OP it seems like they should ask a lawyer the difference in that jurisdiction between a charge of 20 min vs. 69 min. Will this make a difference in terms of the gravity of the charge or how it is handled?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they sit in the car for an hour in 85 degree heat? I dont believe that a cop left the animal in the car for an extra 40 mins. What was the air temp inside the car? This was animal cruelty and i wish more people would mske better choices. Yes they should get a lawyer.

The dog was in the car for 20 min. My parents came back and the cop was there with the dog in his SUV trunk in the caged part in the AC for another 40 min. The cop wrote an hour down but that's the combined time.

Also it's fall and there was a good breeze through the open window. Truly they love their dog.

Your parents probably thought that they were gone for 20 minutes, but it was apparently an hour. Your parents’ first step should be honesty aBout the situation.

They're probably also in denial about it since they do it all the time and nothing bad had happened yet.

If I believe OP, I'm curious what the cop was talking to the parents about for 40 minutes, because it certainly doesn't take 40 mins to write a ticket. Either they were argumentative and took that long for the cop to convince them that their behavior was wrong, or they were so obviously stupid and obnoxious that the cop didn't believe that the parents would have the dog in AC to cool it down and so wanted to make sure he did it himself. Either way aren't good. And that's if we actually believe OP.

OP here. They both said the cop was pretty mean and wouldn't discuss it with them at all. The cop sat in his patrol car (with dog in the back) for 40 minutes after he got their license. He wouldn't talk to my parents about the ticket.

Only one of them got the ticket. They're not argumentative people, nor stupid, nor obnoxious. Dog wasn't even panting. Also, like I said the windows were rolled down (not just cracked).

Well what would you expect them to say? The cop was really nice and listened to them and then gave them a ticket. They were mad they couldn't weasel their way out of the ticket and the cop wasn't just going to let them off. And did they time the cop while he was in the car? How do they know for sure it was 40 minutes? Maybe the cop had to call animal control for advice on what to do for the dog. Look OP your parents were in the wrong. Instead of arguing, just tell them, yeah, you did something stupid so now you have to pay the fine and be done with it.

+1

How "inconvenienced" would your parents have been, if they came back to a dead or missing dog? "But, the foliage!" Really, OP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did both your parents each get a ticket or only one of them? How old are they? If my 80 year old father who is in poor health got that ticket, I would tell him to ignore it.

If they are in that "poor health" that there is no need to hold them accountable for their actions, they should not be driving cross country in 85 degree heat with a dog! Responsible adult children should be putting their efforts into finding a good home for the dog and finding their parents a suitable assisted living facility.

OP here. Are you trying to make up facts? They were on a fall road trip to see the leaves. They're 60 years old. They're from the south and thought it would be nice to have cooler weather and to see the leaves. I did go back to the past weather and it shows a high of 82 and a low of 60 for the day.

The police will do the same, and the high is not in your favor. A high of 82 outside is about 102 inside the car, at least. Windows cracked or not. In some states, it is perfectly legal to break a window if a passer by sees a dog in a car by themselves, if the temp exceeds a certain amount, or if the dog looks to be in danger. You need to educate yourself, OP. Your parents do too, this is what the cop is saying by issuing the ticket.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they sit in the car for an hour in 85 degree heat? I dont believe that a cop left the animal in the car for an extra 40 mins. What was the air temp inside the car? This was animal cruelty and i wish more people would mske better choices. Yes they should get a lawyer.

The dog was in the car for 20 min. My parents came back and the cop was there with the dog in his SUV trunk in the caged part in the AC for another 40 min. The cop wrote an hour down but that's the combined time.

Also it's fall and there was a good breeze through the open window. Truly they love their dog.

Your parents probably thought that they were gone for 20 minutes, but it was apparently an hour. Your parents’ first step should be honesty aBout the situation.

They're probably also in denial about it since they do it all the time and nothing bad had happened yet.

If I believe OP, I'm curious what the cop was talking to the parents about for 40 minutes, because it certainly doesn't take 40 mins to write a ticket. Either they were argumentative and took that long for the cop to convince them that their behavior was wrong, or they were so obviously stupid and obnoxious that the cop didn't believe that the parents would have the dog in AC to cool it down and so wanted to make sure he did it himself. Either way aren't good. And that's if we actually believe OP.

OP here. They both said the cop was pretty mean and wouldn't discuss it with them at all. The cop sat in his patrol car (with dog in the back) for 40 minutes after he got their license. He wouldn't talk to my parents about the ticket.

Only one of them got the ticket. They're not argumentative people, nor stupid, nor obnoxious. Dog wasn't even panting. Also, like I said the windows were rolled down (not just cracked).

Well what would you expect them to say? The cop was really nice and listened to them and then gave them a ticket. They were mad they couldn't weasel their way out of the ticket and the cop wasn't just going to let them off. And did they time the cop while he was in the car? How do they know for sure it was 40 minutes? Maybe the cop had to call animal control for advice on what to do for the dog. Look OP your parents were in the wrong. Instead of arguing, just tell them, yeah, you did something stupid so now you have to pay the fine and be done with it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they sit in the car for an hour in 85 degree heat? I dont believe that a cop left the animal in the car for an extra 40 mins. What was the air temp inside the car? This was animal cruelty and i wish more people would mske better choices. Yes they should get a lawyer.

The dog was in the car for 20 min. My parents came back and the cop was there with the dog in his SUV trunk in the caged part in the AC for another 40 min. The cop wrote an hour down but that's the combined time.

Also it's fall and there was a good breeze through the open window. Truly they love their dog.

Your parents probably thought that they were gone for 20 minutes, but it was apparently an hour. Your parents’ first step should be honesty aBout the situation.

They're probably also in denial about it since they do it all the time and nothing bad had happened yet.

If I believe OP, I'm curious what the cop was talking to the parents about for 40 minutes, because it certainly doesn't take 40 mins to write a ticket. Either they were argumentative and took that long for the cop to convince them that their behavior was wrong, or they were so obviously stupid and obnoxious that the cop didn't believe that the parents would have the dog in AC to cool it down and so wanted to make sure he did it himself. Either way aren't good. And that's if we actually believe OP.

OP here. They both said the cop was pretty mean and wouldn't discuss it with them at all. The cop sat in his patrol car (with dog in the back) for 40 minutes after he got their license. He wouldn't talk to my parents about the ticket.

Only one of them got the ticket. They're not argumentative people, nor stupid, nor obnoxious. Dog wasn't even panting. Also, like I said the windows were rolled down (not just cracked).

Someone could have easily taken the dog, OP. You don't have to be in the middle of a bad neighborhood at night for that to happen. Point is, their behavior did in fact endanger the dog, in more ways than one. However long the dog was in the car, the police probably observed it, and deemed it too long. If they plan to fight it, they should probably get a lawyer. Since you asked.

This has nothing to do with their age, but their judgment, pertaining to dog ownership, which seems rather off. That is what the cop is saying by issuing a ticket. You can't just wander into a restaurant and get food, and leave your pet in the car, especially when it is certain conditions. PPs are correct, ALWAYS have on person stay with the dog on a leash, outside, then switch adults. This is a no brainer, and several PPs have stated so. If they want to cruise around and look at leaves, that is fine, but I can tell you that Rover does not care about the leaves, OR cruising around in the car inside a cage. Again, you asked, we are telling you. If you want to argue, maybe you should go to court with them - but it does not look promising.

What restaurant was it?

Is the ticket for animal abuse, or for having an unconfined/unrestrained dog (like a leash law)?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did both your parents each get a ticket or only one of them? How old are they? If my 80 year old father who is in poor health got that ticket, I would tell him to ignore it.

If they are in that "poor health" that there is no need to hold them accountable for their actions, they should not be driving cross country in 85 degree heat with a dog! Responsible adult children should be putting their efforts into finding a good home for the dog and finding their parents a suitable assisted living facility.

OP here. Are you trying to make up facts? They were on a fall road trip to see the leaves. They're 60 years old. They're from the south and thought it would be nice to have cooler weather and to see the leaves. I did go back to the past weather and it shows a high of 82 and a low of 60 for the day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they sit in the car for an hour in 85 degree heat? I dont believe that a cop left the animal in the car for an extra 40 mins. What was the air temp inside the car? This was animal cruelty and i wish more people would mske better choices. Yes they should get a lawyer.

The dog was in the car for 20 min. My parents came back and the cop was there with the dog in his SUV trunk in the caged part in the AC for another 40 min. The cop wrote an hour down but that's the combined time.

Also it's fall and there was a good breeze through the open window. Truly they love their dog.

Your parents probably thought that they were gone for 20 minutes, but it was apparently an hour. Your parents’ first step should be honesty aBout the situation.

They're probably also in denial about it since they do it all the time and nothing bad had happened yet.

If I believe OP, I'm curious what the cop was talking to the parents about for 40 minutes, because it certainly doesn't take 40 mins to write a ticket. Either they were argumentative and took that long for the cop to convince them that their behavior was wrong, or they were so obviously stupid and obnoxious that the cop didn't believe that the parents would have the dog in AC to cool it down and so wanted to make sure he did it himself. Either way aren't good. And that's if we actually believe OP.

OP here. They both said the cop was pretty mean and wouldn't discuss it with them at all. The cop sat in his patrol car (with dog in the back) for 40 minutes after he got their license. He wouldn't talk to my parents about the ticket.

Only one of them got the ticket. They're not argumentative people, nor stupid, nor obnoxious. Dog wasn't even panting. Also, like I said the windows were rolled down (not just cracked).

Anonymous wrote:Did both your parents each get a ticket or only one of them? How old are they? If my 80 year old father who is in poor health got that ticket, I would tell him to ignore it.

If they are in that "poor health" that there is no need to hold them accountable for their actions, they should not be driving cross country in 85 degree heat with a dog! Responsible adult children should be putting their efforts into finding a good home for the dog and finding their parents a suitable assisted living facility.

Did both your parents each get a ticket or only one of them? How old are they? If my 80 year old father who is in poor health got that ticket, I would tell him to ignore it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they sit in the car for an hour in 85 degree heat? I dont believe that a cop left the animal in the car for an extra 40 mins. What was the air temp inside the car? This was animal cruelty and i wish more people would mske better choices. Yes they should get a lawyer.

The dog was in the car for 20 min. My parents came back and the cop was there with the dog in his SUV trunk in the caged part in the AC for another 40 min. The cop wrote an hour down but that's the combined time.

Also it's fall and there was a good breeze through the open window. Truly they love their dog.

Your parents probably thought that they were gone for 20 minutes, but it was apparently an hour. Your parents’ first step should be honesty aBout the situation.

They're probably also in denial about it since they do it all the time and nothing bad had happened yet.

If I believe OP, I'm curious what the cop was talking to the parents about for 40 minutes, because it certainly doesn't take 40 mins to write a ticket. Either they were argumentative and took that long for the cop to convince them that their behavior was wrong, or they were so obviously stupid and obnoxious that the cop didn't believe that the parents would have the dog in AC to cool it down and so wanted to make sure he did it himself. Either way aren't good. And that's if we actually believe OP.

Wait, their go-to option is to LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING while they are elsewhere? They're lucky their car hasn't been stolen. Jesus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they sit in the car for an hour in 85 degree heat? I dont believe that a cop left the animal in the car for an extra 40 mins. What was the air temp inside the car? This was animal cruelty and i wish more people would mske better choices. Yes they should get a lawyer.

The dog was in the car for 20 min. My parents came back and the cop was there with the dog in his SUV trunk in the caged part in the AC for another 40 min. The cop wrote an hour down but that's the combined time.

Also it's fall and there was a good breeze through the open window. Truly they love their dog.

Your parents probably thought that they were gone for 20 minutes, but it was apparently an hour. Your parents’ first step should be honesty aBout the situation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:85 degrees is hot, even in the shade. Hopefully your folks won't do this again.

With the windows open? For 20 minutes? Would you not take a dog outside in the shade when it’s 85 out?

Honestly, I think some of the reactions here (i.e. agreeing this is animal cruelty) are nuts. We had a dog growing up, and no air conditioning. It definitely got hotter than 85 degrees many days! We were fine, as was the dog, all those years.

I too think the reactions on here are a little nuts. I used to live in Florida in a house with no A/C. It was often over 85 degrees. What was I, cruel to myself?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, how do you not understand that they would have left the dog for 60 minutes?? 20 in the car and 40 before they realized he was with the cop. Which means they didn't check on it for 60min.

I don't think the dog was in dire harm but that doesn't matter. If they want dinners out, don't bring the dog.

Op here. You misunderstood. It was 20 minutes until my parents returned to the car. Then for 40 minutes the dog was locked in the patrol car while my parents were there too. It took the cop 40 minutes to write ticket. Dog was only alone for 20. Dog was with cop and parents for 40. Ticket got written for 69 minutes.

Normally they have two sets of keys but lost the other on this trip so they couldn't leave the car running.

20 minutes is 20 minutes too long.

Your parents did commit animal abuse and they deserved the ticket. I also don't doubt that they would have left the dog for longer than 20 minutest if the cop had not come along. You said yourself they thought it was plenty cool enough in the shade.