One Hot Day

On Friday I made a quick trip to our local grocery store to pick up items for the weekend. I jumped out of my car ready to scurry into the cool respite of the store. It was after 10:00 a.m. and already the air steamed with bright sun, heat, and humidity. The first thing I noticed was a car parked near mine. Inside was a young Golden Retriever, panting heavily. The two front windows were cracked open a couple of inches each.

I walked around the car and talked to the dog, waiting for the owner to appear. After about 10 minutes, one of the young baggers came out to collect carts. I pointed out the dog and suggested the car owner be paged. She went inside to speak with her manager. Within a minute or two, she returned to say that this type of thing happened all the time, and her manager said there wasn't anything they could do about it.

My next thought was to call the police. Sweat tricked down my back like a broken faucet. I was burning up and it wasn't me locked in a hot car. So I pulled out my phone to make the call when a man who appeared to be in his fifties walked toward the car. Both hands were loaded with grocery bags. I called out to him and our conversation went something like this...

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"It's really dangerous to leave your dog in a hot car."

"I had the windows cracked and the sun roof partly open." (Indignant)

"It's not enough to keep from killing your dog in this heat."

"I know my dog and he's fine." (Annoyed)

With that remark, he jumped into the car and sped away. In frustration, I couldn't help but shout after him.

"Next time I'll call the police!" I think I even shook my fist at him in some sort of power-to-the-people type gesture.

I'm not sure if he heard my somewhat childish parting shot or not. Not one of my finer moments. I went inside the store and cooled off...in more ways than one. Then I realized something. Never once did the man make eye contact with me. The way I read human nature, that's a sure sign when someone knows they made a mistake.

Although our interaction didn't end well, I decided this seed of discussion would bear fruit later on. I'm sure the man cared about his dog and probably thought he'd be inside the store "just for a second". He intended no harm. But unfortunately, even a few minutes in a hot car can be deadly.

The bagger's description about this type of thing "happening all the time" is really sad. Are we doing a bad job educating the public or do some simply choose to ignore facts? Perhaps getting out the message to one person at a time is the most effective way to make things change. I'm not a huge fan of confrontation, but uncomfortable as it feels, speaking up appears to be the best approach. In any event, I'm pretty sure that man in the parking lot will never leave his dog in a hot car again.

After all, who wants to tangle with a cranky red-faced sweat-ball of a crazy old lady?

Well Versed

If you're like me, the postal service usually delivers only two things: bills and junk mail. That being the case, I loved it when this copy of Well Versed, an anthology published by the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writer's Guild, appeared on my doorstep. It includes one of my short stories, but what made it even more fun is that a fellow Saturday Writer, Alice Muschany, has two stories included. She always was an overachiever. Way to go, Alice!

The book can be purchased through Amazon.

Meanwhile the heat wave continues. We went to an outdoor concert last night (crazy, I know) thinking we'd stay only for a few songs. However, the band was so good that we stood on hot brick singing and dancing to the blues music of The Red House for about three hours. They were wonderful and we were grateful for the outstanding show they presented in fierce weather conditions.

Hope all of you are keeping safe and cool, including our four-footed friends!

The Heat is On

Today has been another scorching day. We're well into the 90's and the prediction is for the temps to grow increasingly hotter throughout the week. Staying inside seems to be the option of choice for most people and pets. I venture out after work to put fresh water in the bird bath because the wildlife definitely suffers in such extreme temperatures, too. I'm sure the birds are amazed at how quickly this old lady can fill up the community watering trough before beating a path back into the house.

My Indy-Boy is looking shaggy and uncomfortable, so it's about time to schedule another visit for him at the groomer. His summer buzz cut is not only fashionable, but a must in heat.

Bogey is not allowed outside. Therefore he simply doesn't get what all the fuss is about as he lounges in his splendiforous new bed.

"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

On another note (pun intended), I bought this vintage sheet music (circa 1939) from an antique shop.

I thought I knew the music by heart, but was surprised to learn that "Over the Rainbow" had a short introduction with lyrics I'd never heard before. It definitely did not appear in the movie. Any "Wizard of Oz" buffs know the story on this?

From heat to rainbows to wishes...hope all of you have a great evening! Stay cool!

Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot

It's hotter outside than a grilled habanero. My feet seem to sink into sticky asphalt as I plod from an air conditioned car to an air conditioned building. Is it supposed to be this hot in June?

The Midwest is sweating from record heat, so it's time for a reminder. NEVER leave a dog in a hot car. Even with windows open, a vehicle quickly becomes a deadly oven. It doesn't matter if you're "only going to be gone for a few seconds". That's all it takes for heat exhaustion to overcome an animal...or a person for that matter!

I know I'm preaching to the choir, but if each one of us educates at least 2 or 3 other people on the issue, think what a difference we could make! So let's get the word out.

And if you should notice any living being left in a hot car, don't hesitate. Call for help from animal control and/or the police. I've done it before and the authorities are most cooperative in providing assistance and making sure that the person responsible learns a valuable (and often expensive) lesson.

My Dog is Cool provided the above photo. Their site has great tips and interesting facts relevant to all dog owners. Check them out to learn more.

Stay cool!

Be Kind

Photo by the wretched


We've been having a run of very hot days with no relief in sight. Given the heat wave, I searched an issue that disturbs me greatly...people who leave their pets in hot cars with the windows cracked. Sure enough, I found a story about a chihuahua in Michigan left in a car a few weeks ago that died of heat stroke. The owner now faces charges of animal abuse. Apparently, people still haven't gotten the message.

The first time I witnessed a dog left in a hot car, I had the store manager page the owner, who came to the car shortly thereafter, arms loaded with grocery bags. I tried to be polite as possible with my comment about how quickly this could have become deadly. The owner looked embarressed, mumbled an apology, and drove away.

The second time I called the police because the car sat in front of a strip mall, and I had no idea where to find the owner. The officer responded and looked up the license plate. Thankfully at that point the owner returned, because the officer was preparing to jimmy open the door in order to rescue the dog. The officer asked me to leave while he had "a talk" with the man.

Long story short...the authorities take such matters seriously.

Even when weather is not so torrid as now, a car with windows cracked can swiftly become a deadly oven. Dogs can only perspire through their paws and mouth. They cannot handle the type of heat created by a car on asphalt with the sun beating down.
United Animal Nations has good information on heat stroke symptoms, emergency treatment, and flyers to hand out for non-life threatening situations. It's aptly titled My Dog is Cool.

I know critters love to go places with their people. But on hot days be kind. Leave them at home in the air conditioning.

And for those people who leave their critters outside, in this weather...PLEASE DON'T!