<p>I'm a bit late replying to this post, but thought I'd share an interesting experience I had last summer. It was early in the season, so not too hot outside yet (maybe about 75 Fahrenheit or 24 Celsius). But my van has an alarm with remote starter, so I decided to use it while I went into an auto parts store at a small strip mall. I cranked my air conditioner on and used the remote starter to start the engine and run the AC after I exited and locked the van, with my dog on the back seat, and my van also has tinted windows. When the remote starter is used, the tail lights and front parking lights come on, and so do my headlights whenever the engine is on since my van also has daytime running lights.<br><br>There are two other stores in the strip mall, a small restaurant/diner and a store that sells bicycles and sporting goods. It was about 4:00 pm, and not too busy at any of the stores. I had been in the auto parts store for less than 10 minutes, probably more like 5 minutes. I was at the counter talking to one of the employees and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the front door of the store open, and then a few seconds later, someone walked out. It seems that person went up to the store manager who just happened to be near the front door and complained about a dog being abandoned in a van with the windows up and it being such a hot day. I don't know if this self-righteous self-appointed "dog police" person was planning on smashing a window, calling the police or humane society to "rescue" my dog, but when the manager came over to me and asked if I left my dog in my van, I said yes, with the air conditioner on full blast using my remote starter.</p><p><br>I decided to skip the purchase of whatever I was in there to buy and just went outside, unlocked my van with the remote that makes two loud chirps from the alarm's siren (the engine was still running with the AC still cranked). I got in the van and left. I didn't see anyone outside. There were about 20 parking spaces for the small strip mall, and about 8 of those parking spaces had cars in them, with the closest car being about 3 spaces away from my van. I have no idea which store that person was patronizing. Maybe someone parked near my van and my dog barked at them. My dog has separation anxiety and misses me when he can't see me, and yelps like he's being physically tortured. Maybe that's the sound he made and someone just thought any dog left in a car is bad news and that my poor dog was in distress, abandoned in a van with the windows up on a hot day. Didn't matter the engine was one, which might have clued them in that the AC was on and that the vehicle hadn't been unattended for long, nor would it likely be unattended for a long period of time. <br><br>I appreciate people's concern for animals, and I'm certainly an animal lover myself, but I think some people are going overboard whenever they see a pet in an unattended car. No matter what, they always think it's animal cruelty or abuse. It could be on a nice, temperate cool day with the windows open a few inches, or a cold winter day with the engine running and heating system on, or in summer with air conditioning on, it doesn't matter to them. Even if it's just for 5 or 10 minutes to run into a store. Doesn't matter to some people. Some people just take it too far. Of course, if it's clear the animal is in distress (dog panting profusely) and the windows are up on a 100 degree summer day parked in the sun, yes, immediate attention is required. But I suppose it's hard to expect people to make a judgement call. Some people would just rather take action on EVERY incident with a pet in a car. I believe most pet owners are smart enough and love their pets to know what is right, but those few who don't, have ruined it for the rest of us responsible pet owners.</p>
