

We have done this, but it was dark, so no sun to worry about. We did nip out and check on him though. And that was the last time we ever took him on holiday with us too... ruddy nightmare. He stays with grandma now.

Dogs die in cars all the time, so be careful.

SukieTuesday · 25/03/2015 11:41

Thank you to all those saying no in any circumstances. I have left ours in the car in the shade with windows open on days when the max daily temp is going to be 15 or less. I won't be doing it again.

www.dogstrust.org.uk/whats-happening/blog/remember-hot-cars-kill-dogs

bumbleymummy · 25/03/2015 11:42

Is there somewhere you can stop that has an outdoor area where dogs are allowed? Even if just on the other side of a fence it something?

CotedePablo · 25/03/2015 11:47

Don't do it.

googoodolly · 25/03/2015 11:48

Please don't leave the dog in the car. It doesn't have to be hot outside for there to be a problem, and as a PP has said, dog thefts are a real possibility, especially if the window is open and the car is parked out of your view.

Go somewhere you can take the dog. Most pubs serve a nice/cheap breakfast and most allow dogs!

Aliiiii · 25/03/2015 11:49

No no and no!!

chelle792 · 25/03/2015 12:20

It doesn't help for this weekend, but I have a 'cage' on my boot. That way, if I ever need to leave the dog, I padlock the boot and leave it open - if it's sunny, I cover half with a blanket in the shade. Barjo are a v good company

AuntieDee · 25/03/2015 13:04

Could you go somewhere dog friendly and take the dog in with you?

www.dogfriendly.co.uk/dogfriendly-iphone-app

www.doggiepubs.org.uk

Or worst case scenario - go to a macDs and eat outside with the dog?

sunflower49 · 25/03/2015 13:13

youbetter why's the dog left in the car and not in your house, if she's visiting and you're out/in for dinner?

To OP-no, 15 mins max my dogs in a car, search some dog-friendly places en route and take her with you :)

Gileswithachainsaw · 25/03/2015 13:15

If a dog cab die in 20 mins in a car it's still going to he seriously ill after 15.

A breakfast picnic in a dog friendly location is a much better idea