We are animal rights people. Not those goofy people that go running around spraying people wearing fur with paint, but rather, we believe that if you own an animal it should be integrated into your life. If you own a dog, it should live in the house so that it can be with its pack – the family. As a result, we take our dogs everywhere. In the summer, this can cause a bit of a quandary. We don’t want to leave them at home, but many places won’t let them in. So we spend a lot of time in the summer wandering around greenhouses – dogs on leash are always welcome.
I had to travel by myself the other day to take one of my doggies to the vet. By necessity, I had to run into Tim Hortons for a few minutes, so I left my poochie in the car with the AIR CONDITIONING ON. Imagine my surprise when I came back to my vehicle and overhead the discussion from the car sitting next to me. Fellow dog lovers, they had spotted my pooch and assumed he was trapped in the car with no windows down. In 90 degree heat with a ton of humidity. So they were discussing how much time to give me before they smashed my window in.
Firstly, this is a conversation my husband and I have had on more than one occasion when spotting a dog apparently left out in the heat. However, for all those activists out there, I would suggest that you CHECK to see if the engine is running before you decide to put out someone’s window. We have a very quiet running vehicle. Unless you place your hand on it, you might not hear the engine running. Otherwise, you will be left with an enraged citizen, a lovely repair bill, and likely, a court date.
On a more personal note, please don’t hesitate to act – responsibly- if you think or even suspect that a dog is in danger! I once saved a dog from certain death in a parking lot because I bothered to go inside the associated professional offices and announce loudly that there was a dog, in a certain vehicle, with the windows rolled completely up, which looked like XX, in the parking lot and I was going back out to put a rock through the window if the situation wasn’t resolved immediately. There are studies that show that on an 80-degree day the interior of a vehicle heats up to 102 degrees in 10 minutes. It will reach 120 degrees in 30 minutes.
One of the staff members leaped up and ran out to the vehicle. Turned out the business owner had, completely by accident, forgotten the dog in the car when they came into work that morning. I’ve known this person for 20 years and they are the biggest animal lover I can think of. They were in tears when they realized what could have happened. So, get involved. Ask questions. Maybe you will save a life one of these days.
The Northerngardener
(Copyright 2008 by the Northerngardener. Go ahead and link to me, just don’t copy me. )
Animals Left in Cars in the Heat – Check if the Air Conditioning Is On!!
July 21, 2008 by northerngardener
We are animal rights people. Not those goofy people that go running around spraying people wearing fur with paint, but rather, we believe that if you own an animal it should be integrated into your life. If you own a dog, it should live in the house so that it can be with its pack – the family. As a result, we take our dogs everywhere. In the summer, this can cause a bit of a quandary. We don’t want to leave them at home, but many places won’t let them in. So we spend a lot of time in the summer wandering around greenhouses – dogs on leash are always welcome.
I had to travel by myself the other day to take one of my doggies to the vet. By necessity, I had to run into Tim Hortons for a few minutes, so I left my poochie in the car with the AIR CONDITIONING ON. Imagine my surprise when I came back to my vehicle and overhead the discussion from the car sitting next to me. Fellow dog lovers, they had spotted my pooch and assumed he was trapped in the car with no windows down. In 90 degree heat with a ton of humidity. So they were discussing how much time to give me before they smashed my window in.
Firstly, this is a conversation my husband and I have had on more than one occasion when spotting a dog apparently left out in the heat. However, for all those activists out there, I would suggest that you CHECK to see if the engine is running before you decide to put out someone’s window. We have a very quiet running vehicle. Unless you place your hand on it, you might not hear the engine running. Otherwise, you will be left with an enraged citizen, a lovely repair bill, and likely, a court date.
On a more personal note, please don’t hesitate to act – responsibly- if you think or even suspect that a dog is in danger! I once saved a dog from certain death in a parking lot because I bothered to go inside the associated professional offices and announce loudly that there was a dog, in a certain vehicle, with the windows rolled completely up, which looked like XX, in the parking lot and I was going back out to put a rock through the window if the situation wasn’t resolved immediately. There are studies that show that on an 80-degree day the interior of a vehicle heats up to 102 degrees in 10 minutes. It will reach 120 degrees in 30 minutes.
One of the staff members leaped up and ran out to the vehicle. Turned out the business owner had, completely by accident, forgotten the dog in the car when they came into work that morning. I’ve known this person for 20 years and they are the biggest animal lover I can think of. They were in tears when they realized what could have happened. So, get involved. Ask questions. Maybe you will save a life one of these days.
The Northerngardener
(Copyright 2008 by the Northerngardener. Go ahead and link to me, just don’t copy me. )
Posted in Birds, Bees and Dogs, Social commentary | Tagged air conditioning, animal rights, animals, cats, dangerous, dog, good citizens, heat wave, intervention, left in car, windows rolled up | No Comments Yet
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