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AIBU?

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Original poster

Colleague reported me to RSPCA

486 replies

wobblymum1 · 13/07/2023 22:08

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Blondewithredlips · 13/07/2023 22:54

wobblymum1 · 13/07/2023 22:49

Interesting point, not what the welare
officer thinks but thanks! I wonder what you think strangers deserve or don’t deserve 😬

Show quote history

Your dog deserves more than you as an owner. Vile behaviour. I would have called police and RSPCA.

RoseslnTheHospital · 13/07/2023 22:54

Your colleague didn't waste the inspectors time, they would want to check on a dog locked in a car all day. Your colleague wasn't abusive, calling you an idiot and saying you should be ashamed is not abuse for goodness sake.

Original poster
wobblymum1 · 13/07/2023 22:54

ZombiePara · 13/07/2023 22:51

Oh my goodness OP, you're getting a lot of stick here for something that seems ok?

Welfare officer had no issues
Cool weather with windows down
Hourly checks and a walk
Dog used to long journeys and camping so lots of car time.

My pup is happier in the car (admittedly not for a work day, but I work shifts so entirely different) than he is stuck at home.

So many people crate their dogs when theyre out, with a half hour toilet break from a dog person to split the day, if theyre lucky.

To me, no, you are NOT being unreasonable.

I would leave it re the person you work with though - I would imagine she meant well, and obviously not knowing rhe history of your pup/perhaps not having seen you checking regularly on pup... benefit of the doubt and all that. However, if she makes another complaint/is aggressive next time you see her around, I'd hand her a copy of the welfare check (as suggested by a PP), and then third strike - involve work.

Hopefully it won't come to that though!

Thanks!
I posted as was genuinely confused as it’s not illegal, I’m taking much more
care
of her here than I can leaving her alone all day and animal welfare officer was happy she’s happy! taken aback by the comments but I asked sooooo 🤷‍♀️
that is good advice about keeping the note to show her if she approaches me
again and do nothing else in meantime. Thank you 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
wobblymum1 · 13/07/2023 22:54

Blondewithredlips · 13/07/2023 22:54

Your dog deserves more than you as an owner. Vile behaviour. I would have called police and RSPCA.

Show quote history

the police, omg. Come on.

OP posts:
WildUnchartedWaters · 13/07/2023 22:55

Blondewithredlips · 13/07/2023 22:54

Your dog deserves more than you as an owner. Vile behaviour. I would have called police and RSPCA.

Show quote history

Theres no RSPCA in Scotland.

Sorry couldnt help it 😭

NameChange245 · 13/07/2023 22:55

Haven't read the full thread, but I'm surprised by the RSPCA response to be honest. I'd have thought they'd be really quite concerned. Not sure how you can 'have a chat' with a dog through a car window either to be fair! 🐶

Original poster
wobblymum1 · 13/07/2023 22:55

noglow · 13/07/2023 22:42

So if your child was ill you wouldn't be allowed to use annual leave to look after them? What would you do? Put them in the car?

Show quote history

Child = emergency carer leave. Sadly doesn’t extend to Pets in my company.

OP posts:
Schoolchoicesucks · 13/07/2023 22:55

When you said you were taking your dog to work, I assumed you meant into your work. To sit by your desk, be fussed over by colleagues, be taken out for walks by you (& them) on breaks. Not sat in the car. For hours a day. For 5 days.
You need to make a back up plan for if your doggy daycare fails in future. The SSPCA being content to not break into the car and take your dog does not mean this is fine and your colleague was wrong. Just that it didn't reach the threshold for your dog being in danger.

WildUnchartedWaters · 13/07/2023 22:56

NameChange245 · 13/07/2023 22:55

Haven't read the full thread, but I'm surprised by the RSPCA response to be honest. I'd have thought they'd be really quite concerned. Not sure how you can 'have a chat' with a dog through a car window either to be fair! 🐶

Stop it I've just got that image out my head 🤣

DiscoBeat · 13/07/2023 22:56

I'm glad there are people like her.

Original poster
wobblymum1 · 13/07/2023 22:56

RoseslnTheHospital · 13/07/2023 22:54

Your colleague didn't waste the inspectors time, they would want to check on a dog locked in a car all day. Your colleague wasn't abusive, calling you an idiot and saying you should be ashamed is not abuse for goodness sake.

Shouting you’re an Idiot = abusive verbal language in my workplace

OP posts:
PetLove · 13/07/2023 22:57

wobblymum1 · 13/07/2023 22:15

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?

Yeah but just because you can, should you? I’m no fan of seeing people do this, locking their dogs in a small space for hours. They’ve got no freedom to roam. It must be pretty shit.

Original poster
wobblymum1 · 13/07/2023 22:57

WildUnchartedWaters · 13/07/2023 22:56

Stop it I've just got that image out my head 🤣

Show quote history

It was very cute. She does like a chat! Guess the chap didn’t feel he could just do nothing?!

OP posts:
FuppingEll · 13/07/2023 22:57

presenterspackitinffs · 13/07/2023 22:42

Genuine question- is this meant to be some kind of parallel comedy post to "not illegal but morally wrong"?

Why not find a doggy daycare or another Walker or request wfh or something for the week? It's a dog! We don't leave babies in the car all day just bc we change their nappies and have the a/c on - beyond not killing them, being in a car all day is not appropriate or fair

Simply not killing a dog in a hot car doesn't really mean it's fine if you dont do that bit

All dogs are different though? My dog would hate doggy daycare, she's not a fan of humans that aren't us and is very select about the dogs she allows near her. She would far rather the OPs solution to yours.

Blondewithredlips · 13/07/2023 22:57

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SarahsHoneydew · 13/07/2023 22:57

I can't believe this is real? Can't believe that anybody would think treating a dog this way is acceptable! If you take any temperature issues out of the equation, how does the dog get to stretch its legs properly or move around comfortably? One hour walk after being cramped up in a car for hours - then being put back in it..... does not make you a responsible owner, it's like being put in a box for 9 hours a day!

QueSyrahSyrah · 13/07/2023 22:57

I'd do the same as your colleague, honestly. An ex-colleague used to bring his ridiculously gorgeous dog to work for literally just 2 hours on a rare occasion when his dog-sitter wasn't available, and 4 or 5 of us would take it in turns over our lunch breaks to go out and play / walk / pet / make sure he was cool and hydrated and happy, he was never alone in the car at all.

For context colleague lived a 5 minute drive from work so he'd leave him home in the morning, go get him for some fuss and socialisation over lunchtime, then take him home, which meant he was only ever home alone for 3 hours at a time.

We were happy to help, but we'd not have accepted him leaving the dog alone in the car park (nor would he ever have done it).

Divebar2021 · 13/07/2023 22:57

Why is it a choice of home alone or the car? Is there no friend of family member who WFH who could have her for a few hours. No neighbour or student who could go and walk her for you. No doggy daycare? You must see that the car is not an ideal scenario even if it hasn’t met the threshold for interaction by the RSPCA / whoever.

RoseslnTheHospital · 13/07/2023 22:58

@wobblymum1 I missed the post where you explained that she was shouting at you.

HereToo · 13/07/2023 22:58

If this is true then it's cruel.

Leave the poor dog at home where it can walk around and stretch its legs when it wants to, and not when you decide to appear and let it out of the car.

Original poster
wobblymum1 · 13/07/2023 22:58

PetLove · 13/07/2023 22:57

Yeah but just because you can, should you? I’m no fan of seeing people do this, locking their dogs in a small space for hours. They’ve got no freedom to roam. It must be pretty shit.

Show quote history

I’m not one for telling anyone what they should do. Or shouldn’t. If dog
is happy then fair play. For me, I don’t take her every day (my choice to hire a walker) but I don’t judge people who take their happy looking dogs in their vans to work, no.

OP posts:
FuppingEll · 13/07/2023 22:58

NameChange245 · 13/07/2023 22:55

Haven't read the full thread, but I'm surprised by the RSPCA response to be honest. I'd have thought they'd be really quite concerned. Not sure how you can 'have a chat' with a dog through a car window either to be fair! 🐶

I chat to dogs through car windows when I pass them in car parks, only if the owners not there of course. I wouldn't want to come across as weird or anything 😳

NoisePolice5 · 13/07/2023 22:59

How would you like to be stuck in a car for 5 hours a day with no respite or chance to stretch your legs and get your circulation going?

Have a word with yourself.

Blondewithredlips · 13/07/2023 22:59

wobblymum1 · 13/07/2023 22:56

Shouting you’re an Idiot = abusive verbal language in my workplace

Show quote history

You are an idiot. I hope that kind woman is on Mumsnet.

Original poster
wobblymum1 · 13/07/2023 23:00

RoseslnTheHospital · 13/07/2023 22:58

@wobblymum1 I missed the post where you explained that she was shouting at you.

When I came out to do a check she was hovering by my car, very angry and shouted that I was an idiot and she was reporting me - it was odd behaviour given my dog was calm and everything else I’ve already mentioned. It was the verbal insult that made me wonder if I should report it was all🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
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