Am I overreacting about leaving a dog in the car?

[Lillibee4]

My partner and myself and his 9 yr old border collie are on holiday in the highlands in his holiday home. We have just fallen out because, although it isn’t as hot as in the south it is 21/23 degs. He wants to go 50mins drive to a shopping centre (no dogs allowed) and leave him in the car, will be at least 2/3 hours with window open about 3 inches. I have refused this for obvious reasons, and he says if dog can’t come we aren’t which I am ok with. But he just cannot see and I have sent him what I found online about leaving dogs in cars. We are well over pension age if this is relevant. Fuming !!!

Thank you everyone. We didn’t take him but had to put up with remarks! Considering all options now

what is wrong with him. why would he even consider it. some people don't deserve dogs. assume he's done this before

What a horrible man. Dog and you deserve better.

No way - I left my dog in the car for 5 mins in 24 degrees heat this week and felt bad - he looked uncomfortable

Is he normally this much of an idiot? How could he even consider leaving the poor dog in a car for 3 hours, regardless of the heat!

Sadly have literally just come from this very situation at a shopping centre. Returned to our car to see a poor dog locked in a car with the windows cracked slightly. Loooooong story short, rang the centres security they came , checked the doors , they’re open. Fed the dog water through the gap in the window. Times ticking on , dog is panting heavily , is distressed and drooling constantly. Decision made to open car and look for a lead , there was one , got the dog out. Rang rspca , told to ring 999. Rang 999 told nothing to do with them ring rspca. List of people we rang to help 999 , 101, rspca, pdsa, local police station , local vets , emergency vets and 101 again . NO ONE WAS PREPARED TO HELP! 2 and a half hours has now passed , dog is getting distressed has poo’d wee’d and been sick. Thinking it’s been dumped and I’m taking it home when the arsehole owner comes back with his kid. Much puzzling on his face wondering where the fuck his dog is ! Clocks us with it and I lost my shit , telling him for sure his dog would be dead if we’d not taken it out the car. Follows an altercation with much aggression and swearing , his kid sobbing and culminates in me calling him a see you next Tuesday , which is a word I DO NOT normally use. What I took from this is that a) no one is prepared to help , no use calling the police or rspca and b) be prepared for a barage of aggression from the twat who left the dog once they return as their small brains do not consider they have done anything wrong and convince themselves the dog is ok. This dog would have been 100% dead if left til the owner returned! We’re shaken by the incident as he was very aggressive but then so was I fuelled by the stupidity and carelessness of this utter prick ! Would I do it again ? Yes , every single time!

Get your DP to wear a fur coat and sit in a greenhouse for 3hrs.

Unbelievably stupid.

Leaving your dog in the car for that length of time? Not a wise move. I'm not sure if some "concerned citizen" would do something but I wouldn't risk it. It's not fair on the dog regardless.

Well done you. And for losing your cool for the f*ckwit owner. He might have been aggressive but these people need to be told. Absolutely zero consideration or care.

What can the absolute idiot have wanted at the shopping centre that was more important than his dog's life?

When DH and I want to go to somewhere the dog isn't allowed in we either don't go or we go and one of us walks the dog (or sits somewhere cool/warm with her) whilst the other goes in. Then we swap over.

I’d be livid he should have a dog he’s an idiot, you can show him the posts too.

Not a good idea, regardless of heat (but especially in heat), to leave a dog in the car for 3 hours.

I can't believe that people are still this uneducated in 2026. Hopefully, this thread will help but you've done well to find third party info to confirm your sensible position.

He’s an absolute idiot who would cause a great deal of suffering and possible death of your dog. Ask him to stay in the car instead to see how it feels.

LTB

I wouldn't leave a dog in the car heat or not! Tell him people break into cars to steal dogs and they can get used for dog fights and all manner of cruel things.

I literally try not to put my dogs in the car when it's hot and it's a short journey and I don't leave them in the car.

Most dogs are happier left at home than in a car at anytime hot weather or not.

How can you be with such a horrible man?

The RSPCA are useless. When a dog was distressed at motorway services, I rang the police. I think they must've been tootling past as they came within ten minutes. Tore a strip off the owner, when he eventually appeared. By this time I'd been there half an hour so goodness knows how long the dog had been in there. But RSPCA? All about posh premises in central London and TV ads. But if they had turned up there was a car park full of people to see it. Pathetic.

@babybirdsmomma

Thank you for doing that. As you said, that dog would have been dead if it wasn't for you.

Your local police department sound dreadful. I saw a similar incident albeit the police did attend and I witnessed the owner getting a massive telling off.

If I saw the dog in the carI’d smash the window to get it out. I’d call the cops and the SSPCA and have him done for cruelty . No way do you leave an animal in a hot car for 3 hours . He can go shopping himself or leave the dog at home with someone with the dog . Better still let him cook in a hot car for 3 hours to see if he likes it

This!
Dogs wear fur coats!

It’s cruel anyway IMO to leave a dog in a car for 3 hrs, even if it’s not too hot. Surely it’ll become distressed? What if it needs the toilet?