The 20 Worst Situations You Could Leave Your Dog In
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Dogs are wonderful companions, which is why so many dog owners want to take their dogs with them wherever they go. While this is sometimes fine, it’s not always fine. You have to do some serious research to find out whether or not your dog is welcome in many places so that you know if your dog can join you or if you’re going to have to leave him outdoors. Additionally, there are plenty of life situations in which you simply do not want to leave your dog, and we have a long list of places and situations in which your dog or any dog would be much better off not experiencing.
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With Abusive Owners
If there is one situation in which you should never leave a dog, it’s with abusive owners. Unfortunately, it happens all the time. Some suspect that a dog is being mistreated based on its appearance, and its temperament and they do nothing about it for fear of upsetting someone. If you suspect a dog is being mistreated at home, contact the proper authorities immediately to ensure the safety of the dog.
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The Back of a Truck
It happens all the time, but that does not make it safe. While some dogs are very good with the back of a truck, others are not. What this means is that you’ll end up with a dog that might jump out when the truck comes to a stop in a busy intersection, at a store or anywhere in between. It’s simply too dangerous to just assume your dog will handle the back of a truck with ease and learn otherwise the hard way.
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Inside a Hot Car
Never, ever leave a dog inside a hot car. It’s just as dangerous as leaving a child inside a hot car, and it is awful. What you must do is either take the dog inside with you or at least tie up the dog outside wherever it is you are going even if you prefer not to. It’s much cooler for a dog tied up along the side of a business than it is inside a sweltering car. If you see a dog in this situation, call someone and report it. It’s dangerously hot.
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Tied Up Outside a Store/Restaurant
It’s not the worst situation in which a dog could be located, but it’s not a good one. There’s nothing technically wrong with tying your dog up very quickly to run inside and grab water while you’re out walking, but you should try to avoid it if possible. What this means is that you should just leave the dog at home if you’re out on a shopping spree, not bring him with you and tie him up and assume he will be just fine; he doesn’t deserve that.
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Outside without a Fence
There are some dogs so well-trained that they would not even dare go past a certain line in the yard due to the fact that their owners made sure this was ingrained in their minds. However, there are also dogs that will do whatever they want when tempted enough. For example, a dog that typically does not leave a yard without a fence or barrier of some sort might be tempted by an animal running down the street. It’s dangerous since your dog could end up missing, hit by a car or attacked by another animal. It also makes it easier to steal a dog.
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Loud Parties (ie 4th of July Gatherings)
Dogs are not huge fans of loud environments such as parties that have a lot going on. If you plan on going to any loud parties, perhaps you should leave the dog at home. These types of situations are uncomfortable and they are quite difficult for dogs to find themselves in, and that means that your dog could end up stressed out and not happy in a situation such as this one. Leave the dogs home when fireworks are involved.
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In a Filthy Environment
Dogs aren’t necessarily opposed to dirt and rolling around in it (ask anyone who has ever had to give their dog a bath after it frolics in the mud puddles outdoors after a storm). However, that does not mean that dogs should be subjected to substandard living conditions. If a home is just filthy, littered with bugs and other disgusting things, it’s better to report that as a danger to the dog than it is to leave the dog in that situation. It’s usually a good sign that someone isn’t taking care of the dog, too. If they can’t keep their living conditions appropriate, what does the dog matter?
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Home Alone for Multiple Days
No one ever said you can’t travel once you get a dog. However, dogs are not like cats that are happy to stay home for a long weekend with plenty of food and water and a litter box. Dogs are like children; they cannot be left alone for long periods of time like that, even if you have someone coming over twice a day to walk them. Go ahead and ask your friends or family to keep the dog for you, or find a pet hotel for the dog to visit when you’re out of town.
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Alone with Children
The simple fact is that most dogs have no problem with children and would never even dream of harming a child. However, not all dogs are comfortable or familiar with kids, like kids or know to react with patience if a child were to grab a fistful of fur or an ear or leg. It’s just too dangerous based on the unknowns to leave a dog and a child alone together. Dogs are not babysitters and kids are not always appropriately behaved – whether they intend to be or not – and leaving dogs and kids unsupervised is not recommended by the American Kennel Club.
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International Flights
Did you know that while you might love the idea of taking your dog to your vacation rental with you for the summer, international flights are a terrible idea? Not only is your dog somewhere inside a plane for hours and hours, many international countries do not have the same view on dogs as Americans. In fact, some countries view dogs as a delicious delicacy and dinner entrée; which is definitely not something we Americans see dogs as being. Do your dog a favor and do not take him anywhere in which he’s considered dinner.
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Alone with Unfamiliar Animals
Doggie play dates are so much fun, but you should not leave your dog alone with animals it does not know. For one, some breeds do not do particularly well with other dogs. Some breeds don’t do well with dogs of the same sex and other dogs are just so friendly and happy that they love all dogs all the time. And even then, if you don’t know the other dogs in the situation, be sure you’re there to watch them at all times.
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Without Food or Water for a Length of Time
This is not an ideal situation in which to leave a dog. It’s happened to most people at least once, when you realize that you’re leaving for work and you have no dog food to give the dog that morning. And while it might not make a difference to the dog too much if you’re two hours late feeding him one day, an entire day could be very dangerous. Additionally, any length of time without food or water is dangerous for many other reasons.
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Sporting Events
This is just not the kind of situation in which animals belong. Animals like dogs are not always sure how to handle themselves when they are in a crowd, when it’s loud and when they’re not sure what’s going on. You might think your dog would love to take in a baseball game with you, but it’s a better chance to leave the dog at home and let him watch the game on television. He might not be comfortable in this kind of situation.
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Public Pools
Dogs love to swim, and water is their friend. But public pools are not the place to bring a dog. How often do you go to the public pool and swim with dogs? Never; and that’s not because no one else brings their dogs. It’s because dogs are not permitted. If you are caught with your dog in the pool, you could be asked to leave. You will certainly be asked to remove the dog from the situation and then you have to find a place to keep him or her while you enjoy the pool – and that is not ideal.
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Hotels
Many hotels have no issue with dogs being in attendance with their owners. You will pay a small fee, there will be a special floor for dog owners and you will spend your time in the room with the dog. But you will not really be able to take your dog anywhere else. He or she will not be allowed to sit with you at the bar or in the restaurants. He or she will not be permitted on the golf course or by the pools, and you don’t want to leave a dog unattended in an unfamiliar room all day long.
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To Someone’s Home without Permission
Some people are not dog people, and they do not want dogs in their home. Others have no issue with your dog coming around. Ask first; never just assume that someone who seems to have no issue with your dog at your house will be happy with your dog at their house. You could be off base and either damage a friendship or end up taking the dog home.
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Around Horses
Dogs and horses are not always good together if they’ve never been around one another. Since you don’t know how your dog is going to do around horses, do not bring him or her around them. It could be very dangerous for your dog, and we prefer to keep our canine companions out of dangerous situations whenever possible.
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Furniture Shopping
Now that your eyebrow is appropriately raised, I’ll tell you that my husband and I once saw a couple furniture shopping with their dog since he is on the couch with them, and they wanted to make sure he likes it, too. That dog must have attempted to lift his leg on at least three pieces of furniture while we were standing there, and his fur was on everything. It’s just not appropriate.
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In a Home it’s Not Being Cared For
It’s usually pretty obvious when a dog is not being cared for, even if it’s not in a home that seems to be dirty or uncared for. Sometimes people own dogs they don’t want because they inherited them or someone ended up leaving it there when they left for good. The best thing you can do is try to protect a dog from a situation in which it is not being cared for so that the dog is placed in a caring, loving home.
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Anywhere You Cannot Watch the Dog
If you have to go somewhere in which you cannot watch your dog, don’t do it. It’s not easy to have a dog in a situation in which it is not being watched. It is a much better idea, in fact, to go ahead and ensure that your dog is home where you know he or she is safe than in the middle of a situation in which your attention is diverted.
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