Dana

You honestly had the dog's best interest to heart and did what your heart told you to do, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Like Jodi and so many others mentioned, and I don't know if you stuck around to see if the cops did come, but the police operator would have decided the priority of the call when sending it out. Then the cops in that area would have decided how serious they felt the call was and either blow it off or make a trip over to check. At that point, it was up to them to determine the consequences or followup. (now everyone don't get riled up about saying ok to calling the police - pls read last paragraph first)

I take 4 of my dogs almost everywhere I can, when I can. Living in AZ, especially Phx, we worry more about heat, and actually have laws of leaving animals in vehicles in weather over 85 degrees and above. At that point, you can be ticketed, jailed, have your car's windows broken in order to get into the car - and pedestrian's are allowed to break windows in order to get a dog out of a hot car. You also may not ship animals by air in weather over 85 degrees on the tarmac, thus I spent many a midnight or later at the airport shipping goats out just to get them out of the state when sold. I'm sure you all read about the police officer in Mesa, AZ who left his GSD partner in his patrol car while he took a nap then took his wife to dinner and found his dog dead the next day in his cruizer. He was brought up on charges.

IMO I would find out your local laws, speak to your local animal control as to what they feel a reasonable procedure would be, and if nothing else, leave them a nasty note on the vehicle asking them if they would like to be left in a cold car with no heat! It will at least make you feel better.

Lastly, maybe the knitters on here could make some doggie coats for future violations??????

JMO

Thank you so much, everyone. I'm sure I'll still obsess over this for a while longer, but yes, I did what I thought was right at the time. I'd have never forgiven myself if I'd gone back to the gym the next day and heard that something had happened to the dog. I took complete credit for what I'd done. I didn't make the call anonymously.

Al, I'm sorry you would feel this a frivolous call. Mill Creek is a very small, very family and dog friendly town. Of all the officers and fire/paramedics that I've met, I can't say that any of them would have felt that way. Perhaps I did give them a chuckle. They also had my name and phone number if they wanted to come and give me a ticket.

And yes, Al, I actually have 2 dogs - and the breeder I got my Mal from is a Sherriff's detective in Contra Costa county in CA. My dogs grandfather is his working K9. I can honestly say that had he been called out for something like this, he wouldn't have felt it was a waste of his time and frivilous. Again, I'm sorry you feel that way.

All of this has given me plenty to think about.

Thank you one and all.

 Quote: Lynne Peck

Dana

You honestly had the dog's best interest to heart and did what your heart told you to do, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Like Jodi and so many others mentioned, and I don't know if you stuck around to see if the cops did come, but the police operator would have decided the priority of the call when sending it out. Then the cops in that area would have decided how serious they felt the call was and either blow it off or make a trip over to check. At that point, it was up to them to determine the consequences or followup. (now everyone don't get riled up about saying ok to calling the police - pls read last paragraph first)

I take 4 of my dogs almost everywhere I can, when I can. Living in AZ, especially Phx, we worry more about heat, and actually have laws of leaving animals in vehicles in weather over 85 degrees and above. At that point, you can be ticketed, jailed, have your car's windows broken in order to get into the car - and pedestrian's are allowed to break windows in order to get a dog out of a hot car. You also may not ship animals by air in weather over 85 degrees on the tarmac, thus I spent many a midnight or later at the airport shipping goats out just to get them out of the state when sold. I'm sure you all read about the police officer in Mesa, AZ who left his GSD partner in his patrol car while he took a nap then took his wife to dinner and found his dog dead the next day in his cruizer. He was brought up on charges.

IMO I would find out your local laws, speak to your local animal control as to what they feel a reasonable procedure would be, and if nothing else, leave them a nasty note on the vehicle asking them if they would like to be left in a cold car with no heat! It will at least make you feel better.

Lastly, maybe the knitters on here could make some doggie coats for future violations??????

JMO

 Quote: Lynne Peck

Dana

You honestly had the dog's best interest to heart and did what your heart told you to do, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Like Jodi and so many others mentioned, and I don't know if you stuck around to see if the cops did come, but the police operator would have decided the priority of the call when sending it out. Then the cops in that area would have decided how serious they felt the call was and either blow it off or make a trip over to check. At that point, it was up to them to determine the consequences or followup. (now everyone don't get riled up about saying ok to calling the police - pls read last paragraph first)

I take 4 of my dogs almost everywhere I can, when I can. Living in AZ, especially Phx, we worry more about heat, and actually have laws of leaving animals in vehicles in weather over 85 degrees and above. At that point, you can be ticketed, jailed, have your car's windows broken in order to get into the car - and pedestrian's are allowed to break windows in order to get a dog out of a hot car. You also may not ship animals by air in weather over 85 degrees on the tarmac, thus I spent many a midnight or later at the airport shipping goats out just to get them out of the state when sold. I'm sure you all read about the police officer in Mesa, AZ who left his GSD partner in his patrol car while he took a nap then took his wife to dinner and found his dog dead the next day in his cruizer. He was brought up on charges.

IMO I would find out your local laws, speak to your local animal control as to what they feel a reasonable procedure would be, and if nothing else, leave them a nasty note on the vehicle asking them if they would like to be left in a cold car with no heat! It will at least make you feel better.

Lastly, maybe the knitters on here could make some doggie coats for future violations??????

JMO

Thanks Lynne. I've already said I'm going to research all of what you mentioned. I know that heat is a completely different and serious subject. I would imagine their are laws here as well for dogs being left in a car (or any animal) but I will find out so that I have all of the proper information before I make another decision like this.

I also take JD with me whenever I can and he has stayed in the car while I run errands. I don't disagree with taking our dogs with us. I do disagree with leaving a small dog locked in a car in freezing weather.

Sweaters! that would be great. I could leave a little care package on the window of the cars during our next snow :-)

Again, thank you one and all.

Dana, while I would have done nothing about this since 20 degrees isn't really that cold inside a car for a few hours, I don't have an issue if it upset you. I do take issue with you using the 911 service to do it. 911 is not there to take calls about yappy dogs in the cold. It is there for emergency use only. If I were you I would find the number to the local animal control and leave that in your phone. There are also regular numbers for a police dept. you can use for calls like this, leaving the 911 lines free for a real emergency.

personally, I never saw anywhere Dana says she used the 911 service. If you do, they ask if this is an emergency and if you say no, they transfer you to the regular police line. But in Dana's defense, she never stated she used the 911 service. I'm sure with all the negative imput she has received she will do it different next time, but will still do something about it as she is a true animal person. My short haired ratties would die in that kind of cold if left for any period of time. So I commend her pet loving feelings in at least thinking about the dog instead of just walking by and going - Oh, a dog in a cold car, it will be fine.

In her first post it clearly states she dialed 911. That was the only part of the post that even concerned me about what she did. And it depends on where you live as to if they transfer you or not. Smaller cities and towns often do not have the transfer option.

well I'm sure with all the negative imput she's received, she definitely won't be doing it again or at least telling anyone about it.

20 degrees, hummmm how many coats and sweaters do people put on when they go out in that weather, and then sit in a car w/o heat for a couple hours - don't think so - just playing devil's advocate - not meant to piss off

Edited by Lynne Peck (01/21/2011 01:46 PM)
Edit reason: added to

See I don't think she should not do it if her gut is telling her to, I just want to make sure she calls the right people and has that number handy.

I think it may also be a question of where people are from, here in NY, we spend most of winter around 20 degrees so it is not as much of a concern as somewhere it may be not the norm to be that temp. :-)

 Quote: sarah slyter

In her first post it clearly states she dialed 911. That was the only part of the post that even concerned me about what she did. And it depends on where you live as to if they transfer you or not. Smaller cities and towns often do not have the transfer option.

Yes, I did call 911 and you are correct. I should have used a different business number - however, they did ask what the emergency was and then transferred me to the appropriate line. Our towns are large enough that we do have that capability.

As far as never doing this again or telling anyone about it...that will remain to be seen when faced with this or a similar situation in the future. Perhaps handle it a little different? Most likely. To walk away and go "oh a little dog locked in a car in freezing weather, oh well..." I doubt seriously that will ever happen. If/when I reach that point with my attitude towards any animal then mine will all be looking for new homes.

Again, I took full responsibility for my actions. I did not make this call anonymously - they had my full name and phone number. If for any reason the police wanted to contact me they would have had no problem and I would have answered any and all of their questions about my decision.

I do appreciate everyone's comments whether you agree, disagree or have strongly disliked the action I took. I can honestly say I really never thought it would open up the can of worms that it has.