After having several warning notes posted on my windshield I designed this DOG MODE sign.

[Leeda]

We have 3 standard poodles that go almost everywhere we go, that is one of the main reason we purchased the R1S.

Twice I have come out of Costco with notes posted on my windshield saying "Shame on me for leaving dogs in a hot car" another saying they are calling the police. In the past I had a Tesla Model Y and the Dog Mode screen was easier for people to see but not so with the Rivian.

So I designed a durable 3D printed colorful sign to solve the problem.
If anyone needs a pair let me know and I can mail them out with the suction cups.
$10 for the 2 plus $6 for the shipping. The R1S has been great for road trips with the dogs. 18K miles since purchasing last fall and mostly trouble free.

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[COdogman]

Love this!

Also, shame on you for not including a pic of the poodle twins trio.

 

[Leeda]

Your right, I updated my name photo

 

[Tone88]

People can’t see the screen in the Rivian?

 

[Leeda]

That is what I thought too, I guess they are just not looking hard enough and jumping to conclusions.

 

[electruck]

We had the cops called on us once, about this time last year actually. Once I educated the officer on EVs, showed him pet mode on the display, and let him see that our German Shepherd was nice and chill in her crate he apologized and said he just had to follow up on the call they received from a concerned citizen about "a dog locked in a car with no engine running" (I guess the presumption was that this meant there was also no AC).

While I do appreciate that some people unfortunately do let their pets (and sometimes even children) suffer or even die in hot cars, I think this event was a reminder to me of just how ignorant of EVs the general population still is. And that includes law enforcement. But, while I find the ignorance of EVs to be very annoying, I do hope people continue to call the police if they have concerns about pets locked in vehicles.

As for people perhaps not being able to see the pet mode display on the dash, I think it could be an issue of people not looking. To my point regarding lack of EV awareness, people with no awareness of EVs likely don't even pay attention to the display because they have no historical context that there might actually be a message there directed specifically at them.

That's the only incident we've had so far. Honestly, with the tint on the windows it's hard to see that there is a dog in the back - especially when she's laying down "napping" as she usually does. So either most people don't notice the dog or just don't care enough to get involved.

 

[Luvolbikes]

Very timely post. I've been thinking on this lately. Living in Tucson we're just heating up for the summer. I think the ideal solution would be sunscreens that have the dog mode pictured.
I wonder if any company makes personalized sunscreens. If I find anything I'll report back.
So yes. Many companies allow you to customize a windshield sun screen. Below is my personalized example. Foil or the spring folded varieties available.

 

[iansriv]

Must be the same neighbour that I grew up with. Word of my "activities" would reach my parents before I got home. I used to hate it growing up but now realise that "it takes a village." We lost that somewhere along the way. As far as people leaving notes, it's a pain but also nice that they care enough to do that. Most people are too scared or don't care enough to get involved in other people's business. I do find it funny and exhausting that the lack of EV knowledge can result in issues for us. Perhaps Rivian can highlight the pet mode in their ads.

 

[richguess]

Were the front windows tinted? That could make it harder to see. As one who was hit as a pedestrian in a crosswalk walking my dog (3 nights in the trauma center, concussion and a nasty tibial plateau fracture) I really dislike dark front window tints. You can’t make eye contact with the driver, or tell their intentions. The law in CA is rarely enforced.

 

[Leeda]

No the windows are stock, I think they just see the dogs in the back and don't think about looking at the screen. I realize their intentions are good.
If I saw dogs in a car with no air on I would be upset also.

 

[Ralph]

My wife and I took the dogs to a locally owned garden center to buy plants in the summer of 2023 (I think). This place has parking for perhaps 30 cars - not a big box type of enterprise.

Our R1T was parked in the spot closest to the outside checkout. Upon arriving back to checkout we were accosted by a well meaning elderly woman who berated us for leaving the dogs in the car in such hot weather.

NO amount of explaining to her and pointing at the screen inside could convince her. "The car is not even running, there cannot be A/C in there." She was so emotional that she simply could not hear that something was in place she did not understand.

To be fair I looked and reflections did make it hard to see the screen inside unless you cupped your hands carefully. Not something most people are willing to do with other people's cars.

I subsequently looked and found these stickers.* I keep them in the top of a console tray and we place one on each fron window. The only problem is that I do wish it mentioned that the car was an EV and that is why you can't hear an engine. There are people that simply don't understand a vehicle that doesn't make noise.

Maybe add a QR code to a page as well that explains as more and more people are getting used to that tech?

* I should note that these are a little expensive for what they are and after a years use, the ink is smudging/coming off. I get it, the stickers are not useful to the masses and were likely printed as a short run, but I can't imagine that something like this couldn't be made for less.


Edited to add a pic of one of the vendors currently available stickers. It happens to demonstrate the glare problem as well.

 

[Leeda]

Hi Ralph, Yes I actually had ordered a pair of those but I was not really happy with them, so I sat down and designed my own. You have to admit when she was that upset she surely had a good heart for dogs.

 

[LivingInKaos]

I have printed signs that I put up on both the driver and passenger windows for the past 3 years. Sadly, people that are concerned don't look at anything else other than the pets. Even with the signs I have come out to find someone just seconds from breaking a window. I get it, they are concerned and I can't fault them for trying to help. There just needs to be more awareness that more and more vehicles have this function.

Edit- also, our local news has done a couple articles on vehicles and pet mode. Might be worth contacting your local news and making the suggestion.

 

[Ralph]

I have printed signs that I put up on both the driver and passenger windows for the past 3 years. Sadly, people that are concerned don't look at anything else other than the pets. Even with the signs I have come out to find someone just seconds from breaking a window. I get it, they are concerned and I can't fault them for trying to help. There just needs to be more awareness that more and more vehicles have this function.

I really think the answer is somehow helping them understand how a/c can be on without the vehicle making noise.

 

[bigsky]

Concerned or upset citizens about dogs inside a closed up car mean well. EVs are fairly new and many out there do not know about the great pet mode feature.

Last year, a lady very concerned about my dogs inside my R1S, and it was a warm day, chased and found me at a restaurant to let me know of my evil deed.

I explained to her all the details of pet mode, showed her the Rivian app in action, but no amount of explaining would have fully assuaged her distress.

Should someone however well-meaning ignorantly break a window to rescue a dog, you as the owner may be left holding the bag due to Good Samaritan laws.

I myself printed on a sheet of paper on as big a font as will fit the following in all caps and place said sheet on the dash of my R1S and Teslas:
"MY DOGS ARE COMFORTABLE, CHILLING.
DO NOT DISTURB THEM, PLEASE"

It seems to work just fine. My windshield is not tinted (ilegal).

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