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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave the dog in the car in this situation?

99 replies

TeaandBiscuits96 · 23/03/2023 07:58

The field where I take the dog for a run is opposite the supermarket. You have to take the dog out and also get 4-5 ingredients from the shop, instead of driving all the way home to just come back on yourself again, would it be okay to leave the dog in the car for a maximum of 10 minutes to run inside the supermarket and grab the 4-5 items?

He is pretty chilled out and would probably have a nap either in the footwell or on the passenger seat whilst I was in there and obviously we don’t have hot or even remotely warm weather at the moment for him to overheat.

AIBU?

OP posts:
KarmaStar · 23/03/2023 12:28

Yabu.
As soon as a dog gets into a vehicle their temperature rises by 40% it doesn't matter the temperatures outside.
The car could be hit.
The dog could well be stolen.
He could be thirsty after a walk.
He could be seen and it reported to police(rightly so).
Just drive home then do your shopping later/online.🐾🐾🐕

CaroleSinger · 23/03/2023 12:33

TeaandBiscuits96 · 23/03/2023 08:26

Thank you for much for all the responses - I feel a lot better about it now!

I think I was worried about people judging me or reporting me because I’ve seen so many posts (not always on here but in general) about people reporting dogs left on their own in cars etc! I’m not too worried about the being stolen part because it’s usually quite a busy car park so I think it would attract a lot of attention if someone tried to do that, but I’ll definitely pop into the supermarket now and make life a bit easier for myself!

It only takes a few seconds to break in and steal your dog as potential bait for dog fighting. One happened recently in our Sainsbury's car park. Can't really get more busy than a superstore, and nobody saw a thing. It's about a bit more than just the weather. Don't leave your dog on show somewhere you wouldn't leave your mobile phone on view to thieves. You can get a replacement phone. You can't replace your dog.

CaroleSinger · 23/03/2023 12:36

Amazed how many people think it's reasonable. Clearly clueless about how many dogs are stolen from parked vehicles in a matter of seconds. Even in supermarket car parks, and still nobody sees a thing.

Cherrysoup · 23/03/2023 12:39

I'll leave my lot in the boot (large one with windows, obviously!) while I run to the post office. There's a way of locking the car so the alarm doesn't go off. I definitely wouldn't leave the car unlocked. If you can do that, then fine.

Surplus2requirements · 23/03/2023 12:46

@KarmaStar

As soon as a dog gets into a vehicle their temperature rises by 40% it doesn't matter the temperatures outside.

I'd love to see some research backing that up because it means every dog dies as soon as they get in a car 🤔

hattie43 · 23/03/2023 12:48

No I wouldn't .
He gets hot quickly and I'd panic if I got delayed / distracted .
He sets of the internal car alarm .
He is unlikely to be stolen though as he is 10 stone .

sonjadog · 23/03/2023 12:54

I do this all the time, apart from in hot weather. Dog walk and errands on the same trip. I think most people I know do.

alloalloallo · 23/03/2023 13:04

I leave mine in the car on cool days if I need to pop into our local shop (I can see the car while I’m in the shop), or the local animal feed store or tack shop or somewhere like that. She just lays down and goes to sleep

I don’t if I’m going in a big supermarket or somewhere I’ll be a while.

Mind you, I did get shouted at once by a very indignant lady for leaving my dog to die in a hot car while DH nipped in to Sainsbury’s. A) it was January and it was bloody freezing and B) I was sat right there in the car with her

Logicoutofthewindow · 23/03/2023 13:06

YANBU but you might have loonies screaming at you and threatening to break your windows in because 'you know, dogs can die in cars' quite ignoring the weather conditions of the time, a 5 mins pick up etc. Some strange people out there.

OhMerde · 23/03/2023 13:09

I do it but only if I can see my car, so only little shops with parking directly outside. Would never leave him in a car where I can't see him. He's absolutely fine but the risk of theft outweighs any upside for me.

neilyoungismyhero · 23/03/2023 13:10

I used to but don't anymore, I'm too nervous about theft.

Logicoutofthewindow · 23/03/2023 13:13

KarmaStar · 23/03/2023 12:28

Yabu.
As soon as a dog gets into a vehicle their temperature rises by 40% it doesn't matter the temperatures outside.
The car could be hit.
The dog could well be stolen.
He could be thirsty after a walk.
He could be seen and it reported to police(rightly so).
Just drive home then do your shopping later/online.🐾🐾🐕

So where did you get this statistic from then? Making a random figure up doesn't make you clever, it makes you look stupid.

Normal body temperature for dogs and cats is 101.0 to 102.5°F (38.3 to 39.2°C). So you are saying that the moment a dog gets into a car their temperature would rise to say 141 degrees - interesting them since most dogs don't drop dead as soon as they get into a car.

How about you sit down and work out what you have just said. Do you usually make up random numbers and just suggest others are too dumb to work it out.

Logicoutofthewindow · 23/03/2023 13:14

Surplus2requirements · 23/03/2023 12:46

@KarmaStar

As soon as a dog gets into a vehicle their temperature rises by 40% it doesn't matter the temperatures outside.

I'd love to see some research backing that up because it means every dog dies as soon as they get in a car 🤔

Ah, didn't see your post.

The person writing this must be batshit crazy or just like making things up. Dogs temperature rises 40% on entering a car..... 😂😂

WiddlinDiddlin · 23/03/2023 13:17

KarmaStar · 23/03/2023 12:28

Yabu.
As soon as a dog gets into a vehicle their temperature rises by 40% it doesn't matter the temperatures outside.
The car could be hit.
The dog could well be stolen.
He could be thirsty after a walk.
He could be seen and it reported to police(rightly so).
Just drive home then do your shopping later/online.🐾🐾🐕

You might want to check that first bit of info bullshit..

A 40% rise on normal body temp would put the dog at around 53c - anything over 41ish is likely to be fatal.

So you're seriously saying ANY time a dog gets in a car, even if that car is sitting at -5 as mine was only a month ago... the poor dog spikes a lethal temperature?

All my dogs must be fuckin' ghosts then...

Theft is a risk
Dog injuring itself in the car is a risk.
Heat on a hot or very sunny day is a risk
Car being hit is a risk.

Risks can be reduced, and we do not live a risk free life, we cannot - everything poses some sort of risk.

LlynTegid · 23/03/2023 13:26

Absolutely 100% not. Tying up on a lamppost or somewhere nearby perhaps, definitely not leave in the car. Any one of a number of reasons could delay you.

If it was me making the law it would mean a driving ban.

Surplus2requirements · 23/03/2023 13:30

LlynTegid · 23/03/2023 13:26

Absolutely 100% not. Tying up on a lamppost or somewhere nearby perhaps, definitely not leave in the car. Any one of a number of reasons could delay you.

If it was me making the law it would mean a driving ban.

I wouldn't leave my dog tied up outside. Far to easy to steal.

Not sure what you mean by a driving ban?

justgettingthroughtheday · 23/03/2023 13:37

LlynTegid · 23/03/2023 13:26

Absolutely 100% not. Tying up on a lamppost or somewhere nearby perhaps, definitely not leave in the car. Any one of a number of reasons could delay you.

If it was me making the law it would mean a driving ban.

What rot! You are crazy!

It is far more risky leaving an animal tied up unattended then leaving them in the car in March!
Theft
Brats trying to fuss it and the dog snapping
It getting loose and being hit by a car.

All big high risk factors

It's a good job your not in charge!

ismu · 23/03/2023 13:38

What on earth is wrong with leaving your dog in the car while you nip in to get some shopping? If I couldn't do this I would literally never be able to go shopping on my own, as he isn't used to being left at home but great in the car.

DizzyLizzyKizzy · 23/03/2023 13:39

LlynTegid · 23/03/2023 13:26

Absolutely 100% not. Tying up on a lamppost or somewhere nearby perhaps, definitely not leave in the car. Any one of a number of reasons could delay you.

If it was me making the law it would mean a driving ban.

Are you serious? Tie it to a lamppost, rather than leave in a secure car in a supermarket car park?

sonjadog · 23/03/2023 13:48

One thing I will never do is tie my dog up outside a shop. That really is a risky thing to do. Much better in the car than that!

linelgreen · 23/03/2023 13:52

I leave mine no problem just leave the AC running to give him air.

BCfan · 23/03/2023 13:52

Surplus2requirements · 23/03/2023 10:20

Of course providing some air flow and water makes a difference.
Not enough when it's very hot but as a blanket statement that's ridiculous

Nope. You're wrong. It doesn't.

I understand why you think this, given the general level of scientific literacy on this forum.

alloalloallo · 23/03/2023 13:54

I will never, in a million years, leave my dog tied to a lamp post, or tied up outside a shop.

That is far worse than leaving them in a secure car (weather taken into consideration) in my opinion.

daverday · 23/03/2023 14:18

Thanks, done!

kittensinthekitchen · 23/03/2023 14:34

All these people saying about not leaving a dog tied up outside a shop need to spend less time on Facebook.
The world is not full of people wanting to steal your labradoodle 🤣