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.

Just because it isn't illegal and the SSPCA don't have grounds to take any action doesn't mean that it's a good idea. Just that it's not criminally neglectful or actively harming your dog.

The note did not say RSPCA/SSPCA since they are completely different organisations.

It would be a bit like ordering a pizza from Dominoes and the receipt saying “Domino’s/papa johns”

So your work can be done from home? Why not … y’know … work from home?

@Flowerblooms how would boarding kennels be better? The dog would have been locked in a cage in a strange and stressful environment day and night and you think that’s better than it sleeping contentedly in it’s own space for the day?

If you had a note from the Scottish SPCA that would be fresh in your mind. It's not even SSPCA, it's Scottish SPCA.

I mean if you say something at work then you might get fired for going our every hour to check on your dog? Say you do that 6 times a day for 5 minutes that's 2 and a half hours you've wasted over a 5 day week?

A dog in a car all day? That’s the same as leaving them locked in a crate.
how can you think that’s ok?

I'm in Scotland and while it's pouring all day every day, it's also really clammy and hot. My livingroom is like an oven. So on that basis your colleague did the right thing.

My manager has no issue with me popping out to see her and I make up those 40 mins voluntarily at home so no issue there. Colleagues also fine, most pop out several times for a quick break or cigarette or take a personal call so we are all considerate of each other’s needs as long as work gets done 😊

Another one agreeing with your colleague.

Just because the officer said they were ok, that doesn’t mean your colleague was wrong to call them. it is a concerning situation

Leaving your dog and car in England and going to work in Scotland sounds quite effortful. Have you considered buying a house in Scotland instead? Then you could put your dog in it.

Sorry it’s late. I added an A S by mistake. 🙄

Also, I'd probably have done the same if I was your colleague. Always best to get these things checked

Of course a kennels is better! Staff on hand to check the dog 24/7, our local kennels also don’t have them locked in a Kennel day and night most of the day they are let out in an enclosed field to play.

Exactly. It’s been approximately 20 degrees consistently for a while now, and the “feels like” temperature has been higher because of the humidity. Our car is very warm when we first get in.

what? Leaving car in England? We are as far north as you can nearly get!

Oh stop it

They're just looking for a funny way to tell you what 832 posters already have.

It’s not
clammy up here but even if it was I’d prefer her in cool car with hourly walks than home all day alone?

@Flowerblooms kennels are incredibly stressful and unnatural environments for most dogs. I’ve Worked in a kennel and the dogs didn’t spend most of their time outside, they spent most of their time barking and crying in a cage.

No worries. Sorry the error just made it seem to me like an obviously fake post. I accept it was just a mistake and I apologise.

Sorry I still don’t get it ☹️

I don’t know anyone who would think this is acceptable, in any weather. You say this happens a lot where you live? I live in a cool part of England but no one would be this stupid and if they were they would be reported, unless it’s 5 mins in the corner shop

I'm not a dog owner but can see why the woman reported it. I don't think it matters that it wasn't hot, I think the fact the dog has been in the car all week during the day is cause for concern. It's good that you've been able to have breaks with the dog but wouldn't it have been better to leave her at home and go home over lunch to walk her? The RSPCA have said it's fine and the dog is well cared for so I wouldn't take it further with the women as she had a right to report her concerns, other people could have also reported it and just not told you.