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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to have called the police over a dog left?

59 replies

doginthesunshine · 07/08/2022 16:45

Went for a pub lunch today - new car parked up next to ours when we went to leave with a dog inside. The poor dog looked elderly, my car thermometer was reading 30 degrees, and the car windows were cracked about 5cm each. No shade and no water left for the poor thing. It was panting very quickly and looked incredibly hot.

I didn't know what else to do but call the police (who were very good), owner came back to check on it and got aggressive at me - I probably shouldn't have asked him wtf he was doing but as a dog owner I can't fathom leaving an animal alone in a car when it's so hot.

I drove away having given the police the car and reg details but felt a bit shaken about the whole thing. What would you have done?

OP posts:
Unforgettablefire · 07/08/2022 17:41

SarahSissions · 07/08/2022 17:07

I think you need to have known how long the dog was in there for. I left my dog in the car this morning when I went to get petrol. He was in a car for 5 minutes and perfectly fine.
i think there is a lot of hysteria at the moment where it is dog in car = scumbag owner, and it must be rescued immediately.
unless the dog is showing clear signs of distress-spatulate tongue etc then you should wait 10mins before you call the police

The op stated the temperature and the dog was in obvious distress. What more do you want? It doesn't matter how long the dog was left it was in distress in high temperatures.

LINABE · 07/08/2022 17:42

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2022 17:03

Let's hope the police lock him in his car for a while. Nobber.

Yes perfect. Leave the twat in there for at least 30 mins.
Yes 5 minutes is too long in this heat. And it's not hysteria.

Unforgettablefire · 07/08/2022 17:42

Op you did the right thing. Like a op said he's lucky his window was still intact!

Ohtoberoavingagain · 07/08/2022 17:43

Bloody hell im worried about my older dog being in the garden today it’s so hot. Put umbrella up to create a bit of shade, doors open and fan on at floor level indoors. Wouldn’t even take him out in the car in this heat.
Well done for stepping in.

Ohtoberoavingagain · 07/08/2022 17:47

SarahSissions · 07/08/2022 17:07

I think you need to have known how long the dog was in there for. I left my dog in the car this morning when I went to get petrol. He was in a car for 5 minutes and perfectly fine.
i think there is a lot of hysteria at the moment where it is dog in car = scumbag owner, and it must be rescued immediately.
unless the dog is showing clear signs of distress-spatulate tongue etc then you should wait 10mins before you call the police

If you think it’s ok to leave the dog in a car that has reached oven temperature, watch this.www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/rspca-dogs-cars-hot-weather-24466107

Dotjones · 07/08/2022 17:48

doginthesunshine · 07/08/2022 17:16

The pub we were in was a Carvery-type place, you only go in there to eat, not to drink. The minimum the dog would have been left is the time it took the owner to be served and eat lunch.

Show quote history

You say the owner came back to check on it though. So you don't know the minimum time he was in the pub. He might have gone in with a group, placed an order and gone to check on the dog immediately. Personally I wouldn't call the police over something like this, they are too busy to investigate a lot of crimes with human victims, so an "elderly dog" in a car should rightly be way down the pecking order.

If you were genuinely concerned, you would have just smashed the window and dealt with the consquences.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 07/08/2022 17:51

You did the right thing.

To be honest, I would either marched into the pub and asked who had left their dog in the car and that said I was calling the police.

Or just smashed the window then called the police.

What a wanker. He does not deserve a dog. I hope he gets done or animal cruelty.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 07/08/2022 17:52

You say the owner came back to check on it though. So you don't know the minimum time he was in the pub.

YOU DO NOT LEAVE DOGS IN CARS WHEN IT'S THIS HOT.

tillyandmilly · 07/08/2022 17:53

I would have smashed the window - this idiot needs his dog taken away - opening a window 5 cm will not provide enough air for the poor dog - you absolutely did the right thing

bellac11 · 07/08/2022 17:56

SarahSissions · 07/08/2022 17:07

I think you need to have known how long the dog was in there for. I left my dog in the car this morning when I went to get petrol. He was in a car for 5 minutes and perfectly fine.
i think there is a lot of hysteria at the moment where it is dog in car = scumbag owner, and it must be rescued immediately.
unless the dog is showing clear signs of distress-spatulate tongue etc then you should wait 10mins before you call the police

I dont think you should do that, I cant really believe you're suggesting leaving the dog for 10 mins, until what?

You should go home first, drop your dog off and then get petrol, or pick the petrol up first before leaving if you're taking your dog with you.

fib88 · 07/08/2022 18:00

I’d of done the same - it’s illegal to leave a dog unattended in a car now anyway - idiot man

SirVixofVixHall · 07/08/2022 18:00

doginthesunshine · 07/08/2022 16:45

Went for a pub lunch today - new car parked up next to ours when we went to leave with a dog inside. The poor dog looked elderly, my car thermometer was reading 30 degrees, and the car windows were cracked about 5cm each. No shade and no water left for the poor thing. It was panting very quickly and looked incredibly hot.

I didn't know what else to do but call the police (who were very good), owner came back to check on it and got aggressive at me - I probably shouldn't have asked him wtf he was doing but as a dog owner I can't fathom leaving an animal alone in a car when it's so hot.

I drove away having given the police the car and reg details but felt a bit shaken about the whole thing. What would you have done?

The same as you.
Dogs die every Summer just like this. What a terrible owner to do that to their dog. You did the right thing op.

WiddlinDiddlin · 07/08/2022 18:01

But so what if he was checking on the dog, then what would he do.. dogs too hot, so.. get it out of the car for five minutes then put it back in the hot car again?

He wasn't going to take the dog home mid meal and put it in a cool house was he?

So checking = 'watching his dog get heat stroke'.. thats clearly someone who DOES need telling by the police that its not acceptable!

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2022 18:08

If you think it’s ok to leave the dog in a car that has reached oven temperature, watch this. www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/rspca-dogs-cars-hot-weather-24466107

Thanks @Ohtoberoavingagain bears repeating.

Original poster
doginthesunshine · 07/08/2022 18:16

Onlinetherapist · 07/08/2022 17:39

I did the same as you, (windows closed though), the 999 call handler told me to get off the line, it was only for life or death situations. I said it is a life or death situation. Apparently non human lives don’t matter..

How bloody awful - the call handler I had today was very good, took all car details, told us she'd used them to find the owners details and confirmed back to us the location we were at. While we were dithering over this poor dog and trying to check if we could see water in the car I googled what to do, and one of the results said to ring 999 if the animal was in distress which was why we took that course of action. The owners reaction made me doubt myself though.

OP posts:
Titsflyingsouth · 07/08/2022 18:17

I absolutely would have done the same. There is absolutely no justification for leaving a poor animal in a car in this sort of weather....

girlmom21 · 07/08/2022 18:18

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 07/08/2022 17:52

You say the owner came back to check on it though. So you don't know the minimum time he was in the pub.

YOU DO NOT LEAVE DOGS IN CARS WHEN IT'S THIS HOT.

Yeah when the weathers like this all that 'checking on the dog' does is make sure it's not dead yet.

Original poster
doginthesunshine · 07/08/2022 18:18

@Dotjones as a pregnant woman out with my DCs, I am not about to start smashing in car windows - the consequences for our safety here could surely be dire. I was stupid enough to challenge the man in my anger, to be honest.

OP posts:
Original poster
doginthesunshine · 07/08/2022 18:20

WiddlinDiddlin · 07/08/2022 18:01

But so what if he was checking on the dog, then what would he do.. dogs too hot, so.. get it out of the car for five minutes then put it back in the hot car again?

He wasn't going to take the dog home mid meal and put it in a cool house was he?

So checking = 'watching his dog get heat stroke'.. thats clearly someone who DOES need telling by the police that its not acceptable!

Absolutely agree with this, it was my train of thought too.

OP posts:
Itsokay2020 · 07/08/2022 18:28

You did the right thing, I have never left my dog in the car and never will. It’s not hard to plan around the dog - the selfish, arrogant and pathetic attitude of some dog owners is truly appalling

jammiewhammie65 · 07/08/2022 18:30

SarahSissions · 07/08/2022 17:07

I think you need to have known how long the dog was in there for. I left my dog in the car this morning when I went to get petrol. He was in a car for 5 minutes and perfectly fine.
i think there is a lot of hysteria at the moment where it is dog in car = scumbag owner, and it must be rescued immediately.
unless the dog is showing clear signs of distress-spatulate tongue etc then you should wait 10mins before you call the police

Wrong. You shouldn't leave it atall

Original poster
doginthesunshine · 07/08/2022 18:35

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2022 18:08

If you think it’s ok to leave the dog in a car that has reached oven temperature, watch this. www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/rspca-dogs-cars-hot-weather-24466107

Thanks @Ohtoberoavingagain bears repeating.

Wow this is shocking, and essential viewing. Thanks for sharing

OP posts:
bellac11 · 07/08/2022 18:36

By the way just reassuring you about what you said about being shaken up, its not a representation of you having done wrong. Most of us would be shaken up at being shouted at and the situation anyway which is that you were worried about the dog and hoping it was ok.

Squiff70 · 07/08/2022 18:38

You did the right thing, absolutely.

As others have stated, NO animal should EVER be left in a car in warm or hot weather. No ifs, no buts and no excuses.

No discerning pet owner would dream of leaving their animal(s) in a vehicle in warm or hot weather and it IS a police matter because the owner's cage needs a good rattle.

Good job OP, you may have saved that dog's life today. Don't feel guilty about that!

Fenella123 · 07/08/2022 18:41

The owner knew he shouldn't have done it and THAT'S why he went off at you. If he genuinely had been, I dunno, desperate and popping in for a wee, and a decent sort, he'd have been, "you weren't to know I was going to be a minute, I would have done the same as you".