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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think my dog wasn't "locked in a hot car"

34 replies

Songofsixpence · 07/04/2015 15:46

and he wasn't at any risk of "dying in minutes"

Lovely sunny day here yesterday so we decided to take the kids and dog out - go for a nice walk down to the beach, have a picnic, fly kites, etc just a nice day out

Didn't have much picnic-y stuff in so decided to grab some drinks and sandwiches/sausage rolls and whatnot from the supermarket on the way.

The car park has 2 levels, DH parked and he and the kids go into the shop, I stayed in car with dog. We're downstairs, so in the shade and I open the passenger door - we're off to one side at the end of a row so room to open the door wide and not be in anyone's way/take up another parking space.

Dog (on his lead) has clambered over me and got in and out/in and out/in and out of the car several times before he settles himself on the driver's seat, with his nose jammed in the gap where DH had the window open a bit.

We've been there about 10 minutes when a woman approaches my car with a security guard and seems really angry and starts having a go me for being an irresponsible dog owner, "dogs die in minutes shut in cars on hot days" I should be ashamed, stuff like that. The security points out the dog is not shut in the car, the door is open, he has no concerns. Woman is having none of it and starts shouting - she had seen dog "desperately trying to get air", she has our car reg number, she'll be reporting me to the police and the RSPCA. Both the security guard and I kept trying to say that the door was open, we were in the shade and I was right there with him. He was fine.

DH and the kids then came back, the security guard ushered the woman to one side and said not to worry, he'd deal with it, so we left - with her still shouting that she'd report us.

I know dogs can die in hot cars, but we were parked in the shade, the passenger door was wide open and we were only there 15 minutes or so, while it was lovely and sunny I wouldn't say it was hot, it was breezy and quite cool in the shade, and I was right there with him anyway, he could (and had several times) get out if he wanted to.

I don't agree that my dog was in any danger but I am a bit worried about it now

OP posts:
Stopandlook · 07/04/2015 15:48

Woman was being ridiculous YANBU

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 07/04/2015 15:49

She was barking! Easter Grin

I'm here all week by the way. Wink

Ignore her, she'd had too much sun.

Aeroflotgirl · 07/04/2015 15:49

Yanbu at all, what a interfering bint that woman is. You were with the dog in the car, you had the door open, it was going in and out of your car.

SpringtimeForShatner · 07/04/2015 15:50

Is there really any need to ask? Your dog got in and out of the car, you have an independent witness. Forget about it.

DustingOffTheDynastySuit · 07/04/2015 15:50

So you were IN the car the whole time? Then she sounds more than a little bit eccentric.

Why would the dog suddenly die if you were sitting next to him? I do think the whole 'Dogs Die in Minutes' message has gone a tinsy tiny bit over the top, but I guess it has to because people still keep doing it.

I would just smile and nod and think no more about it.

Mogzilla · 07/04/2015 15:50

Bloody hell. She's a few bonbons short of a pick and mix.

Ignore.

monstergoose · 07/04/2015 15:50

The woman sounds like she was crazy! If you were in the car with the dog I don't see the issue at all. The security guard I'm sure would back you up if there was any come back but I'm quite sure the RSPCA wouldn't be interested in this anyway!

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/04/2015 15:55

Bless her heart, she's sort of missed the point of the 'dog in hot car' message, hasn't she? You were there with him, presumably you weren't dying of heat exhaustion...

Original poster
Songofsixpence · 07/04/2015 16:00

Yes, I was in the car all the time. DH and kids went into the shop, I stayed in the car with him.

Security guard said she'd reported a "dog locked in a car" which is why he came out to investigate, had he known I was with him he wouldn't have done

I've been stewing a bit, she was so snouty about it.

The security guard saw I was there with him, and I think there's CCTV but it was just horrible.

There's been a huge campaign here - we live in a holiday area and there have been occasions where dogs have been left in cars while their owners are at the beach, or whatever, so it's got quite serious

OP posts:
CrabbyTheCrabster · 07/04/2015 16:00

I was prepared to say YABU as today is hot enough (here at least) for a dog to overheat if shut in a car.

However having read your post, YANBevenslightlyU - she was clearly a loon. Easter Grin

NotNowBono · 07/04/2015 16:04

Blimey. I bet she saw the dog's nose pressed up to the open window - which, to be fair to her, probably did look a bit distressing - and immediately went off to make a huge fuss, without noticing you were in the car too. Then when she came back with the security guard and realised that not only was an entire door open but the non-suffocating owner was with the non-suffocating dog, she couldn't backtrack without looking like a total loon.

Oh dear. Brew for the drama dog.

BeatriceBumble · 07/04/2015 16:08

There is nothing to worry about. Your dog wasn't locked in the car, gasping for air. She will have a hard time proving it, as there is no evidence as the "offence" didn't actually happen.

SpicyBeat · 07/04/2015 16:08

I must admit I was all ready to come on and be sanctimonious about dogs in hot cars but she was insane. I'm on the over cautious side with my dogs and I would do this without a second thought.

vestandknickers · 07/04/2015 16:09

She's bonkers.

You did nothing wrong.

Hope you had a nice day at the beach.

NotNowBono · 07/04/2015 16:13

Maybe she was distracted by the fact that he was in the driver's seat. Most dogs are really bad at reverse parking, especially in a multi-storey.

Still, at least it shows the awareness campaign is working?

Sirzy · 07/04/2015 16:13

Like others I was ready to say you were being unreasonable but in this case she was just barking!

PunkrockerGirl · 07/04/2015 16:15

YANBU. The woman sounds unhinged Confused

SunnyBaudelaire · 07/04/2015 16:17

oh God barking mad dog lady, what can you do?
There is always one, always.

Original poster
Songofsixpence · 07/04/2015 16:23

Thanks!

Grin at dogs not being good at reverse parking.

He has his seatbelt in the back, but I'd unclipped it to give him a bit of freedom while we were waiting so he'd tried out all the seats before deciding on the drivers seat.

It's good that the campaign is working, but I keep thinking, god, what if she did report me and they decide to make an example of me?

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2015 16:28

Of course they won't 'make an example' - except perhaps as an example of the correct way to leave your dog while someone shops!

PurpleSwift · 07/04/2015 16:31

I'm usually pretty hot on this but since you we're supervising YANBU

MrsRossPoldark · 07/04/2015 17:42

Crikey - as soon as the sun comes out, some of us turn into raving loonies! YANBU - you did everything you could possibly have done and you are the best dog owner your doggy could wish for.

popalot · 07/04/2015 17:46

Just your day to have a run in with a nutter...lucky you had the security guard as a witness!

Hulabaloo3 · 07/04/2015 18:04

You're fine. Many years ago a strange neighbour reported me to the rspca because I wouldn't date him, and he wanted to get my dog taken away as he felt snubbed.

He said the dog was howling for long hours and he didn't know if I was mistreating it Shock

When the RSPCA inspector visited, she was fully understanding and said they get crank calls all the time. She documented the situation and said they'd bear it in mind if he ever tried it again, but it left me a bit twitched about leaving her even to go to the shops in case someone was watching and misconstrued the situation.

The car park security guy will vouch for you and I dare say there may even been CCTV of anyone ever wants to pursue anything. But the truth is we all know they won't because she was clearly a strange lady who is talking nonsense.

MirandaGoshawk · 07/04/2015 18:18

YANBU.