Dogs in the car - new bill SSB5501

[Colin]

So a coworker had a little incident at work today where the cops were called about his dogs in the car. Turns out there is a new bill that allows law enforcment or animal control the ability to remove animals from harmful situations without a warrant. I mean don't get me wrong this seems well intentioned but how do they determine if the animal is really at risk. I take my dog to work everyday from 530 am to 2 or 3pm. Park in the shade of the building until about noon and then the broad leaf tree that I also park next to keeps most of the sun off the truck from then on. Have a windshield sun screen, a 14 foot by 12 foot breathable mesh reflective tarp for the hot days and a 12 volt box fan that I turn on in the afternoons. We train or go for a walk in the AM and then he gets let out and water refilled every 2 hrs as well as a 30 mins walk at lunch...

I'm a graduate of the UW college of engineering so I understand perfectly well the dynamics of a car heating up in the sun on a hot day and think I have taken all measures to ensure my pup is safe and healthy at all times. I know the signs of dehydration and overheating in a dog. I have read how to properly cool a dog in case of overheating. I check the NOAA website each morning and if it's too hot I leave my little guy at home.

Any thoughts on this new bill? Anything I can do better? BTW it doesn't actually go into effect until the 24th of this month. The bill number is SSB5501 and I contacted the state legislature as well as the local police and animal control to obtain a definition of how I should know it's too hot per the law and nothing as of yet. Hoping to hear from animal control tomorrow.

Idk this kind of bothered me thinking that someone could just break into my truck to save my dog then send him to a shelter where he would be euthanized if he wasn't adopted in 15 days... ugh. All based on an officer or animal control agent who may or may not be very educated in the symptoms of overheating.

[Colin]

Idk am I wrong on this? It's really been bugging me all day.

[JimmyHoffa]

There was a post on this a few months ago.  See if I can find it.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,173901.msg2298745.html#msg2298745

[CAMPMEAT]

What is perceived by you and someone else, would be a tough nut to crack. If you are a responsible dog owner, you might be safe. BUT, you're always guilty, until proven innocent in these days.

[Colin]

Thanks Jimmy! Read that thread just now. I feel like no one is more concerned with the temps in the car more than me. I've gone to great lengths to ensure that my pup is safe. It just really really bugs me that if a complaint is made the PD or Animal Control must investigate. I don't resent or blame the law enforcment agent I blame the person who calls this in to complain. It was 10 am and the cops apparently showed up and left say g that there was no problem with the situation at that time. They told the building manager they would return to check on the situation later in the day. Idk what was the end result today bc by the time they likely came back I was already on my way home at 2 pm before the hottest part of the day.

[Colin]

I know this is going to become an issue bc I let my dog out every 2 hrs and people will see me with my dog and basically call the police as a concerned citizen. Ugh... hopefully I can make contact with the local law and introduce myself and show my setup and explain. The precautions that are being taken.

[JimmyHoffa]

could maybe get one of those little digital thermometers like RadioShack has ($5?) and leave it close to a window so do-gooders  can see that it isn't 'broiling' in there. ??

[Colin]

could maybe get one of those little digital thermometers like RadioShack has ($5?) and leave it close to a window so do-gooders  can see that it isn't 'broiling' in there. ??

I like that idea. Gives me another way to ensure its not getting too hot also.

[JimmyHoffa]

could maybe get one of those little digital thermometers like RadioShack has ($5?) and leave it close to a window so do-gooders  can see that it isn't 'broiling' in there. ??

I like that idea. Gives me another way to ensure its not getting too hot also.

I think cheaper and no batteries might be to get the little paste on versions that fish tanks use.

[zike]

Here's an idea to keep your dog cool or your tent or van.

https://eplaya.burningman.com/viewtopic.php?t=33842

[csaaphill]

To me it's just another excuse to forgo the protection of the Bill of rights.

[Bango skank]

Everybody seems to be against this.  About 15 years ago i pulled into a parking spot and saw a dog foaming at the mouth looking desperate in the car next to me.  Hot summer day, all the windows rolled up.  Dont care what you say, that little dude was dying.  All because his owners were *censored*bags.  You werent there so dont even argue it.  If i didnt break a window id have a hard time sleeping at night even to this day.  I feel there is room for good samaritan laws, to a certain extent.  Im done on this subject

[Colin]

Here's an idea to keep your dog cool or your tent or van.

https://eplaya.burningman.com/viewtopic.php?t=33842

That's pretty smart... might just make one for $h!ts and giggles.

[huntingbaldguy]

I won't do it.  My wife and i have gotten in arguments over it, i won't leave the dog in the car if it's 70 out, i don't care how shady the parking spot is, or ventilated the car is.  I don't want someone to walk by and break my window trying to be captain planet, and today it's the appearance of a panting dog in a car that would make that happen.  I'm not paying for a new window and i sure as hell am not going to get my dog taken away.

If you're responsible, that's great, but some liberal loony isn't going to look at it that way.  They will call the cops and you will get a bill and lose your best friend and maybe even get slapped with animal cruelty charges, regardless of if it's true or not.  That is just my opinion.

[Colin]

I won't do it.  My wife and i have gotten in arguments over it, i won't leave the dog in the car if it's 70 out, i don't care how shady the parking spot is, or ventilated the car is.  I don't want someone to walk by and break my window trying to be captain planet, and today it's the appearance of a panting dog in a car that would make that happen.  I'm not paying for a new window and i sure as hell am not going to get my dog taken away.

If you're responsible, that's great, but some liberal loony isn't going to look at it that way.  They will call the cops and you will get a bill and lose your best friend and maybe even get slapped with animal cruelty charges, regardless of if it's true or not.  That is just my opinion.

I understand your view point, it's basically the same as my wifes. Why not just avoid the situation? It's a valid point but it's a valid point that if your not causing harm no one has the right to alter or infringe on my behavior. If the looney bin is full and the overflow are blocking me from going to my public land hunting spit I'm going to go by and hunt no matter what on principle alone. I see it that if I alter what I do based on harassment then I am condoning them to continue to do that.

Like Bango said there are times when this is a valid law. I have no issues with breaking a window and even paying to repair for it to be fixed if a dog is in jeopardy of death or serious harm. It's just that the law doesn't inform people wanting to make a complaint or people wanting to avoid having a dangerous situation occur with their pet.

I mean a kid can drown in an inch of water does that mean we should pass a law that says your kids will get taken away if you aren't watching them close enough at the pool or lake? Then whenever anyone calls law enforcment because they think your not watching them close enough they have to respond to the call and assess the situation. So then because of this you stop taking your kids to the lake??? Obviously in the real world kid doesn't = dog but I think it elaborates on what I'm trying to say.

[huntingbaldguy]

I agree with every point you've made, i'm just not going to be at the mercy of the system.  You are more than welcome to.

[AspenBud]

People need to mind their own business or at least learn to assess a situation. I know a guy who left his 8 year old in the car (no keys in the ignition) while he and his wife went into the store to buy a couple of items, his kid said he didn't want to go in because the store AC would make him cold. Anyhow when they got back out they had police officers looking all around the car because someone decided to call the cops regarding a child in a hot car. The kid is 8, he knows how to own open car doors, he knows how to roll down the windows, and he was comfortable. Yet someone decided to call the law.

The police did nothing in the end, but because they got a call they had to respond.

[stevemiller]

So a coworker had a little incident at work today where the cops were called about his dogs in the car. Turns out there is a new bill that allows law enforcment or animal control the ability to remove animals from harmful situations without a warrant. I mean don't get me wrong this seems well intentioned but how do they determine if the animal is really at risk. I take my dog to work everyday from 530 am to 2 or 3pm. Park in the shade of the building until about noon and then the broad leaf tree that I also park next to keeps most of the sun off the truck from then on. Have a windshield sun screen, a 14 foot by 12 foot breathable mesh reflective tarp for the hot days and a 12 volt box fan that I turn on in the afternoons. We train or go for a walk in the AM and then he gets let out and water refilled every 2 hrs as well as a 30 mins walk at lunch...

I'm a graduate of the UW college of engineering so I understand perfectly well the dynamics of a car heating up in the sun on a hot day and think I have taken all measures to ensure my pup is safe and healthy at all times. I know the signs of dehydration and overheating in a dog. I have read how to properly cool a dog in case of overheating. I check the NOAA website each morning and if it's too hot I leave my little guy at home.

Any thoughts on this new bill? Anything I can do better? BTW it doesn't actually go into effect until the 24th of this month. The bill number is SSB5501 and I contacted the state legislature as well as the local police and animal control to obtain a definition of how I should know it's too hot per the law and nothing as of yet. Hoping to hear from animal control tomorrow.

Idk this kind of bothered me thinking that someone could just break into my truck to save my dog then send him to a shelter where he would be euthanized if he wasn't adopted in 15 days... ugh. All based on an officer or animal control agent who may or may not be very educated in the symptoms of overheating.

Might get clobbered by everyone here but why would anyone take their dog to work any way.Would you take your kid to work with you and leave the kid in the car while you worked your shift?Dont get me wrong i love my dog to but jeez,really?Here lately and i dont know why,I have been seeing way more dogs being taken into public buildings,Whats going on,did I miss something?I thought pets for the most part were not allowed unless a working dog.

[jackelope]

So a coworker had a little incident at work today where the cops were called about his dogs in the car. Turns out there is a new bill that allows law enforcment or animal control the ability to remove animals from harmful situations without a warrant. I mean don't get me wrong this seems well intentioned but how do they determine if the animal is really at risk. I take my dog to work everyday from 530 am to 2 or 3pm. Park in the shade of the building until about noon and then the broad leaf tree that I also park next to keeps most of the sun off the truck from then on. Have a windshield sun screen, a 14 foot by 12 foot breathable mesh reflective tarp for the hot days and a 12 volt box fan that I turn on in the afternoons. We train or go for a walk in the AM and then he gets let out and water refilled every 2 hrs as well as a 30 mins walk at lunch...

I'm a graduate of the UW college of engineering so I understand perfectly well the dynamics of a car heating up in the sun on a hot day and think I have taken all measures to ensure my pup is safe and healthy at all times. I know the signs of dehydration and overheating in a dog. I have read how to properly cool a dog in case of overheating. I check the NOAA website each morning and if it's too hot I leave my little guy at home.

Any thoughts on this new bill? Anything I can do better? BTW it doesn't actually go into effect until the 24th of this month. The bill number is SSB5501 and I contacted the state legislature as well as the local police and animal control to obtain a definition of how I should know it's too hot per the law and nothing as of yet. Hoping to hear from animal control tomorrow.

Idk this kind of bothered me thinking that someone could just break into my truck to save my dog then send him to a shelter where he would be euthanized if he wasn't adopted in 15 days... ugh. All based on an officer or animal control agent who may or may not be very educated in the symptoms of overheating.

Might get clobbered by everyone here but why would anyone take their dog to work any way.Would you take your kid to work with you and leave the kid in the car while you worked your shift?Dont get me wrong i love my dog to but jeez,really?

 
I'm with Steve on this one (  ). Right or wrong on what this new bill means…it doesn't seem like a good idea at all to me to leave your dog in the car all day at work, especially in the heat we've been having.
Flame away.

[Colin]

I'm not gonna Internet clobber anyone. Lol. To answer the question of why... I think my pup has grown into a well socialized little guy in large part from taking him to work. He gets to see different types of terrain and cover to romp and train at that is not near my house. At lunch we can train or on the non retrieve days we can sit outside at Starbucks and practice sitting with distractions or heeling past the entrance to the grocery store. We go to mud bay about once a week at lunch and he can learn not to just rush up and eat every treat he sees. He learns to be quite in his kennel or in the car when people walk by. He gets to work on meeting new coworkers and going on a 30 min walk with them. With all this done before and during breaks at work he gets a lot of "me" time increasing our bond leaving time for intro to water, easy little sight blinds, short doubles, working on place and kennel in his dog blind, intro to gun, frozen ducks, thawed ducks, big ducks, little ducks, shackled pigeons, shackled ducks, pigeons on land, ducks on land, pigeons on water, ducks on water...

I mean there's a lot to do... and the clock is ticking whiles he's young and these things are a lot easier to teach him.

I guess my point of the super long post is that we can accomplish a lot during those few hrs of free time before and after work leaving some time for family and fighting traffic to get to the places where non city training can happen.

Not meant to be a blast at either of you guys I hope I have not offended either of you or any like minded lurkers. I leave the pup at home on the hot days but when it's 75 out he can easily be in the car more than comfortably and safely with the setup I described in the OP. I just feel that because of a few that irresponsibly put there dogs in harms way it creates a few people that irresponsibly react to a dog in the car and ruin what is actually a really productive thing.

[stevemiller]

I dont feel offended in the least.Was only curious,sounds to me you have your reasons and thats all that matters here.What kind of work do you do anyway?

[Colin]

I'm a enegineer. I design the tools that make the planes. Basically vendor for Boeing Airbus... idk maybe it's selfish for me to bring him to work and I'm just really good at justifying it.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I have a dog with me on most days.  I work in the field mostly, but also have a dog box behind my desk and a super dog friendly work environment + I use them at work a bunch.  I think you're doing things right.  If someone calls whining about your dog, be ready to demonstrate that the dog is fine in the vehicle.

[ghosthunter]

I have had two labs in my life. Both I took to work and left crate in truck. They got better care.

Once they were big enough to be in outside kennel they stayed home.

I am not for any person being able to bust your window because there are just too many non common sense folks out there. I Had this discussion with a gal at work who is always saying she would break a window.

Being a store manager I am real tired of folks who have to drag or carry their dog every where they go. Health code prohibits pets in our store unless service animal.
Trouble every little rat terrier in someone's arms is a service animal they say.

And what's with all the dogs in hardware stores.

Thread jack sorry

Op the trouble is no matter what you do. On the street 80% of folks are going to call the cops. So think of a back up. Plan.

[Jonathan_S]

I had a dog in the car for about twenty minutes in 100 degree heat     

"Burn him at the stake!"   


I also had the truck running with the AC engaged, doors locked and I had the second set of keys.  When I came out, some old sweatpant'd bat was calling the cops and tearing me a new one for it.  Telling me that it was probably 150 degrees in the car and I deserved to go to jail...yadda yadda.  I brushed her off, got in the truck and left.

to this day I am perplexed that she didn't examine two facts

1)  The pup was fine, happy and not panting
2)  The 40-Series Flowmaster is kind of hard to not hear 

[Rainier10]

So a coworker had a little incident at work today where the cops were called about his dogs in the car. Turns out there is a new bill that allows law enforcment or animal control the ability to remove animals from harmful situations without a warrant. I mean don't get me wrong this seems well intentioned but how do they determine if the animal is really at risk. I take my dog to work everyday from 530 am to 2 or 3pm. Park in the shade of the building until about noon and then the broad leaf tree that I also park next to keeps most of the sun off the truck from then on. Have a windshield sun screen, a 14 foot by 12 foot breathable mesh reflective tarp for the hot days and a 12 volt box fan that I turn on in the afternoons. We train or go for a walk in the AM and then he gets let out and water refilled every 2 hrs as well as a 30 mins walk at lunch...

I'm a graduate of the UW college of engineering so I understand perfectly well the dynamics of a car heating up in the sun on a hot day and think I have taken all measures to ensure my pup is safe and healthy at all times. I know the signs of dehydration and overheating in a dog. I have read how to properly cool a dog in case of overheating. I check the NOAA website each morning and if it's too hot I leave my little guy at home.

Any thoughts on this new bill? Anything I can do better? BTW it doesn't actually go into effect until the 24th of this month. The bill number is SSB5501 and I contacted the state legislature as well as the local police and animal control to obtain a definition of how I should know it's too hot per the law and nothing as of yet. Hoping to hear from animal control tomorrow.

Idk this kind of bothered me thinking that someone could just break into my truck to save my dog then send him to a shelter where he would be euthanized if he wasn't adopted in 15 days... ugh. All based on an officer or animal control agent who may or may not be very educated in the symptoms of overheating.

Might get clobbered by everyone here but why would anyone take their dog to work any way.Would you take your kid to work with you and leave the kid in the car while you worked your shift?Dont get me wrong i love my dog to but jeez,really?

 
I'm with Steve on this one (  ). Right or wrong on what this new bill means…it doesn't seem like a good idea at all to me to leave your dog in the car all day at work, especially in the heat we've been having.
Flame away.

That cracked me up. An I agree with Steve on this one also.  What is going on?

[Jonathan_S]

So a coworker had a little incident at work today where the cops were called about his dogs in the car. Turns out there is a new bill that allows law enforcment or animal control the ability to remove animals from harmful situations without a warrant. I mean don't get me wrong this seems well intentioned but how do they determine if the animal is really at risk. I take my dog to work everyday from 530 am to 2 or 3pm. Park in the shade of the building until about noon and then the broad leaf tree that I also park next to keeps most of the sun off the truck from then on. Have a windshield sun screen, a 14 foot by 12 foot breathable mesh reflective tarp for the hot days and a 12 volt box fan that I turn on in the afternoons. We train or go for a walk in the AM and then he gets let out and water refilled every 2 hrs as well as a 30 mins walk at lunch...

I'm a graduate of the UW college of engineering so I understand perfectly well the dynamics of a car heating up in the sun on a hot day and think I have taken all measures to ensure my pup is safe and healthy at all times. I know the signs of dehydration and overheating in a dog. I have read how to properly cool a dog in case of overheating. I check the NOAA website each morning and if it's too hot I leave my little guy at home.

Any thoughts on this new bill? Anything I can do better? BTW it doesn't actually go into effect until the 24th of this month. The bill number is SSB5501 and I contacted the state legislature as well as the local police and animal control to obtain a definition of how I should know it's too hot per the law and nothing as of yet. Hoping to hear from animal control tomorrow.

Idk this kind of bothered me thinking that someone could just break into my truck to save my dog then send him to a shelter where he would be euthanized if he wasn't adopted in 15 days... ugh. All based on an officer or animal control agent who may or may not be very educated in the symptoms of overheating.

Might get clobbered by everyone here but why would anyone take their dog to work any way.Would you take your kid to work with you and leave the kid in the car while you worked your shift?Dont get me wrong i love my dog to but jeez,really?

 
I'm with Steve on this one (  ).

   anyone have a recommendation for a 12 gauge load for flying pigs?   

[Becky]

This law is one that's iffy for my parents - they're long haul truck drivers with two dogs that live with them in their semi. These dogs were raised, obedience trained, and know "home" to be the semi. They're American Eskimos so they're fluffy and always "panting" but I'm curious if there's any exclusion to working dogs in a sense like this?

[Colin]

There is nothing technically that I read in the RCW's that would exclude your parents situation but likely not many people would climb the step to look in the windows on the dogs.