Colleague reported me to RSPCA

[wobblymum1]

Not sure what to do with this one…..
I work for a big company and have been taking my dog to work with me
this week as my usual dog
walker is away. We’re in north Scotland so It’s not hot, I leave all the car windows open 1/3 way and come out hourly to check on her, offer water and a wee and walk her in my lunch hour.
oddly (to me) yesterday a colleague from a different department I don’t know at all was standing by
my car when I came for one the checks-
she told me she was reporting me for leaving my dog in the car all day, that I was an idiot and that I should be ashamed. I was so shocked I didn’t say anything, and today Found a note on my windscreen at the end of the day from RSPCA to say they’d had a welfare call about a dog locked in the car, they’d come and found her calm with windows open and had a chat with her thru the open window (?!) and were satisfied she was well cared for and NFA.

do I just leave it at that? Or try and find the name of the women who reported me and complain on basis of her being so rude? It all just seems so odd.

Sounds like your colleague is the only sensible one!

I think your colleague had your dogs best interests at heart tbh

If anyone feels that a pet or vulnerable person is at risk, they should report. Your complaint won't go anywhere. They might ban your dog from the work carpark, though.

What's odd about it?

I don’t like dogs at all but I think what you’ve described seems neglectful.

do I just leave it at that? Or try and find the name of the women who reported me and complain on basis of her being so rude?

She did the right thing.

Your colleague was being reasonable, and I'm glad the rspca came out and checked on your dog's welfare.

Was there really no other option?

In what way was she rude? She was reporting her concern for a dog to the RSPCA.

Admittedly, she could have reported it to reception at your office, and asked if the owner could be located.

But I think her concerns were justified.

If I were you, I wouldn't draw more attention to yourself and your dubious dog care practices.

I don’t blame her for calling the RSPCA.

Did you try to arrange for a diff walker to come? I think even if you just leave the house at home and walk the dog before and after work will be much better than leaving the dog in the car the entire working day

This can’t be real

A dog in a car all day is not fun for anyone even if it's not sweltering hot. Seems a bit cruel.

You’re the odd one! What rational person thinks it’s a good idea to coop a dog up for hours in a car?

Your colleague sounds like a wonderful person. Maybe try being more like her?

I don't think your colleague was being unreasonable.

My colleague did this sometimes when she was on nights
Everyone checked on the dog when we went outside so probably every 15 mins or so, she had water/food, the seats and boot down flat and her bed and toys
If she was awake when we went out we would walk her/play/cuddle or let her sleep
It was a big estate type car though

Your colleague did absolutely the right thing. I'd have reported you too.

can I ask you to explain why? I’m genuinely confused
as she’s well cared for, it’s a one off
week of coming to work with me and staying in the car where
she
is cool and calm and has hourly
cuddles from me and an hour walk at lunchtime, even the welfare
officer said she was calm and all ok- so with how rude she was I don’t see how she is being the only sensible one?

The RSPCA don’t even operate in Scotland.

Don’t you have a house where you can leave your dog?

If the RSCPA were happy then I wouldn’t worry about it. I do the same with my dog occasionally. He prefers it to being at home.

I would probably go tell her that the RSCPA had been and checked, so that she doesn’t keep complaining.

The woman wasnt to know that you were coming our and checking. She did the right thing.

I did laugh at 'had a chat with '

But no. I wouldn't draw attention to it, that would make everything worse.

But for what? I know lots of people who take their dog in vans to work and walk them between jobs, it’s not against the law and the welfare
officer said she was well cared
for
and calm and would be taking no further action?

My dogs would be climbing the walls if they were in such a restricted space for hours every day.

It’s cruel. Dogs need space and stimulation.

Sorry but that is really cruel. Could you not pay another dog walker for the week as a one off or tbh just not walk during day for a week. Wouldn't dog be happier in familiar surroundings at home than stuck in a car?

Your colleague is NBU

Your poor dog! What a miserable day for him! You would have been much better off getting up early and taking him for a walk before and after work, then popping home in your lunch break to let him out and keep him company. That way he could have relaxed all day at home. And you would probably get more work done!

I would never leave an animal in a car, your colleague did the right thing.