So I have another opinion type question. We all know how cruel it is to leave dogs in cars on hot days, even with the windows cracked, I still think it is bad.
I drive a small car, probably the smallest car, a Smart Car. Behind the seats is a perfectly flat rectangular area bigger than Maggie's crate. We put her bed back there and she enjoys going for car rides. The space is probably two feet long and the width of the interior of the car. So we take Maggie places with us and she seems to enjoy the rides, she either sleeps or looks out the windows. The area is raised so when she sits and faces forwards she can rest her head on my shoulder or she looks out the back window, eliciting many smiles and waves from the folks behind me. Until the weather started getting warmer we woud take her with us for rides on errands and then leave her in the car for short periods of time so we wouldn't need to leave her crated at home. This story is getting long!
So the weather is getting warmer and I haven't been doing it because I don't want her to be uncomforatble. Yesterday evening I was going into the city to have dinner with my sis. I had Maggie crated for a while earlier in the day so I thought I would take her along (the ride is about 45 min each way) she could stay in the car while I had dinner and we could all go for a walk before the ride home, that way instead of being crated for 3 hours, she would be alone for perhaps an hour. I drive downtown and I'm concerned that, although it is evening, it is still warm out and I don't want to leave her in the car. I decide to pay extra to park underground where it is cool and there is no sun.
The guy in the ticket booth asks if I'm planning on leaving the dog in the car. I say yes, for a little while. He says I can't park there because people complain. I ask who complains, he says office workers and it's happened 4 or 5 times. I say that it is nice and cool down there and otherwise I will have to park out in the sun. He still won't let me park there.
So long story short (not really). I park outside and we take Maggie with us and eat at an outdoor patio where I can keep her on the other side of the patio's little wrought iron gate.
I can see complaining if someone is leaving their dog in the car all day or for a short time out in the sun. But is it really cruel to leave your dog in the car for a short amount of time if it is a nice temperature in the car? How is that different than a crate?
Any thoughts?
I drive a small car, probably the smallest car, a Smart Car. Behind the seats is a perfectly flat rectangular area bigger than Maggie's crate. We put her bed back there and she enjoys going for car rides. The space is probably two feet long and the width of the interior of the car. So we take Maggie places with us and she seems to enjoy the rides, she either sleeps or looks out the windows. The area is raised so when she sits and faces forwards she can rest her head on my shoulder or she looks out the back window, eliciting many smiles and waves from the folks behind me. Until the weather started getting warmer we woud take her with us for rides on errands and then leave her in the car for short periods of time so we wouldn't need to leave her crated at home. This story is getting long!
So the weather is getting warmer and I haven't been doing it because I don't want her to be uncomforatble. Yesterday evening I was going into the city to have dinner with my sis. I had Maggie crated for a while earlier in the day so I thought I would take her along (the ride is about 45 min each way) she could stay in the car while I had dinner and we could all go for a walk before the ride home, that way instead of being crated for 3 hours, she would be alone for perhaps an hour. I drive downtown and I'm concerned that, although it is evening, it is still warm out and I don't want to leave her in the car. I decide to pay extra to park underground where it is cool and there is no sun.
The guy in the ticket booth asks if I'm planning on leaving the dog in the car. I say yes, for a little while. He says I can't park there because people complain. I ask who complains, he says office workers and it's happened 4 or 5 times. I say that it is nice and cool down there and otherwise I will have to park out in the sun. He still won't let me park there.
So long story short (not really). I park outside and we take Maggie with us and eat at an outdoor patio where I can keep her on the other side of the patio's little wrought iron gate.
I can see complaining if someone is leaving their dog in the car all day or for a short time out in the sun. But is it really cruel to leave your dog in the car for a short amount of time if it is a nice temperature in the car? How is that different than a crate?
Any thoughts?