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.

My dog is definitely not suffering 🤦‍♀️

God forbid someone reads this thread and thinks this is okay. It's pretty shitty, encouraging people to leave dogs in cars. What if another idiot reads it and isn't so lucky with their weather. You just got lucky.

How would mumsnet know if what you’re saying is true. They don’t follow you or is that what your next post will be about mumsnet is following you it’s just as silly.

Gosh you’ve opened up a real can of worms with the holier-than-thou dog brigade!

I see no problem with this in the short-term, it’s not like it’s a permanent solution.
My dog loves the car and is quite happy in there. I have a horse too, so when I go to the yard, he comes along and sits in the car while I ride until it’s time for his walks. He either watches the world go by or he’s flat out asleep! If I leave him at home he just curls up by the door and waits there until I get back. He knows the routine and still jumps up and down like a mad thing when I pick up his harness, so it’s pretty easy to tell what he’d prefer!

We had a similar issue at a previous job though. A colleague was bringing her dog to work in quite hot weather, and another colleague got very upset about it. It wasn’t ideal, but the poor girl was doing her best, and she lived in a mobile home where the temperature had reached 40 degrees, so the dog was actually better off in the car in the shade with all the windows open than stuck at home. It got quite nasty but most people were supportive and it was only short term.

I wouldn’t bother taking it any further though - just ignore her and enjoy your dog!

I don't actually understand why people who work full time even get dogs. Wtf is the point if you then have to employ someone to actually look after it for you, or leave it cooped up in a car or on its own in a house all day? Couldn't you have just got a goldfish or something more low maintenance that actually fits around your lifestyle?

I have three dogs but I wfh and live on a farm so they're out running about all day, I can't fathom the kind of smooth brain logic that would make you think leaving a social pack animal in a car for 8 hours is a good idea.

I wouldn't report her to HR to be honest. It would be an OTT reaction to concern for a dog's welfare and there is every chance they would agree with your colleague and the vast majority of people on this thread.

It’s 12 degrees here at midday! 12!!!!

I will say one thing OP you seem to have the hide of a Rhino with regard to all the PP’s comments! It seems strange that you were so upset by an unfamiliar colleague remonstrating with you yet you are seemingly unbothered by all the comments on this thread.

Thank you! I’ll not pursue colleague and as you say Ignore her and just keep on enjoying dog. And working! Thank you 😊

Why could you not just bring her in your office if it's only for a week

12 degrees outside. Anyone who has a greenhouse with a thermometer knows how wildly different a bit of glass makes.

more Taken aback by her erratic behaviour and verbal insult to a colleague, which isn’t tolerated in my workplace. I’m confident in my care of my dog so maybe I do have a thick hide!

Perhaps she was taken aback by your behaviour...

It’s just policy no animals in building - guessing due to allergies as we are such a big organisation 🤷‍♀️

Ah yes. My behaviour the animal welfare officer approves of 😵‍💫

It doesn't do a dogs mental health any good to be trapped in somewhere for that length of time day after day.
Poor dog obviously is happy, excited, tail wagging when you turn up but is likely to have been lonely, frustrated and pining whilst alone. You have no idea.

One day - due to an emergency - possibly ok.

A whole week? Nah.

What are you going to do if your dogsitter is ill next week? Or for the next month? What if the weather suddenly get hot and sunny?

What if the sun gets really hot just for an afternoon? My car gets hot on a cool day if the suns on it for an hour- even if the windows are open.

Do you live in stornoway?

That's because it only appeared later on when things werent going well.

This.

@wobblymum1 To be honest I think your colleague calling you an idiot was pretty mild.

hence:
shady spot
all windows open
water
hourly checks
lunch time walk
🙄

Animal welfare office check suggests not lucky, just right!

I can't believe any animal welfare officer would think this ok. Really. I am quite surprised. Something doesn't add up OP....

No not the outer western isles

All dogs are not the same. My older dogs used to sleep on the sofa for most of the day, what is the difference between that and sleeping in a car?

It's not ideal, but the dog was obviously very well cared for and checked on, and it was only for a week. Some people are just busybodies and can't keep out of things which don't concern them - it is easy enough to see if a dog is in distress or not.

Well he did. So I’m just going to go with his report. But thanks!