To the editor:
This past weekend, my daughter and son-in-law were visiting us from South Dakota. While meeting to say good-bye downtown, where I work, they parked in a downtown parking lot. My daughter and son-in-law have a small purebred dog they love and take great care of. Since there were leaving for home, they brought their dog with them and left her in their vehicle with the windows partially open.
When we came back to the parking lot, there was a group of people gathered around their vehicle waiting to see who the villains were that had done this dastardly deed. One man verbally attacked us, yelling obscenities. We also discovered that animal control had been called and their dog "rescued" from their locked vehicle. Even the police were called, although I personally suspect they were mostly concerned about out-of-control people.
In talking to the police officers, I learned there is a city ordinance that you can't leave a dog in a vehicle when the temperature gets over 80 degrees (I came back to my office and checked - and sure enough, the temperature was right at 80 degrees). Animals are an important part of life, but when we start making laws like this one (and ones like not keeping a dog on a leash for more than an hour), and people react violently and abusively to dogs left in cars, things have gotten seriously out of proportion.
Ron Stegall,
Perry
Comments
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kuhusker (anonymous) says…
If this person's daughter "loved" her dog so much, she wouldn't have left it baking in a car while she and her husband bummed around downtown for a while. Sure, it might have only been 80 out, but the inside of a car can heat up quickly to well over 120 even after a short time parked in 80 degree sunshine. And I bet that this "caring" dog owner didn't even leave the dog any water.
The law against leaving a dog in a car, and the other law that prohibits tying up your dog and leaving it unattended for over and hour (mischaracterized by the letter-writter as a "leash" law) are unfortunately necessary because too many owners abuse their pets (who have no say in the matter) by leaving them unattended.
Kudos to the bystanders who called the police, and kudos to the police who did their jobs. And shame on the arrogant letter writer who seems to prefer to defend the abuse of pets rather then apologize and try to make sure it won't happen again. Ironically, this very letter to the editor is living proof of the necessity of animal welfare laws.
craigers (anonymous) says…
I completely agree with this letter. Get real. It wasn't that long of time. Owners of animals are not that ignorant and for people to gather around their car and wait for them. I know if that was my car and my animal I would tell them to mind their own business. These laws don't help abused animals, they merely make others think they have to police the brutal pet owners that are around town. Now we have a town full of the pet police.
kuhusker (anonymous) says…
A town full of pet police or a town full of good samaritans?
I guess the difference would depend on whether you are one of those thoughtless people who tie your pet to a parking meter and then spend two hours shopping Downtown, or whether you actually take care of your pet properly.
These laws are designed because some people won't do the right thing, but maybe a sharp fine or having their pet taken away might make them think twice before leaving Rover locked in a car for an hour for their own convenience.
craigers (anonymous) says…
All I am saying is that as good as some of these good samaritans can be, they think they know better than the animals owners and in most cases they don't. Leave my pets alone. I wouldn't leave them in the car for two hours. If I had a dog again, it would be pushing it to leave it in there for 30 minutes, but I would have a problem with somebody standing at my car waiting to lecture me about animal care. Give me a break.
kuhusker (anonymous) says…
If you saw someone strange skulking suspiciously around a neighbor's house, you'd probably call the cops. That is being a good neighbor.
Similarly, if someone sees a dog locked in a car on a hot day, it is proper they call the cops...just in case. If the person is only gone 5 minutes, then no harm, no foul...but just in case...
jg (anonymous) says…
I can understand being concerned about a dog in a car, and I can also understand leaving a dog in a car for a brief errand on a cool day.
If those so concerned about the dog had reacted calmly and politely (sorry, we didn't know when you were coming back etc...) I'm sure that there would have been a better reaction. Screaming obscenities really won't help win anyone over to your side....
doglover (anonymous) says…
I would invite Ron to put on a coat (Dogs have a fur coat, but Ron's normal winter coat should suffice) sit in a car on an 80 degree day, with the windows cracked and see how long it takes him to get "too hot" and do so until he feels like he's going to pass out from being too hot. I bet it takes less than 10 minutes. Then he might have some clue what that little dog felt like. Even a few minutes could have been too much. How long was this dog left in the car? Long enough for a crowd to gather, contact the police, the police responding to the call and the dog being removed from the car-that was a LONG time on an "80 degree day" for someone wearing a fur coat!! I agree that maybe this City has overdone it's animal laws, but if all pet owners were responsible, there would be no need for them. Ron and his "kids" should be glad that the dog didn't die under "the good care" his kids give the animal. I'm glad people got involved and possibly saved a tragedy from happening.