Don’t Cook Your Dog
Posted on | April 13, 2014 | 2 Comments
I had plans today to run by the library and pick up a couple of things I had on hold. I got sidetracked and was just lollygagging in general most of the morning, so went much later than I intended. Thankfully. Because I saved a dog from being cooked.
As I was leaving, I glanced in the car next to me and saw a dog pop up. In the car, alone, in the middle of an unshaded parking lot, at the hottest part of the day. He was climbing on & over the seats, then trying to get under the dash, or under the steering wheel. Just looking for anywhere to get out of the heat in general. Had I not been right there, at just that time, and looked over during one of the moments he showed his fuzzy face, he might have gone unnoticed.
I ran back in the library to tell them about it, thinking they could at least find the owner. I told the guy at the counter and he said, “Our parking lot?” I told him, yes, it was their lot across the roadway. He then says, “Oh, that’s the mall parking lot, not ours” OK. A) I don’t think the dog cares who the f***’s parking lot he is cooking in B) There is nothing else there. It may be the mall’s lot, but there is no mall nearby.
I go back out and call the police, mainly hoping to have permission to smash the window and get him out (I may or may not have considered bringing him home where someone would actually care for him) The dispatcher tells me he has never heard of a Buick Verano (really, that matters – and I am looking RIGHT AT THE LABEL)
The library security guard comes over and says, “well, the window is cracked a little” Sure, that quarter-inch is bound to make him feel better WHILE HE IS COOKING. When the police drive up, she gets very upset with me because “this is a mall matter” Really – THE MALL ISN’T DOING ANYTHING. After the officer starts looking for the dog, I don’t think he believed me since the dog was hiding – oh, there he is – the library chick says, “I guess I can do a call out to see if they are in the library” Gee, why didn’t I think of that *grumblegrumble*
Police officer starts trying to push the windows down, and asking how long it has been there. I don’t know, but I do know I have been out there for less than 10 minutes, not locked in my car, able to get a slight breeze, and I am sweating. Dog is panting furiously and drooling at this point. (According to this article, the interior of the car was likely at least 120° at that point)
Another officer pulls up. They start discussing breaking in to the car and whether animal control is coming. I am about to say, “Can we get the dog out first and worry about the other logistics later?” when library lady comes out with the car’s owner. He is huge. Like Quinton Aaron huge. I am glad the police were there when he came out, because I had plans to yell at him and that wasn’t happening (’cause HUGE)
First officer says, “You can’t do that” Guy says. “What?”, Officer, “Leave your dog in the car” Guy, “I know my dog is in the car, he’s my dog, I can do what I want” and starts moving in on the cop.
Cop says, “Step back”, guy gets lippy. Cop says, “You don’t need to get in my face” ….
I’ve seen enough episodes of cops to know I do NOT want to be around there anymore. I am now reasonably certain the dog will be freed – and I am not sticking around in close proximity to pissed of giants & cops with Tasers. So I left.
I now wonder if I should just have moved away & waited in case they wanted a statement, though the situation was pretty clear.
Once again, I will remind you all. YOUR DOG DOESN’T NEED TO GO WITH YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO. He would rather be home without you than cooking in a parking lot – without you. Leave them home.
I can’t imagine any set of errands that would require you to have your dog along, especially on a Sunday (not like you had to take him for a veterinary appointment) But of all the stops you can maybe, possibly weasel out an excuse for as necessary & quick, the library doesn’t even register.
You would think here in Phoenix, it would be painfully obvious how hot your car gets in the summer – we’ve all suffered burned legs from hot seats, and driving with oven mitts really does seem reasonable sometimes. Apparently, though, there are moronic holdouts as the number of cooked pets – and CHILDREN – every year illustrates. So this is a reminder. Don’t leave living things in your car!
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2 Responses to “Don’t Cook Your Dog”
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May 8th, 2014 @ 10:25 pm
Personally I prefer to take my dog with me wherever I go, and yes, sometimes he gets to stay in the car for a couple of minutes, obviously not in the sun, but it’s way better than let them stay at home, bored to death.
A great and important post!
June 2nd, 2014 @ 5:13 pm
Sure, bored to death is SOOO much worse than cooked to death.
http://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/pd-dog-dies-after-being-left-in-hot-car-outside-phoenix-shopping-center
Newsflash: Your dog is probably less “bored” at home with his toys & his bed & his food & his water…than locked in a car. And he is just as alone in that car as at home – the difference being, at home he isn’t being put at such risk.