[quote="Charli"]Dana, it was 98 one recent sunday and some stupid-ass beamer owning bastard left their bichon frise in the car with no friggin windows down in front of the supermarket. It was laying in the back window panting when I saw it. I called the market and asked them to try and make an announcement over the loudspeaker thing, they said they would. Man I wanted to go find that person and beat them over the head with a hard object.[/quote]

Good for you. I've left nasty notes under windshield wipers before.

Hey Jen, Dana, et. al.

I don't know about Chicago and Portland, but here if you see a dog alone in a car you can call 911 and the police will respond and pursue criminal charges.

I feel inclined to say that I don't think it's a lack of common sense. I would say it's a lack of experience. Ignorance to the frailty of a 7lb dog is hardly soemthing learned through common sense, especially if your life has been limited to big dog reality. It is not something innately human to know that a small dog can't survive in the heat for more than 3 hours. Our cats do it. Our other dogs do it.

What's the difference between leaving a dog out in the sun vs. leaving a dog in a parked car, window down or not? If you ask me it's doubly hot inside a car. Or are you guys saying that one should not have a pet in the car ever and that it is at least just better business to put a window down if you're not going to just leave the pet at home?

It is an honest mistake, I'm sorry it happened to you. I can't imagine the sense of dread you had before telling your mom.

Actually I have an issue with it period. Dogs being in cars during warm weather months. They're not like humans, they dehydrate easier and frankly there are too many people out there who are complete idiots and do leave them in the car in hot weather while they go shopping. If you're going shopping, leave the dog at home. They'd rather be at home lounging then in a warm car waiting for you.

The difference between dogs being out in heat vs cats(I once had outdoor cats, I never will again, cats belong indoors for many reasons, many of them health) is that cats have the freedom to roam and can very easily secure shade for themselves. Dogs more often then not are hooked up to leashes/chains and when the sun shifts they don't have that luxury of getting out of its way. And I don't know anyone who intentionally leaves their dogs out for long periods of time in hot weather. And my whole family beside myself and younger brother has at least one.

I'm sorry I was harsh on you before, but I was just angry about the situation, as no doubt I'm sure you already are yourself but in a different way.

Dogs left in cars, windows up = bad
Dogs left in cars, windows down = not so great, but sometimes necessary, especially if the dog is involved in the errand
Dogs left outside all day without shelter, food or water, regardless of size = bad

I've never had a dog that I left outside in the elements-- they've always co-habitated with me in the house.

Here's an older picture of my pups lounging in "their house."

Damn, d... that golden one could be a dog model. Got Farrah Fawcet (sp?) wings and everything. "Don't hate me cuz I'm beautiful."

heh, he doesn't look like that now... he's nearly 12, and he's got a white face. I've been calling him Ghostface lately. But yeah, back in his heyday, he coulda been a dog model.

I'm not saying he didn't fuck up. I'm just saying that sometimes in life things happen that are horrible, intentional or not.

Yeah, definitely kudos to your mom for not trying to make you feel worse about yourself than you already obviously do. Definitely appreciate her.

And just FYI to anyone and everyone -- dogs don't sweat. They need water, and to evaporate it by panting to cool down. They don't handle heat the way we do. So don't think just because you can handle it, they can. They work very differently than we do.

All I have to say is, karma is a bitch. This is inexcusable and I hope you can't sleep at night. That's all.

Wow, some of you guys are real assholes. He obviously feels bad. He didn't know. He didn't own the dog. He didn't have a doggie care manual. He thought he was doing the right thing.

Maybe save your vicious criticism for a board where you haven't posted several of your own catastrophic personal fuckups.

That's a cop out and you know it. He never gave that dog a second thought when he left it out there to fry. In my opinion, his ass should've spent the night in jail.

guys i killed a nest full of wasps last night in cold blood. my deck is still stained from the Raid shower and carcasses pepper the sun-bleached wood. condemn me.

Hey, I get to use this twice in one day.
[img][650:269]http://sinfest.net/comics/sf20021023.gif[/img]

*Yawn!*

touche!

I guess questioning your own position is too much energy. That cracks me up.

Did I hurt your feelings again, Colin?

If this had happened to me I'd feel terrible for months, even if I could rationally tell myself it wasn't my fault, accidents happen, etc. I don't think I'd post my story on the internet, though, especially on a board I know to be full of insensitive, harsh assholes.

I'll only (edit: say) yes if it helps you feel right about everything. Deal?

Meh. I appreciate those of you who are understanding. And, everyone else is entitled to their opinion. If OPA wants me to have nightmares and never forgive myself, he can think that.

I did put this story up here. I didn't expect to have everyone just stroke my ego and make me feel good. I knew what to expect. Although, I am amazed at how quickly people who don't know you can spout off very harsh judgments.

Rather contradictory to the mode of conduct that is typical of many on this board if you ask me. But, I don't take it personally.

What a douche bag.

Damn, OPA... ever fuck up? No? Really?