‘I would never trust this’: Woman calls cops on Tesla driver for keeping her dog in the car on hot day. She didn’t realize ‘Dog Mode’ was on
Every year, we hear horror stories about animals being left in hot cars. But be aware before you break the window if you see a dog in a car on a hot day. Only 15 states have laws that allow civilians to rescue animals with impunity, even if it means breaking the window.
This means that in most states, your most legal option is to call the police.
That’s what one woman recently did when she saw a golden retriever in a parked Tesla.
Unbeknownst to the woman who called the police, the dog was not in danger. The owner of the vehicle had activated “Dog Mode,” a setting in Teslas that’s designed to keep pets safe when they’re left in the car.
The Tesla owner, Rae (@hellorae), posted a TikTok about her experience with the wannabe Good Samaritan. The TikTok has 7.7 million views as of this writing.
Rae says the woman called the police and left her a note that says, “Shame on you! Never leave a dog in the car.”
“But he was in a climate controlled car with AC after an hour of exercise,” a text overlay on her TikTok reads.
Through the window you can see the Tesla’s display confirms that the air is set to 68 degrees. It also has a message for concerned passersby that states, “My driver will be back soon. Don’t worry!”
How does Dog Mode work?
Dog Mode keeps a parked vehicle at the temperature selected by the owner.
You must be in the vehicle to activate Dog Mode, per notateslaapp.com. Once activated, you can change the temperature setting remotely via the Tesla app. Dog Mode automatically turns off when you start driving the vehicle. But it will remain on if you simply return to the vehicle without driving it.
The app also allows you to use the interior camera to visually check on your dog.
Dog Mode is a convenient feature for those occasions when you’re out with your pup and have to run a quick errand. But use it with caution. Running the HVAC draws from the battery. Once the battery life gets below 20%, it automatically disengages Dog Mode.
The car will send you a notification if this happens—though of course that’s only helpful if you check your phone.
There are some reports online of Teslas malfunctioning in Dog Mode. Bear in mind that you’re trusting an electronic system with your pet’s life, and such systems do fail on occasion.
Dog Mode has people conflicted
Teslas’ Dog Mode is a convenient option designed to keep pets safe and alive. But not everyone is a fan.
Some people think that you should never leave a dog in the car, air conditioning or not.
A person on Reddit says something similar happened to them. They claim that strangers called the police and berated them for leaving their dog in their Tesla with Dog Mode activated. Even after they explained that the air conditioning was on, one purportedly persisted on calling them a “stupid” and “horrible human being” because “the systems can fail.”
A few people who commented on Rae’s TikTok argued that you should never leave your pet in the car.
“A dog in my country just died in a Tesla because the AC and dog mode malfunctioned,” one shared. “…So I would never trust this.”
But by and large, people agree that she did nothing wrong.
“Everyone hating on you is just bored,” wrote one of her defenders. “The temp is perfect for our babies and mine are perfectly fine in them.”
While the woman may have caused an inconvenience for Rae, she’s not mad about it.
A caption on her post says, “I am thankful people care about leaving dogs in hot cars.”
Rae didn’t respond to a TikTok comment. Her account doesn’t accept messages from people she doesn’t follow.
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