AIBU to consider reporting this woman?

[TiltTopTable]

On Sunday at about 3pm DH and I stopped at a large supermarket on our way home from a day out. Supermarket policy is to shop alone unless necessary so DH went in alone. It was so hot in the car, even with the sunroof open, so after 5 mins I got out, and noticed 2 dogs in the boot of the car next to us. Poor things were panting and the car was parked so they had no shade. One window was open about 8 inches.

I waited a couple more minutes for the owner, then took a photo of the car and went into the store to report. The security guard was great. He came out with me, said it was unacceptable, took a photo and went back into the store. I waited by the car. 5 minutes later (so 15 mins at this point, but I don't know how long the dogs had been left before we arrived) a woman arrived with her shopping, looking very annoyed.

We had a 'conversation'. She had been called over the tannoy. She said I was mad and ridiculous, that she'd only been a couple of minutes. I said that was false, as I'd been here 15 minutes. She was pointing at the open window saying 'look, look - AND they have a bowl of cold water!' I said sorry, but that's not enough. I explained I'd been sat in my car with the sunroof open and I couldn't bear it, and I'm not wearing a fur coat. She asked me twice if I wanted a smack, I said no not really (it was a bit surreal, she was tiny and elderly so her threats seemed ridiculous). I was very calm - she was irate. She got the bowl of water out shouting it was cold water, I said that was immaterial, it wasn't enough and the dogs were suffering. She then threw the bowl of water at me. Most of it missed me but I did get wet (she got wetter though 😄). I said calmly I could report you for that, and she shouted 'Go on then. The police will think you're ridiculous'. At this point DH turned up to a scene of a wet wife and an angry tiny woman. So we got in the car with her still shouting and drove off. I think she threw something at the car but not sure.

We laughed about it then but now I'm getting angry. Angry that those dogs were suffering and she wouldn't/couldn't understand and angry that she basically assaulted me. Would you take this further? Can I take it further with just a photo of her car? Should I just forget it? I'm sure the supermarket would have cctv of the incident but would I be pathetic to report?

Whilst she was wrong to leave her dogs in this heat. You have described yourself as smug, and patronising (or embellished). Your concern could have been met by reporting to security and standing back.

You can report the assault (water throwing) but I don’t think anyone will listen to the dogs left in the car report after the event.

I know there are vague rules around being able to break windows in cars of dogs are left in them.

I can see this being a bigger problem this year, new inexperienced owners and a raise in dog thefts.

The RSPCA won't give a toss, they've got bigger fish to fry. Definitely report her for the assault though on the non-emergency number.

Report to RSPCA and the police.
A dogs temperature rises by 40% just getting into a car.those dogs could have died.💐💐💐💐🌈🌈🌈🌈THANK YOU FOR DOING SOMETHING🌈🌈🌈🌈💐💐💐💐🙏🙏🙏 so many idiots leave dogs in cars and think it's fine.it's not.

I'd have called the police in the car park and told security to be honest. The police, considering that they use dogs, do not like it when people do this to dogs. Plus it would have gotten her window smashed no doubt which is always funny to see happen to morons like this. Get told off by the police, likely a fine and has to pay to get the window fixed.

Definitely call the police about it. She assaulted you and she will do this again to her poor dogs. They should go round, have a word with her and let you know the outcome. At least that's happened for me when I've reported anyone.

She threw a bit of water at you. You said most of it missed then you embellish to say your husband came back to a wet wife. If that's what we are calling assault these days we have become very precious.

The dog part is awful though. Yes, she needs to be reported so she thinks twice about doing it again.

The only thing YABU about is not calling the police whilst the dogs were still stuck so that they could’ve dealt with this “angry tiny woman” when she arrived back at her car.

I always find the nutter too Tilt
RSPCA definitely (though not sure that can act after but can prob give correct advice) I wouldn't bother with the police although she shouldn't have offered a fight and thrown water!

Call the non emergency police line as well as the RSPCA. She's a monster that needs a shake up - stupid woman

Good on you OP, I’d 100%report her, those poor dogs.

Horrid woman

Don't know if there's any point following it up now, but the police are usually very good about coming out, taking action to rescue dogs and lecturing owners about leaving dogs in hot cars so next time I'd ring them straight away.

Why can't people just leave their dogs at home, it's not like they're having an enriching experience sitting in the Tesco car park.

You did the right thing by reporting the dogs to supermarket security.
I would follow up with RSPCA though, not the police.

The police have enough real crime to deal with that to have to go and visit dog owners to educate them on hot cars would be too much. The RSPCA can do that.

After all, at the same time you were seeing these dogs three men were knifing each other with a dagger, an axe and a samurai sword on a beach in Merseyside.

On side note YABU to call being splashed with water (after being told loudly several times it was cold water) to be “basically assault” it’s not like you can even pretend you might have thought it was an acid attack.

Yes report the stupid woman. So many dogs die in hot cars, through a result of owners like this.

Good on you OP. I would report it. Why do people need to take dogs into cars to shop?

@TiltTopTable

Thanks for the support. Would you report to the police or RSPCA?

RSPCA arent very good, I would try dogs trust as they often have a 'dogs die in hot cars' campaign.

@PlanDeRaccordement

On side note YABU to call being splashed with water (after being told loudly several times it was cold water) to be “basically assault” it’s not like you can even pretend you might have thought it was an acid attack.

It does actually class as assault and battery in law, the act of throwing it is 'assault' if it hits you its 'battery' regardless of if its 'just water' and no 'physical' harm was caused.

@mam0918
A law saying it is assault that is never enforced when it comes to water, is not really a law nor the action assault, then is it?

Why else to we criticise the fact that over 90% of reported rapists are never even arrested much less convicted? Because a law not enforced means the action is quasi-legal in practice.

In addition, the OP stated the woman ended up wetter than the OP, so it’s an easy defence to say you accidentally splashed the water all over yourself and some on the OP because of shaking from old age and anger.

I wouldn't have done right up until the point she threw the water. Then yes.

Fancy being so irate when someone told you to be a responsible person.

@TiltTopTable

Thanks for the support. Would you report to the police or RSPCA?

Don't bother with the RSPC, they are useless at the best of times. I would call the police for the dogs and the assault.

Absolutely report her. Not just for leaving the dogs (although that is horrendous and she should be prosecuted for it) but also for her appalling behaviour towards you.

I would skip the RSPC and go straight to the police, personally.

You did the right thing.

Report it, because it won't be an isolated incident. She will do it again, and if you care so little about your animals that you'll lock them in a hot car, god knows what else is going on as well.

Police and RSPCA re the dogs, police for the assault. Even if they take it no further hopefully she’ll get a talking to.

I assume you mean 8 cm not inches?

If the dogs were there for 15 minutes with cold water, they were not going to die or be ill. A bit uncomfortable, probably, but since when does uncomfortable mean reporting and rspca needing calling?

You did the right thing checking that she was coming back because sadly, there are very stupid owners who will leave their dogs for hours in the car leading to serious dehydration, distress and sometimes death, but there was no need to be so dramatic about the situation as it presented itself. You should have just moved on at this point.