To the editor:

A dog was left in a white vehicle in the parking lot of a local store in the late afternoon of July 21. The windows were down three inches. I phoned 911 and was told someone else had also phoned in regard to the dog and was assured help was on the way. No help arrived. Later, I asked store personnel and a security guard if an announcement could be made to the owner of the vehicle. While the guard assured me everything would be “taken care of,” no announcement was made.

Help arrived after 6 p.m. By now, the vehicle was gone. The last time I saw the dog, the poor thing was sitting in the driver’s seat where it knew the door last opened. By now, the dog was no longer barking, no longer panting and its head dropped forward. Everyone is aware a dog pants when it is hot and it is the animal’s way of cooling itself. The dog was now beyond being able to pant.

Shame on the store personnel, shame on animal control for not arriving sooner and shame on the owner(s) of the beautiful black dog. Should it somehow survive, the physical toll on the heart and brain could be permanent.

Contrast the cooperation the store gave this customer with another local store whose employees told me their policy is to make an announcement identifying the vehicle tag and alerting the owner of a dog in distress from heat.