Thank you for the reminder Ann. This situation has been weighing on my mind a lot these past 2 weeks.
I work in a small town restaurant and I see dogs locked up in cars in our parking lot all year round!
Two weekends ago, I believe it was approximately 87 degrees out when my coworkers alerted me that there was small locked in a car again! Sure enough, I went out to the car to find a beautiful white Shih Tzu sitting on a hot leather seat, her nose and upper lip dripping with sweat and all the windows rolled up!
I ran back to speak to the owners who were an elderly couple traveling from Florida. I told them that their dog was sweating and that I could give her some water and if they would at least crack windows, I could keep an eye on her while they ate. They were highly offended and told me NO bc they loved her too much and she might be stolen!
After a few more moments, I convinced the gentleman to at least sit in the car with her and give her some water until his food was ready. He said her name was Anna, that she was 7 yrs. old, they had just rescued her from a shelter in Fl., and that she'd been thrown away by a breeder bc she was too old to breed any longer!
I was finally able to convince him to leave the window cracked down and I felt better to see she drank the cold water I gave her but the whole time the couple was eating, my heart was breaking for Anna.
I just spoke to my local police dept. to see if they would respond to a call to save a dog locked in a car. They're answer was
maybe...depending on
who takes the call! She also said that if they decide to send out an officer, it will depend on him/her whether they charge the person with animal cruelty or not!
Sadly, it's going to be a long, hot, heartbreaking summer for these dogs in my area again!