Quote: randy allen

I'm beginning to feel bad, a couple of days ago while at the dentist, who by the way over booked themselves, I left one of mine in the car.
It was snowing and about 25 degrees but I cracked the windows before locking the car.

Ya think he got too cold?
Kinda worried now.

Hard to tell. Probably won't know until he thaws.

 Quote: randy allen

Ya think he got too cold?

I think maybe you should get him a jacket.

As someone who likes to bring her dogs everywhere, I too would have been pissed if someone had called the cops because my dog was left in the car in "bikini weather" (Just a little Northerner inside joke).

I bring my youngest dog just about everywhere and she spends a lot of time in the truck even during the day, while I am at work. That way I can run her and work her during my breaks and my lunch hour.

Anything lower than -20 including the windchill and I keep her at a friends place, crated in the garage. Now, mind you, she is a Shepherd with a nice coat and I can see my truck from my office window, but still I think in your situation - the dog was perfectly fine.

I have a had a few "call animal control moments" including calling them to come get a dog that had been tied to a fence outside a bar at -39, but I always take a step back and try to see if it's my "view" or is the animal actually in distress.

 Quote: randy allen

I'm beginning to feel bad, a couple of days ago while at the dentist, who by the way over booked themselves, I left one of mine in the car.
It was snowing and about 25 degrees but I cracked the windows before locking the car.

Ya think he got too cold?
Kinda worried now.

Geez, I wonder if that was Strider I saw in the car rubbing two bully sticks together?

I used to be an ACO, in my state there are no laws against leaving a dog in a car in hot or cold weather and we could only remove a dog from a car if it was in obvious physical distress. The car is basically private property and for the cops or ACO to enter they would need a search warrant unless again the dog was in immediate physical distress. For me personally , I would look at the condition of the animal, is it barking because it wants attention or is it barking because it wants help? Has the car been abandoned there or is it a car someone has been using regularly? As far as calling the police I can tell you several scenarios that have happened. When they get there the car is gone because lets face it they won't consider this a high priority call. They get there the car is still present the dog is inside they look at it and the dog is fine chances are they are going to note that the dog is fine and move on to more pressing matters, they don't answer the call at all and refer it to AC. In the case where the animal is fine it is a very rare instance where they would go inside to find somebody and give them a lecture. If the car is sitting there for 2 days thats different but if its there for an hour or 2 or 3 not a big worry. There are other variables that come into play but a dog in a car in 20 degree weather is not a big deal unless it is in obvious physical distress. JMHO.

 Quote: Meredith Hamilton

I look forward to cold weather so that I can take my dog with me when I do errands. We get to walk in novel places that way.

Please, don't misunderstand. I take JD everywhere with me that I can, and like you, especially to run errands where we get to walk in all sorts of different places, too. I just wouldn't take him if I knew I was going to be in a store or somewhere for any length of time (say 1-2 hours or more and depending on weather for that length of time).

The problem I had with this incident were the freezing temps and the fact that they were at the gym working out.

And if it turned out that my impression of what was going on (i.e., being inside working out) was incorrect, I'd be the first to apologize.

 Quote: Jodi Moen

I used to be an ACO, in my state there are no laws against leaving a dog in a car in hot or cold weather and we could only remove a dog from a car if it was in obvious physical distress. The car is basically private property and for the cops or ACO to enter they would need a search warrant unless again the dog was in immediate physical distress. For me personally , I would look at the condition of the animal, is it barking because it wants attention or is it barking because it wants help? Has the car been abandoned there or is it a car someone has been using regularly? As far as calling the police I can tell you several scenarios that have happened. When they get there the car is gone because lets face it they won't consider this a high priority call. They get there the car is still present the dog is inside they look at it and the dog is fine chances are they are going to note that the dog is fine and move on to more pressing matters, they don't answer the call at all and refer it to AC. In the case where the animal is fine it is a very rare instance where they would go inside to find somebody and give them a lecture. If the car is sitting there for 2 days thats different but if its there for an hour or 2 or 3 not a big worry. There are other variables that come into play but a dog in a car in 20 degree weather is not a big deal unless it is in obvious physical distress. JMHO.

Thanks for your insight. Unfortunately, like I told Connie, the windows were tinted so dark that I couldn't see the dog or if he was in distress other than hearing him barking insanely. That was part of what led me to make the decision that I did.

Hearing what you've said I'm going to investigate what the laws are in our state (mostly out of curiosity) to enlighten myself.

 Quote: niomi smith

I have a had a few "call animal control moments" including calling them to come get a dog that had been tied to a fence outside a bar at -39, but I always take a step back and try to see if it's my "view" or is the animal actually in distress.

That's a good way to look at the situation. I'm going to keep that in the back of my mind for the next time I'm faced with a situation.

Thanks for your insight.

I'm on the same page with the people that think it's OK. Koenig comes everywhere with me. If it's a place where he's not invited inside, he stays in the car. He's got S.A., and for whatever reason he's MUCH more comfortable waiting for me in the car then he is waiting for me at home, either loose or in a crate. I've taken him to work, and left him in the car for 10 hours, only getting 3 potty breaks. (Granted, I felt terrible, but he was happy, and curled up sleeping every-time I checked on him)

Seattle is relatively mild weather, which is one reason I'm comfortable keeping my dog with me, in the car or where ever nearly year round.

If given the same set of circumstances, no, I would not have called the police.