Animal Welfare: I'm still shaking...

[Coopdog]

I was just at the store and when I came out I heard a Shar Pei puppy crying in the car next to mine. It's sunny and 80 degrees here and the poor little thing was obviuosly in distress. She was panting and crying and trying to crawl under the seats. I watched for a few minutes, looking around for the owners, then I reached in the cracked window (thank goodness for skinny arms) and opened the door. I had a leash and water and was about to walk over to the shade with her when the owners appeared. Needless to say, neither of us was very happy. I tried to explain how dangerous it was to do that, and they were ticked off because I broke into their car. I'm following up with animal control, in the hopes that they will call them or something. I can't believe I broke into someones car! But I don't have a cell phone, and I wasn't sure that the police would arrive in time anyway. Hope I don't get arrested...

[diane]

that ticks me off. I hate when I go to walmart and people leave their dogs in the car. I'm sorry but no matter how fast you are your going to leave you dog alone for at least 15-20 min. Why bring your dog if he can't go in with you?

[Toadies]

You Go, Gutsy! I hope that you don't get arrested either. That was risky but brave. Perhaps, if you come upon a similar situation again, you could flag down someone to assist, like calling the cops while you keep an eye on the "victim". I think that I would pester animal control to find out what became of the situation.

[pringles70]

I agree, never for any amount of time leave your pet in a car. They can quickly overheat and die even on a cool cloudy day. However, you could very well find yourself facing charges of breaking and entering should the owners of the car decide to press charges. Which sucks!! Don't get me wrong, I probably would have done the same thing you did, get the dog out!

Good luck. If you do get in trouble be sure to explain everything in detail to the judge, it might help.

[Peggysu]

The owner sounds like a total jerk! I would make sure to have a report already about it before they press charges. Next time flag someone down with a cell phone and then call the police. Also write down what happened now whiles it's fresh in your head exactly how it happened so there aren't any discrepencies. Typically police won't show up but the fire department will as a Public Service Assist. Now this is assuming they aren't on any priority 9-1-1 calls.

[AnimalHouse36]

You go! It's what any true animal lover would due. Without you who knows what would have happened.

[TwilightStar]

I hope you don't get arrested but I think you should make a report about the owner if he does press charges. That's abuse and he shouldn't have pets if he'd be so careless to leave a animal trapped in the hot sun.

Either way be proud that you did that! Some people would have just walked away, but it's good you took action. You may get in trouble, but wasn't it worth it?

[katiewilson]

That's wonderful that you were able to help! However, we should all remember to be careful with these situations. You broke into this person's car, and even if they are completely in the wrong for how they treat their animals, YOU will be the one getting into trouble, at least legally, and perhaps physically.

If you don't have a cell phone to call police yourself, just duck into the nearest store or office and make the call from in there. Or flag down someone passing by. There are alternatives that won't delay you at all from helping the poor animal, but also won't result in you committing a crime.

Of course, when it comes down to it and a life of ANY kind is in serious danger, I'd be the first one breaking that car window! Or asking you to use your skinny arms to save the day...

[Paula]

Ditto Katie.

I know your heart was in the right place, but you actually committed a pretty serious crime, and unfortunately when it comes to legal matters, pleading that you did it for the greater good won’t hold water, especially if you're clearly in the wrong. It’s really best to let the proper people deal with these types of situations. Beyond the crime that was committed, there are a number of other things that could have happened. What if the dog had gotten loose and been hurt or killed? What if the dog had mauled and/or seriously injured you? What if the dog had gotten loose and injured a bystander? Any of those possibilities would be entirely your fault, and you would likely be held accountable for them. There are so many variables and no way to know how things like this will work out. Choosing to intervene is great, but best done with a phone call to the proper authorities and not by personal action.

[pigsmakemesmile]

I admire your bravery but I have to agree with Paula on this one. So many other things could have happened such as those that she mentioned. If I were to find myself in your situation, I would have ran into a store and aske to use the phone to call for assistance and let the proper authorities handle it. Of course I'd stay the whole way through to ensure the dog was safe.
I too often find dogs in cars on hot days with the window partially rolled down. Of course I'll peek on the dog to see it's ok. It angers me to know end though when it's hot...we don't know how long the dogs already been in the car.
I hope they don't press charges, I know your heart was in the right place.
Good luck!

[Coopdog]

Actually, I called animal control and told them what happened as soon as I got home. I gave them the plate # and asked if they would follow up. The person I spoke to said it was gutsy and actually thanked me, which was a surprise to me. I'm still waiting for the head of animal control to call me back, so I may still be in trouble. I agree...it was impulsive and I could have probably handled it better. But it was a very young puppy, and she was panting so hard and crying so much. She was trying everything she could to get away from the heat...it was heart-breaking. Once their temperature starts to go up, you don't have much time to act. The woman wouldn't even let me give her any cool water. Hopefully she's alright. I really wanted to clamly explain to her why I was so concerned, but in the heat of the moment, she kept yelling at me, so I just ended up yelling back. I totally understand why she was so angry. Hopefully she will understand later. Interestingly, her husband never said a word. Perhaps he understood how serious it was.

[blackarrow]

I don't think you need be too worried about getting arrested - since you had no intent to commit any crime, the max it should be would be a misdemeanor trespass kind of offense. That said, next time, get to a phone or alert someone in the store with a phone first to call the cops/animal control, and get yourself a store employee as a witness to what you are doing and why (and what you are NOT doing).

People are amazing. I got roundly cussed out by a woman I called the cops on for leaving two children in the car strapped in their car seats (one eating a hard candy on a stick) while she was in a store for 20+ minutes.

(I know it sounds funny saying "hard candy on a stick" but the program this board uses changes it to this when I type the regular word: lypop)

[auburnmare5]

I think that what you did was right (animal welfare wise), but because of the fact that you DID break into the car, you could have landed yourself in a big legal issue. By putting the dog in the shade, were you planning on leaving it there (like tying to a tree?) Or waiting with it until the owners came out? The owners could have been thinking you were taking their dog!
I can understand what you did, and why, but I don' think it was a very good decision. The best thing to do, would have been to wait with the dog until the owners came out and explain it to them. Or if you were in a hurry, you could have left a note.

[blackarrow]

As to why people ever take their dogs in the car - someone asked - done right, it's entertainment for them. I frequently travel with my dogs - but I bought a van with a sunroof so that I could leave it open because I do, and I crack the windows too. (It doesn't get hot in there like that - if it's a dangerously hot day I don't bring them.)

[Henle15]

You did the right thing and I would have done that too. You were saving an animal from possible death and breaking into a car does not matter when a life is on the line human or not human. You should not get charged with anything as I am sure there is some type of law against it or a lawyer could win your case on the premise of animal neglect and cruelty.

I mean what if it was a child? Wouldn't you do the same thing? Why shoudn't animals get the same respect and deserve the same type of help. I would rather get arrested for saving a life than letting the animal die and suffer in the car.

Thank you for performing this action. You did the right thing!!

[Coopdog]

Thanks Henle15. They actually had a baby with them, and when I asked them if they would leave their baby in the car like that their reply was "Of course not...she's not a dog!". So there you have it. But next time (which will hopefully never happen...I've already lost alot of sleep over this) I will find another way to deal with it. I did end up talking to the head of animal control. She basically said I was lucky they didn't press charges, and to call them in the future if it happens again. She also said they've already gotten a bunch of calls this year for the same thing.

[farm mommy]

Next time call the police. I just don't like people that take animals to store because they just stay in the cars. It is so sad and not fair to see an animal in that situation. You did good and i hope you don't get in trouble. The owners should be happy and i hope they understand better what means to leave an animal in the car.

I am sorry but they are very stupid

[Oliversnana]

Good for you! I probably would have done the same thing. I'm pretty sure that I would not have been so nice to those people either.

[Oliversnana]

I know that I would not have been as nice as you were to those people. People like that have no clue nor do they have any business owning any animals. It is rather alarming to realize that one must be tested and licensed in order to, be married, operate a motor vehicle, even to run a business. but any idiot can have animals and children. I have always wondered why we are not required to and feel that we all should be required to at the least be educated before having children. It probably sounds like a really strange idea to most people but thats just me talking to myself out load!

[Peggysu]

Originally Posted by Oliversnana

I know that I would not have been as nice as you were to those people. People like that have no clue nor do they have any business owning any animals. It is rather alarming to realize that one must be tested and licensed in order to, be married, operate a motor vehicle, even to run a business. but any idiot can have animals and children. I have always wondered why we are not required to and feel that we all should be required to at the least be educated before having children. It probably sounds like a really strange idea to most people but thats just me talking to myself out load!

The problem here isn't that they shouldn't own animals, the problem is that unfortunately a lot of people feel that their animals are property and not pets.

I believe that vast majority of us on this forum treat our animals like they're human. I know my dog thinks he is human he won't even drink out of his water bowl, he has to drink out of my cup of water. What bothers me is the comments like "it's just a dog" "it's just a guinea pig." The reality to me is that children and animals are similar and should be treated as such. Both don't have a voice and rely on adults to be their advocate.

I personally take my dog everywhere in my car. It doesn't get above 65F here usually but if it does my dog goes to my parents house. He likes the car and loves to cruise around. If my dog was ever in the car and it got to hot for him and someone noticed him in distress I hope someone would break my window to get him out! My windows are always open though.