Before I got my boys I used to do a bit of pet sitting.  I looked after 3 mini dachsunds for one family, Danny, Dexter and Dudley. I looked after them for about 5 years and saw Dexter and Dudley from when they were tiny, I would walk them twice a week and look after them when their family went on holiday. They were sweet dogs but their house training wasnt up to much so when I was planning my first pup I had to give the dachsies up.

I got a text message today from their owner (who I havent spoken to for a year or so) Dexter has died, a "tragic accident" they are on holiday in Devon and left the three dogs in the car, I dont know how long for but it got too hot and Dexter died :(   I just cant believe people can be so stupid, that poor dog, I cant stop thinking how the little podgy fella must have suffered as he slowly cooked whilst his owners were off having a good time.  She made the excuse in the text about "holidays and kids" as if that makes up for neglecting your dogs

Im so angry and so sad at the same time, I just dont understand how people can be so thick is the message every summer not clear enough DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS it doesnt matter if it is slightly over cast or even raining, at this time of year it is still HOT in the car whether windows are down or not.

Poor little Dexter, run free little one :(

I've come to the conclusion that 99% of people know that dogs die in hot cars - it's just common sense.  I believe that dogs are left in cars for purely selfish reasons on the side of the owner :( :( :( which makes tragic stories like this enrage me even more

i got out of the car at tescos last week when we had really hot weather and two cars away from me i saw a dog panting at the front window, the side window where down less thanan inch and this car was parked in full sun do not know how long the dog was there for, but the tounge was starting to really hang out of its mouth, i walked to the cash machine and then when i looked back around the dog had started to claw frantically at the window, i went into tescos and told the girl on the reception desk, we rushed out to the carpark and she took the reg, she tannoyed twice before the owner came out, i stood back and watched as the young girl told the owner that the dog was in distress in the car, and he said ive left the window open,the young girl then said, either remove your dog, or i will break the window to get the dog out, you'll not touch my bloody car he was shouting at her,which she said,well let me put you in a microwave and turn it on, and when you are banging the door to get out i will just wave at you, by this time the security guard had intervened and was escorting the man to the front door and his car.
of course everyone else was in the wrong, the guy would never shop there again, and no one would tell him what he could with his dog.
I have to give tescos there due they where quick off the mark and they where willing to break the window if no one came, don't know if the young girl involved had permission to do it, but she was brilliant.
carol

Good for you!! He probably wouldn't have came out for ages if you hadn't got involved. Hopefully he has learnt his lesson (stupid man). I personally don't agree with people taking their pets and leaving them in the car its so sad, when its too warm mine won't even get in the car they prefer in the kitchen on the tiles. At least when you went home though you knew you had done something to help or it could have been tragic for the dog if you had just left it who knows.

Well done you, you quite probably saved that dog's life if it was already beating at the window! On the very rare occasions on a cool cloudy winter day that I might have to leave my dog in a car for a couple of minutes, I always leave the window well down in spite of my OH moaning about security - and if anyone came to tell me my dog was in distress I would be out there like a shot, not wibbling about how I'd left the window open!!

Mind you sometimes people can get it wrong by mistake - my OH once got told to give my dog water when he was out walking - he'd only just that minute offered him a good drink and the dog had drunk as much as he wanted. He was just panting because he was excited and running around! Better safe than sorry though.

i never have and never will leave my dog in the car no matter wat the weather. :) its not to bad for me tho as if were going anywere dogs arnt alowed or are gonna be gone for over 4hrs then meg goes to my mums.or i carry her were ever we go.but ok for me as shes only a mini dacs so i can just pop her under my arm.but if you have a larger breed dog you cant exactly do that. but theres stil lno excuse for leavng your dog alone in a parked car as you wouldnt leave your child there would you. i know i wouldnt.
shame there wasnt some1 there like you judge dred to save the little dacs life and many others left to bake! :(

There is nothing wrong with leaving your dog in the car as long as they are safe secure and aren't going to cook, I have to leave Buffy in the car and I hate people who have a go at me for it, she is crated has access to water and is checked regularly and has the boot totally open if she can and the A?C left running if I can leave the keys in and its warm, she stays in the car when we go out for dinner, or the pub if she can't come in, she stays in there while I ride. Its either that or I leave her at home to panick, get in a state howl, cry and break things.

Recently people have had a go at me... I am a responsible dog owner have always had animals, and never ever leave her if she is going to cook and park as close to where I am going as I can get. Sometimes there is no other option other than to be prisoner in your own home and get sainsburys to home deliver!!

Just makes me a little cross and is in no way personal

Feel better now!

Poor little pup, how can you forget soemthing as precious as that. Run free

Chloe

I never leave my dogs in the car when it is hot.  But Asda at Brighton Marina is over zealous.  We used to sometimes take our GSD down with us in the winter and my husband would give her a long run while I did the shopping.  Naturally when she came back she was given a long drink of water popped in the car with windows part way open and sun roof open while hubby came in to help me load up the shopping (so she was probably not left more than 10 or 15 minutes anyway).  On 3 occasions there was an announcement over the tannoy to ask us to return to the car where we were told the dog was in distress.  Of course she wasn't - she had plenty of air for a cold day but was obviously panting following a long walk.  Whilst I am pleased that people cared enough a little judgement was needed here.

Youd think all the publicity this act gets any owner would ever do this. Poor dog. There was a case in our local pepar a few weeks ago. 3 dogs had been left in a car for about 90min. Someone broke into the care to get at the dogs. 2 were saved but ill the other poor thing had already died.
Its 1 law I would break without a second thought. (breaking into a car)

People don't know the circumstances - if the dog looked distressed - panting etc.. I would far rather someone came and told me/tannoyed and it was a false alarm than anything else.....

Personally, I would never leave my dog in the car alone.  come rain or shine.  You hear far too much about dog-napping etc... it's just not worth the risk.  take the car, leave the dog. 

Yes. I totally agree with you Woo - it was just their attitude when we got there that annoyed us.  We never leave our dogs by themselves in the car for more than a few minutes in any event.

>she had plenty of air for a cold day but was obviously panting following a long walk. 

Obviously? Only if you knew she'd been for a walk! ;) If you get to a car and there's a panting dog inside it, who's going to think "Oh, it's doing that because it's just had a long walk"? Nobody. You're going to think "Aargh! The poor thing's stressed and hot! What cruel owners it has. Don't they know how dangerous it is to leave a dog in the car?".

Leaving the AC running can backfire on you too, as it did for a lady who had her dog at my VEt's recently.  After her Vet appt. she put the unhappy dog in the car and turned it on with the AC running as it was a very hot day, and went back in to pay and get instructions.  The dog managed to step on the power door lock.  And she didn't have an extra key.  Lucky for her, hubby was home with a key and home was close.

Poor Dexter, I can't believe just how silly we humans are at times.

Would I be right in saying to have AC on in your car your engine must be running to power the unit for it to work correctly? I think it's illegal to leave a car on a public highway with its engine running and if it's pinched you will struggle to claim from your insurance as well and you might never see your loved one again.
I would never leave Bruce in the car no matter what. Its just to risky and I could never forgive myself if anything happened.

Buffy is crated so cannot get to the locks and I only leave it running if absolutely nessesary and i am at my yard which is private, gated and locked. I do know the risks to my insurance etc and with a policeman for a brother i'm well aware of the legality. If I could do it any other way I would, I have to work and as I can only leave her for short amounts of time I don't have a choice.

Hi Chloe

Can you not crate train her at home? She will be fine for a while and you will not have to worry about leaving her in the car. Bruce is crate trained and even though he barks to start with within a few mins he sits down and ends up asleep. This would give you some freedom as well. I know you love her and like me don't want to be apart but sometimes it just has to be done. Just don't give in to her crying to start with and I'm sure all will be fine.

As many know that buffy suffers terrible SA and we are dealing with this with a behavourist, its not a case of giving into her crying its about her actualy hurting herself cause i'm not with her, we are at 20 mins on her own a big achievement. Yes she is crate trained, at home and in the car but actually having her in a crate at home on her own makes her worse and would damage herself. I dont actually see whats wrong with having her in the car as long as she is safe and doesnt get hot, she  is soo much happier and doesn't spend every spare moment at home wondering if she is going to be left.  She has  plenty of space and loves to go in the car as many terriers do. I have plenty of freedom and mum has her when we are out, my partner has her on odd days to. We dont mind in the least. I have a very rural life and eventually I will be able to leave her for longer periods but it has to be done at her own pace when she is ready. If it was a simple as just leaving her to bark and cry for  few mins it would be a different case.

Hi Chloe

Sorry to hear about Bufy. I hope it all works out in the end for both you and her.
It might have helped if you explained that first of all in your first post as I did not know being new to the site. Sorry.
If you ever need a friendly chat just send me a PM no matter what. Never feel you are alone as you're not.

Regards
Stu

Thats ok... your never alone on champdogs.... quite addicted!!  Buffys so lovely i never get fed up with her.. well only when shes running round the house with dirty underwear.... or the clean stuff shes pulled off the line and burrying!! thats worse!!

Re. car running so AC will work:  If I were to do this on purpose I'd make sure I had another set of keys.  Don't want my car running with the doors unlocked and the keys available to a thief.  And, worst of all, my precious dog or cat in the car.  Couldn't the opposite to the doors locking also happen though?  The dog steps on the power locks and UNLOCKS the car?

Yes, I think many communities these days have bylaws against leaving your car idling mo matter where it is.

Just curious - do the newer model cars in the UK have the keypad door locks on the outside?  I know of people who leave their dogs in the dogs in the car if they are just popping into a store for a few moments, they leave the AC on and lock the doors and use the keypad to unlock when they return, that seems to work very well, but only for quick trips into a store.