Friday, July 11, 2008

Lucky Dog


Early this evening, while I was parked in the Woodstock Jewel-Osco parking lot, I could hear a dog barking. And barking. And barking. It went on for quite a while, so I got out to see where the dog was.

The dog had been left in a grey Ford Escape, and the windows were down about two inches. I had been sitting in my car with my windows all the way down, and I was hot. The air temperature was 90 degrees F. What must it have been like in that car for that dog?

I went back and forth about calling the PD to send an officer over. When the driver didn't return to the car, I finally called. Fortunately for the driver, she returned to the car while I was on the phone with the dispatcher. Realizing that the driver and vehicle would be gone by the time the cop arrived, I told the dispatcher not to send an officer.

How long is "too long" to leave an animal in a hot car?

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

2 comments:

Flying Lily said...

Even a few minutes can be too long! It should not happen ever. I'm glad you were about to call.

Laurie Rabattini said...

Agreed, even a few minutes is too long. I applaud your acting on behalf of the dog. This owner needs to know that leaving a dog in an overheated car is against the law, it's called the Hot dog law.

Gus, you've got a lot of spunk in you and exposing this person is what more people should do. Too many just don't want to get involved.

Thanks for barking on behalf of the dog.

Laurie Rabattini
www.cbgil.com