The great thing about this sign is its confidence in the low rate of car stealing, since it admits that the car is on.
If we truly live in an age where an unattended car is more at risk of damage from a busybody trying to “rescue” a dog, thinking the car is off, than of a car thief trying to steal it, thinking the keys are in the ignition, then we are actually very safe indeed.
I saw this earlier this week on Facebook (accompanied by all the “damn right I’m breaking that window” “I don’t care what the sign says” “he’s clearly an abuser trying to cover it up”), but the sign said ‘he’s listening to his favorite music’, not Steely Dan.
James Pollock on
“The great thing about this sign is its confidence in the low rate of car stealing”
Or he’s got remote engine off and/or lojack, or the dog does not react well to strangers in “his” car.
Laura on
I wish there was a “like” button here for the comments, and a way to reply directly to a comment. 🙂
Theresa on
Save the dog! Save the kid! They are in a car by themselves HELP! They seem fine but we must save them!
Papilio on
Well, I think someone has suggested before to just leave a thermometer in plain sight, but this might work as well…
JJ on
Note: in an electric car such as Tesla, Leaf, Soul etc, there may not be any outward sign that the “car is on”. But, the air conditioning and internal temperature can be monitored and updated via an iPhone app (at least in a Tesla). Such is the future. Still likely require the sign, to be prudent.
“Well, I think someone has suggested before to just leave a thermometer in plain sight, but this might work as well…”
This may have been me (a few suggested this) but I no longer think this will work. This is because I believe most of the busybodies motives are more about feeling righteous and superior than about concern. They like to be outraged about something – ANYTHING! They aren’t going to let a thermometer rob them of this euphoric high.
However I did (and still do) suggest a permit like for handicap parking. This isn’t about seeking permission. It’s a way to give the police, and government a legal non responsibility clause. This is because in order to get this permit, you have to sign a paper, ‘I am aware of the dangers…..’ This is the major reason police can’t help stepping in. They are legal responsibly. (unfortunately) A dog in parked car permit should rid them of this.
I think police would love this idea as well. They’d love to shed responsibility and hate the way they have become a marionette for busybodies.
This video is funny. An episode of ‘The Office’ did a comedy skit about a dog waiting in car. After they broke the window, they created a bigger problem. The dog could run into the street and get hit by a car.
I’ve suggested a thermometer in combination with a timer, to show the car isn’t hour and you haven’t been gone long. I have never tested the notion. Seeing as 911 has been called on dolls before, it seems feasible to test without getting anyone in the system with CPS.
Warren on
Personally I prefer something like “Dog is fine. Trained for security. Will attack should you attempt entry.”
I agree that a timer and thermometer is logical. However I question whether or not these people are logical. They like the euphoric feeling that comes because they can order the cps and police to investigate even the most trivial things. (I’m talking about kids in cars as well)
Warren on
Thermometer and timers won’t work at all. The idiot busy bodies and the police will not trust them. You will only be accused of rigging them to cover your own ass.
Then we should also start carrying signs for all occasions.
NOT HERE TO ROB THE BANK
NOT GOING TO BLOW UP THE PLANE
What a great time to be alive when even people in here think it is acceptable to prove your innocence when you are doing nothing wrong.
Vicki Bradley on
Very funny, Tim 🙂
Jill on
The next time I leave my dog in the car while I run a quick errand I’ll post a sign that says, ‘This dog has a medical condition. He is fine in here. However exposure to outdoor air will cause him to exlode. Do not explode the dog. Do not break the window. Thank you.
David on
I would add just one thing to that sign: This dog is a trained guard dog. Any attempt to rescue him will be seen by him as an attempted intrusion and he’ll react accordingly.
BL on
How about:
“This is my dog’s safe space. Please don’t microaggress the dog”
Beth on
My bank has a sign on the entrance door requesting that customers take off their hats and sunglasses before entering.
I need a sign that says NOT HERE TO ROB THE BANK BUT MY HAT HAIR LOOKS AWFUL SO NO.
free range pet owner on
I am all for this, however I want to relate what happened to me. I was living overseas in a very hot country. I took my 2 dogs with me to the hardware store and rather than put them in the back of the truck I left them in the cab with the air conditioning running, engine on. When I came out of the store the windows were all fogged up there was dog spit covering the windows. One of the dogs must have hit something maybe with a snout or tail that turned off the car …I don’t know how it happened but truck was off and so was air conditioner. Both dogs were almost passed out and in bad condition. Once I got the cab cold from air conditioner my mutt bounced right back but my boxer was limp. I frantically looked for a place to hose him off. Finally found somewhere and doused him in cool water. When I got him home he was acting loopy, balance was messed up and I thought he had brain damage. This lasted for over a day and thought I might have to put him down. I felt very guilty and bad about the whole thing. He ended up fully recovering thankfully and lived another 10 years just fine. However I would be very cautious about taking that chance again.
Tiny Tim on
I can see questioning the wisdom of leaving dogs in the car in a place where w/o AC they probably will die, even if the driver therefore leaves the AC on, but events as you describe them are still so low probability relative to change of major accident while actually driving.
Xena_Rulz on
“Do not explode the dog.” Love that!
Madeline on
Steely Dan?! *dials 911*
j/k but it wouldn’t surprise me if someone did that.
bw1 on
Free range pet owner raises another side to this. Letting a dog, or child wait in the car during moderate weather is understandable. In very cold or hot weather, however, is another story. The idea of leaving a dog or child dependent upon technology when they are not able to respond effectively to its failure demonstrates an indolent and blithely unaware, magical impression of technology. All technology fails; it’s not magic. That’s why most states have laws against leaving a running vehicle unattended.
Under normal circumstances, able bodied adults can take appropriate action when technology fails. Toddlers and animals can’t.
Warren on
The laws for leaving a vehicle running has nothing to do with technology failing. They were enacted to lessen emissions. Just saying.
I also get tired of people going on about the cold when it comes to dogs. Unless they are hairless they do not feel or react to the low temperatures anything like humans.
Donna on
“I also get tired of people going on about the cold when it comes to dogs. Unless they are hairless they do not feel or react to the low temperatures anything like humans.”
That depends greatly on breed of dog. A chihuahua and a newfoundland react very differently the cold. My jack russell mix can’t tolerate much cold at all.
With more cars moving to push button ignitions, it becomes irresponsible to leave a pet unsecured in the passenger compartment of a car if you are relying on the heat/air conditioner to make it safe. A pet can easily step/sit on the switch and turn the car off. No gymnastics or unforeseeable odd sequence of events needed. Just a paw or other body part coming in contact with a very accessible button. Mine is on the center console right next to the gear shift where a dog could easily hit it while moving about. Once it is off, the car only comes back on if you are pushing the brake and the button at the same time, so not something the dog can do.
26 Comments
The great thing about this sign is its confidence in the low rate of car stealing, since it admits that the car is on.
If we truly live in an age where an unattended car is more at risk of damage from a busybody trying to “rescue” a dog, thinking the car is off, than of a car thief trying to steal it, thinking the keys are in the ignition, then we are actually very safe indeed.
DEAR GOD. HE’S LISTENING TO STEELY DAN!
[calls 911]
I saw this earlier this week on Facebook (accompanied by all the “damn right I’m breaking that window” “I don’t care what the sign says” “he’s clearly an abuser trying to cover it up”), but the sign said ‘he’s listening to his favorite music’, not Steely Dan.
“The great thing about this sign is its confidence in the low rate of car stealing”
Or he’s got remote engine off and/or lojack, or the dog does not react well to strangers in “his” car.
I wish there was a “like” button here for the comments, and a way to reply directly to a comment. 🙂
Save the dog! Save the kid! They are in a car by themselves HELP! They seem fine but we must save them!
Well, I think someone has suggested before to just leave a thermometer in plain sight, but this might work as well…
Note: in an electric car such as Tesla, Leaf, Soul etc, there may not be any outward sign that the “car is on”. But, the air conditioning and internal temperature can be monitored and updated via an iPhone app (at least in a Tesla). Such is the future. Still likely require the sign, to be prudent.
“Well, I think someone has suggested before to just leave a thermometer in plain sight, but this might work as well…”
This may have been me (a few suggested this) but I no longer think this will work. This is because I believe most of the busybodies motives are more about feeling righteous and superior than about concern. They like to be outraged about something – ANYTHING! They aren’t going to let a thermometer rob them of this euphoric high.
However I did (and still do) suggest a permit like for handicap parking. This isn’t about seeking permission. It’s a way to give the police, and government a legal non responsibility clause. This is because in order to get this permit, you have to sign a paper, ‘I am aware of the dangers…..’ This is the major reason police can’t help stepping in. They are legal responsibly. (unfortunately) A dog in parked car permit should rid them of this.
I think police would love this idea as well. They’d love to shed responsibility and hate the way they have become a marionette for busybodies.
This video is funny. An episode of ‘The Office’ did a comedy skit about a dog waiting in car. After they broke the window, they created a bigger problem. The dog could run into the street and get hit by a car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Vmov4WeaY
I’ve suggested a thermometer in combination with a timer, to show the car isn’t hour and you haven’t been gone long. I have never tested the notion. Seeing as 911 has been called on dolls before, it seems feasible to test without getting anyone in the system with CPS.
Personally I prefer something like “Dog is fine. Trained for security. Will attack should you attempt entry.”
I agree that a timer and thermometer is logical. However I question whether or not these people are logical. They like the euphoric feeling that comes because they can order the cps and police to investigate even the most trivial things. (I’m talking about kids in cars as well)
Thermometer and timers won’t work at all. The idiot busy bodies and the police will not trust them. You will only be accused of rigging them to cover your own ass.
Then we should also start carrying signs for all occasions.
NOT HERE TO ROB THE BANK
NOT GOING TO BLOW UP THE PLANE
What a great time to be alive when even people in here think it is acceptable to prove your innocence when you are doing nothing wrong.
Very funny, Tim 🙂
The next time I leave my dog in the car while I run a quick errand I’ll post a sign that says, ‘This dog has a medical condition. He is fine in here. However exposure to outdoor air will cause him to exlode. Do not explode the dog. Do not break the window. Thank you.
I would add just one thing to that sign: This dog is a trained guard dog. Any attempt to rescue him will be seen by him as an attempted intrusion and he’ll react accordingly.
How about:
“This is my dog’s safe space. Please don’t microaggress the dog”
My bank has a sign on the entrance door requesting that customers take off their hats and sunglasses before entering.
I need a sign that says NOT HERE TO ROB THE BANK BUT MY HAT HAIR LOOKS AWFUL SO NO.
I am all for this, however I want to relate what happened to me. I was living overseas in a very hot country. I took my 2 dogs with me to the hardware store and rather than put them in the back of the truck I left them in the cab with the air conditioning running, engine on. When I came out of the store the windows were all fogged up there was dog spit covering the windows. One of the dogs must have hit something maybe with a snout or tail that turned off the car …I don’t know how it happened but truck was off and so was air conditioner. Both dogs were almost passed out and in bad condition. Once I got the cab cold from air conditioner my mutt bounced right back but my boxer was limp. I frantically looked for a place to hose him off. Finally found somewhere and doused him in cool water. When I got him home he was acting loopy, balance was messed up and I thought he had brain damage. This lasted for over a day and thought I might have to put him down. I felt very guilty and bad about the whole thing. He ended up fully recovering thankfully and lived another 10 years just fine. However I would be very cautious about taking that chance again.
I can see questioning the wisdom of leaving dogs in the car in a place where w/o AC they probably will die, even if the driver therefore leaves the AC on, but events as you describe them are still so low probability relative to change of major accident while actually driving.
“Do not explode the dog.” Love that!
Steely Dan?! *dials 911*
j/k but it wouldn’t surprise me if someone did that.
Free range pet owner raises another side to this. Letting a dog, or child wait in the car during moderate weather is understandable. In very cold or hot weather, however, is another story. The idea of leaving a dog or child dependent upon technology when they are not able to respond effectively to its failure demonstrates an indolent and blithely unaware, magical impression of technology. All technology fails; it’s not magic. That’s why most states have laws against leaving a running vehicle unattended.
Under normal circumstances, able bodied adults can take appropriate action when technology fails. Toddlers and animals can’t.
The laws for leaving a vehicle running has nothing to do with technology failing. They were enacted to lessen emissions. Just saying.
I also get tired of people going on about the cold when it comes to dogs. Unless they are hairless they do not feel or react to the low temperatures anything like humans.
“I also get tired of people going on about the cold when it comes to dogs. Unless they are hairless they do not feel or react to the low temperatures anything like humans.”
That depends greatly on breed of dog. A chihuahua and a newfoundland react very differently the cold. My jack russell mix can’t tolerate much cold at all.
With more cars moving to push button ignitions, it becomes irresponsible to leave a pet unsecured in the passenger compartment of a car if you are relying on the heat/air conditioner to make it safe. A pet can easily step/sit on the switch and turn the car off. No gymnastics or unforeseeable odd sequence of events needed. Just a paw or other body part coming in contact with a very accessible button. Mine is on the center console right next to the gear shift where a dog could easily hit it while moving about. Once it is off, the car only comes back on if you are pushing the brake and the button at the same time, so not something the dog can do.