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?

The thing is that all breeds are different, and all dogs within that breed have their own unique personalities; just as us humans do. on a recent overnight excursion, sleeping on the floor in a freezing cold room some people brought blow up beds, others brought mounds of blankets to put under them. I brought my double duvet, half under me, half under. None of us were more right than the other in our choice of bedding just have different levels of need.

No dogs don't get to choose where they are for the day but as an owner you a) know your dog and it's comfort levels and b) have to some degree shaped the dogs needs and expectations. Is it cruel to drive long distances with your dog in the car?

Also, we don't even know if it is cold where op is.

So Jen if the dog is left home alone all day how would it have contact or stimulation?

Who said it would be alone? You have assumed it would be. You have no more insight into this owner's reasoning than anyone else here.

And no, I don't have a crate and nor do I leave my dog all day. What is it in my posts objecting to a dog being left alone in a car that makes you think I'm the type of person who thinks leaving a dog crated in a house all day is fine?

I'd call the RSPCA and let them investigate it. They might be able to suggest help rather than take the animal away. It shouldn't be living in a car, no, but she might be in the middle of trying to sort out a new home for it, or changing her shifts, or behaviour training or whatever. The RSPCA will be the ones who deal with it and leave you out of it once you've given them all the details you know about the owner.

Well Jen think now....If there was someone home the nursery worker wouldn't need to take the dog to work with her would she? You don't know her circumstances any more than anyone else. I don't take my dog to work with me because I work evenings when everyone else is home.

But I can understand why some people have no choice.

DarlesChickens61 as I said, after recent double blind peer reviewed study on the subject, the current guidelines are to feed a dog twice a day, but please, do keep on insisting your 6 years of dog ownership experience trumps science .

Also, the experience you have with your dog preferring to be outside rather than inside is largely irrelevant.. the discussion here is not about keeping a dog outside, nor is it about your dog.

I know people who leave their dogs in crates all day. Now that's fucking cruel! and how is that different to leaving it cooped up in a car?

There's excellent evidence that crate training is very effective and works on the basis of a dogs natural instincts so therefore creates minimal stress for the pooch, but again the guideline is a dog should not be crated for longer than 10 minutes for every month of life, and no longer than 2 hours in adulthood. So for example, if you have a 4 month old puppy he/she shouldn't be crated for longer than 40 minutes at a time. A dog should also be introduced to the crate slowly and built up, so you start with a couple of minutes with the door open and you sitting with the dog and gradually build that up to a few minutes with you out of sight etc etc.

If you know of someone leaving their dog cooped up in a crate for extended periods (you state "all day") then I'd suggest you stop spending your time defending strangers on the internet and use the time to report and deal with those people you know IRL.

Again you're assuming you know the reasons behind it darles

But I can understand why some people have no choice

There are choices. Dog walker, dog sitter, dog day care, don't have a dog.

Yes Penelope I have reported. As I've said RSPCA are not interested. Their vets have told them it's the safer option - you know in case their dog chews something and chokes if it's not restricted in its movements. Again we don't know if the dog is cooped up in a car all day. If it is then yes it's cruel. If the dog is having its needs met then the owner would be doing the best under whatever circumstances she has found herself in. It may be a temporary measure. Again we don't know anything other than a dog in a car with a blanket.

As you insist ALL dogs should be fed twice a day that takes one concern away from some posters on this thread. There is plenty of time to feed the dog before and after work

In the case of bloat vets admit they don't know the reasons for it but recommend feeding twice a day, not exercising for an hour or so before or after feeding.... it is a recommendation. It is not scientifically proven that one meal a day causes bloat. Oh and it's more common in large breeds. But if your a vet you will know that. Jut saw fit not to mention it.

BTW bloat doesn't apply to dogs who are raw fed as they need to chew so don't gulp their food. But as a "vet" I'm sure you'll know that.

As in every case nobody can dole out information unless they know the full story.

Unless you are the type of vet who doles out blanket advice for all dogs regardless of their circumstances....

To try to go back to the point of this thread, the RSPCA may well be interested. We had a dog that initially accompanied DH to work, where he could either sleep in a quiet place or have a lot of human company. Circumstances changed, DH started working in an office that didn't allow dogs, and it turned out that dog had separation anxiety and howled from lunchtime onwards when left alone. Dogwalkers were really expensive. DH tried leaving the dog in the car (it was autumn so neither very sunny or very cold, and yes he did have water) but on the first day someone reported him to the SSPCA and an inspector came out and left a sticker on the car asking DH to phone him. When DH phoned the inspector said that dog did not seem distressed, but if he had been the inspector would have broken the window to get him out. He advised not doing it again. We did two things - moved house to a cheaper area (rented house, so it only took 6 weeks to move), and then got a dogwalker.

You talk way too much Darles and despite thinking you know it all,you are not a vet , thank goodness. As for your utter about nonsense people not having a choice, really?! People DO have a choice. Look after a pet of any sort properly or don't have one.

DarlesChickens61 I raw feed myself, so I'm fully aware, thanks. And raw fed dogs can also gulp, many raw feeders feed minces so it's just as likely they'll inhale their food.. in fact probably more likely because it's tasty!

The study in question was conducted over 4 years with a sample size of 2,500 dogs and looked at instances of bloat in dogs fed once a day and dogs fed multiple times a day. All the same breed (labs) and similar weights (+/- 5%) and otherwise healthy. The study found that dogs who are fed twice a day are 26% less likely to suffer an instance of gastric torsion than dogs fed a full meal once a day. Hence, the recommendation released in April 2015 is to feed all dogs regardless of breed or size 2 meals per day under normal circumstances. Some conditions (some gastric issues, kidney problems and auto immune issues) warrant the feeding of a single meal a day but otherwise, the recommendation is twice or more :) HTH.

I just re-read you said bloat "doesnt apply" to raw fed dogs. That's completely incorrect. Bloat affects ANY dog regardless of diet, it's not even been scientifically proven that a raw diet reduces the risk of bloat yet although there is a study in progress in California.

I think reporting without even speaking to the owner would be wrong.

When one of my dogs was young she had awful separation anxiety if left at home, but was settled if left in the car. Luckily at the time I worked evenings, so there was usually someone at home when I was out. Maybe this nursery worker doesn't have the luxury of someone else being at home during the day, and is trying to do the best she can by her dog in the circumstances.

Would also depend what type of dog it was, my border collie with her double coat would rather be outdoors than inside when there is a door left open and she has the choice.

Honestly OP I would have a chat with the nursery worker or her manager who is probably aware of the situation.

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.

^^ I'm a vet and animal welfare advocate, and can tell you that this is absolutely not the case. People that work full time and leave their dogs at home alone for 9, 10 hours or more without a visit from a dog walker or whatever are guilty of cruelty. Not only do dogs need to pee/exercise etc for their physical wellbeing, they also need the social contact for their mental wellbeing. If you can't provide this, get a cat instead.

As for the car situation - this would depend on a few factors. The owner might be coming out very regularly to exercise the dog, we don't know. The winter cold may or may not be an issue depending on the breed of the dog: eg if it's a bernese mountain dog, it's fine. If it's a wimpy visla or greyhound, not fine. Can you tell us the breed OP? Is there any way you can find out a bit more about the sitation?

Penelope. Earlier this month you posted that you had recently got a new puppy and you have left your hubby to bring it up as you have no experience with dogs? Which is it? You can't have it both ways.

Anyone can google 😉

DarlesChickens61 no... no I didn't. I don't have a "hubby" or indeed a husband or a DH and my dogs are both 2.... anyone can google except you, it appears.

No and you clearly didn't post this only a couple of hours ago either

[LadyPenelopeShufflebottom Thu 01-Dec-16 14:41:27
Our homemade tradition stems from when DP and I had just bought our house and were monumentally skint.

We couldnt afford decorations so we had MiL's old plastic tree and made paper chains for it out of wrapping paper. We couldn't afford an angel for the top of the tree but DP had a batman figurine he'd had since he was a kid and had "rediscovered" it during the move... he's sat on top of our Christmas tree looking stern ever since (batman, not DP!)

He's the hero Christmas deserves

That was also the year we introduced the present limit. We are only allowed to spend £1 on each other every year. The presents have gotten quite creative! My absolute favorite was last year when DP stole my phone and looked up all my most listened to songs. He then learned them all on guitar and vocals and recorded acoustic versions of them all for me onto a CD he bought for £1 . I ripped them down to MP3 and I still listen to them in the bath most days!

The best one I ever did for him was drew him a comic book all about the adventures of a goat called Les.... it's an inside joke]

Anyway I'm off to work. Carry on with your lies and deceit. You clearly need to do something with the life you have and stop pretending to be somebody else.....

I must have momentarily forgotten how to read, forgive me. Where in that do I mention the dogs, my phantom husband or my career?

How very strange

That says nothing about a husband or a puppy

Darles I think you need help

I'd report. It sounds a horrific way to treat a dog, and there is no excuse for it.

Darles wtf? You're practically stalking Lady there is no mention of husband or puppy so what exactly are you trying to do? Copying and reposting a post by another poster from another thread is poor form.