AIBU to report this dog to someone?

[Leonas]

I have come to realise that a member of staff at a business local to me leaves her dog in her car all day, parked outside her work place. The window is open a fraction and the dog has a blanket on the rear seat. I first noticed the dog because it barked and growled at us when we walked past (doesn't do this every time). I know that she works full time hours (roughly 8-5) which makes me think that the dog is in the car all day long. She will, I would imagine, get a lunch break and I would hope she is walking it/ letting it out for a pee at least but is that enough?
I don't currently own a dog (but I have done in the last) because I wouldn't be home enough to care for it properly but I can't help but think that leaving it in a freezing cold car all day is quite unfair? I considered reporting the dog to someone, but to be honest I don't know who to!
So, AIBU to be concerned about this dog or I am just being nosy and should leave them to it?

If she does this in the summer in 6months time she could kill it! Leaving it i the cold is incredibly cruel and could also be dangerous for the poor thing, so definitely, definitely report it! The poor thing is being abused, it may well have no access to food and water all day, and cars in winter are like fridges, he needs to be taken out of that situation imediately.

Can you speak to her first? If she's earning enough she should be getting day care or at least leaving the dog at home and getting it walked. BUT plenty of animal rescue centres have dogs bought by people whose circumstances changed leaving them with no resort apart from giving them to rescue or putting them down. Or treating them like this.

I would report it. Poor bugger, I don't know why some people have animals, I really don't.

No idea who you'd report this too, but could you maybe start with her employer? We had an email in work once reminding all staff that they were not to leave dogs in their cars all day.

Definitely don't speak to her, you'll just alert her to the fact you may report her. People honestly don't need telling that treating an animal this way is wrong, they really don't. If you wouldn't do it to a child you shouldn't do it ti an animal. yes her situation may have changed, but that does NOT make it ok make the dog suffer. If you can't give it the care it needs, you re home it. It is blatant cruelty, and if you tip her off she'll possibly leave the dog somewhere else, maybe in even worse conditions. Just report to the RSPCA, let them come and investigate/hopefully take the poor thing away from her, and find a loving home where it won't spend all day in a freezing car with nothing for mental stimulation or enrichment, potentially no food or water and no exercise.

How certain are you that the dog is left like that all day (I couldn't work out from your post - it sounded like you might just be deducing the fact because you have seen the dog in the car a few times and know her working hours, but apologies if I have misunderstood). I'm hoping that you've got it wrong and that the dog is just there briefly, before being collected by someone else who has keys to the car - or just left there momentarily before being taken into work with its owner.

If you're sure it's just being left, then I'd try talking to her about it first - she might be in a tricky situation and burying her head about how cruel this is, and hearing from you right snap her out of it. But if the dog is there for hours (or for ANY length of time when it's sunny) and she has no plans to change this very soon, then unfortunately you do need to alert RSPCA.

Its far from an ideal situation for the dog. You could report to RSPCA but before doing that it may be worth you talking to the person concerned and finding out her reason for leaving the dog in the car all day. Some dogs fare better staying in the car with short walks, attention and water, during their owners break times rather than spending all day alone at home.

So you're thinking of reporting her because of your own assumptions? How long did you watch the car for? So she could have been going out every hour to let the dog out and so forth, did you look through the window to see if there was food and water or are you assuming there wasnt?

Dogs are fine to be left alone in the house if people have work to go to and those that think theyre not I think either you or the pets you had were rather precious tbh.

Leaving a dog in a car is nothing like leaving it in a house. Cars are metal, they act like fridges in the cold and ovens in the heat.
Even if she's letting it out every few hours it's cruelty, purely because of the temperature conditions.

Also, reporting IS the right thing to do. RSPCA etc will investigate and find out what exactly is going on before just taking the dog off her. If it is actually a case of she's leaving it there all day they will either remove the dog or ensure she provides it adequate care elsewhere, and WILL follow up to make sure the dog is being well cared for.
If you suspected child abuse or domestic violence, you'd report it, better to be safe than sorry, same goes with animals.

You can report to 101, the non-urgent police number. RSPCA can't actually do anything directly I don't think, no actual statutory powers, but police definitely can.

Leaving a dog stuck in a car all day in winter is selfish but I'm not sure it's actually breaking any laws. The RSPCA would certainly frown upon it but if it has food water and shelter there may not be much they can do. I suppose you could argue it's lacking adequate stimulation. If it's obviously distressed then they would hopefully be able to take action.

Summer is a whole different ball game. Dogs really do die in hot cars and parking in the shade, leaving a window open or leaving some water all make little or no difference.

I think I would phone the RSPCA, can't hurt to ask their advice at the very least.

I had a colleague who used to do this! When I found out (she told us) I told her I would be reporting it if she did it again. She went and brought the dog into the office for the rest of that day and said she had left him with her mum after that but I don't know if that's true.

So did you discover why the dog owner thought her dog would be better off being left in the car with sporadic moments of human contact, and comfort, rather than being left on its own in the house for hours every day Jen?

Oh the dog "loved" it apparently. Didn't like being left home alone and colleague claimed she was always popping out to see him. I didn't notice any popping out but maybe I was at the loo or something.

Oh the dog "loved" it apparently. Didn't like being left home alone and colleague claimed she was always popping out to see him. I didn't notice any popping out but maybe I was at the loo or something

You seem to have a problem with that explanation Jen. Why is that? Seeing as you obviously were not in a position to keep an eye on the dog throughout the day. Is the dog still alive and well btw?

No dog is now across the bridge. Of course I have a problem with it. You know why, no-one is buying your disingenuous bambi eyes. And no, of course I wasn't able to look after someone else's dog while I was at work. She wasn't able to look after it either, as she was working! That's what dog walkers and sitters are for. People you pay money too.

It's obviously cruel to leave a dog in a car all day; I hope RSPCA will be able to put matters right. (Is anyone else shuddering at what the car in question must smell like inside?)

Oh of course the dog is "Across the bridge". How strange you didn't mention that in your post when you found much less concerning things to mention.

I wouldn't employ a dog walker or sitter for my dog. I had an horrific experience the only time I was forced to. Fathers funeral - Employed dog sitter for one night to attend funeral. Returned home to a living room full of shit. Dog obviously has not been walked, or let out, for at least 24 hours.

If I found myself working a full day I too would prefer to take my dog with me and make sure he is exercised, watered and has human contact throughout the day. Dogs only need feeding once a day once they outgrow puppyhood btw.

How strange you didn't mention that in your post when you found much less concerning things to mention

Why on earth would I mention it? It's irrelevant to what was happening. don't you think if the dogs death had been related to being left in the car I would have mentioned it? You are odd

Dogs only need feeding once a day once they outgrow puppyhood btw.

Well humans only 'need' feeding once a day too but most of us like to eat a bit more regularly than that. You really are odd. Do you only feed your dog once a day?

Here you go OP

Yes report it. She shouldn't have got a pet if she couldn't give them the basic care it needs. Or she should employ a reputable dog sitter or walker to care for or see to dog during her working hours.

Sick of people treating animals like crap. It's unreal.

Darles wtf are you on?

Thank you for all of your replies. The dog owner works at my children's nursery and I've seen her leave at pick up time so I know it's her car. My younger child is just starting nursery so I am often there at different times of day just now because dc2 is doing a variety of different sessions/ start and finish times and each time the dog has been there. I don't really want to approach her myself - I do feel like I'm sticking my nose in, but I also feel that the poor dog must be freezing. I really don't see it as being the same as being at home alone because at home a dog would be able to wander about, eat, drink, stretch and stay warm. I could possibly approach the nursery manager and mention it, but not indicate that I know who it belongs to?

Have some courage and ask her why she leaves her dog in the car. You never know you may get a reasonable response. It might save you the embarrassment of calling RSPCA for NO REASON. Unless of course you think it is kinder for her to leave the dog in the house in a crate, all day with no company, no stimulation and no chance of going out to toilet? And for whoever asked yes I feed my dog once a day. That's the recommended diet for an adult dog.

Oh and for those of you who don't know - dogs have fur coats so unlikely to freeze to death in a car. (But I expect the dog in question will turn out to be a hairless breed ;) ) Lots of dogs live outside. Lots of dogs are put outside with no shelter whilst their owners are at work. The only time an RSPCA Officer would become involved is if the dog is deprived of water and is in a generally bad condition.

But yes go ahead and report and make a right tit of yourself. I'm sure the owner of the dog is doing the best she can and will thank you for poking your nose in when she has done nothing at all wrong. And if you are genuinely concerned and think your call will save the dog you wouldn't mind her knowing who dobbed her in.

If you see a dog being beaten or obviously unfed and uncared for absolutely report it. A dog in a car when you don't have any idea how many times the owner sees to it throughout the day = Ridiculous. But your call....