Before breaking a Tesla’s window, look for ‘dog mode’ display: Roadshow

22/09/2022 15:00

Q: We take our dog (Shimmi) everywhere. When we leave her in the car, we put our Tesla 3 air conditioning system on DOG. This displays a message for passersby on the console screen saying, “My owner will be back soon. Don’t worry! The heater [or AC] is on and it’s XX degrees.” This message explains to them that the pet is safe in the car, and the owner is in the vicinity. Our dog falls asleep in front of the rear vent, which is blowing fresh cooled or heated air during our absence. Irwin Joseph, Beaverton, Oregon A: A number of readers with Teslas wrote to applaud the dog mode function on their cars. Read on. Q: If the concerned citizens would have looked at the large screen in the Tesla center dash, they would have seen the message, “My owner will be back soon,” with the current temperature inside the car in large numbers, easily readable from outside the car. Dog mode will either heat or cool the car, as appropriate. Rod Whitten, Burlingame A: Non-Tesla owners concerned about an animal’s welfare might not have known to check the center console, but now know to look for that. Q: My husband and I have a Tesla and two dogs. When we leave them alone in the car, we set the AC to DOG MODE, which keeps the inside temperature constantly cool and displays an alert on the control screen for the general public to see. I wonder if the owner of the Tesla with a dog inside when passersby were concerned about the animal had the A/C set to DOG MODE. Corinne Sutherland A: Thanks to you and other Tesla owners for sharing this information. Q: Thank you for your response about why cops leave their engines running. Apart from keeping equipment operating, it does, indeed, help mitigate heat stress from the vests, which are hot and severely compound the danger from extreme heat. Added to their weight is all the other gear the cops need to wear. They have to run, fight and sometimes stand for hours in the sun, wearing 35-40 pounds of ballistic armor. I’ve been an admin support volunteer for the Oakland Police Department for seven years, mostly for patrol sergeants and lieutenants, and see up close the toll this job takes on body and soul. It. Is. Unbelievable. Love your column and the educational work you do. I always learn something useful. Claire Lomax, Oakland A: Thank you for sharing your comments. Related Articles Transportation | How to prevent FasTrak charges from a car you have sold: Roadshow Transportation | ‘I saw people driving over the roundabout trying to get out’: Roadshow Transportation | If you want speed cameras legalized in California, let them know in Sacramento: Roadshow Transportation | What about a device to limit how fast cars can go? Roadshow Transportation | Does transferring car’s pink slip after a death really take two years? Roadshow Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.