No talk about the skyrocketing virus numbers. No comment about the latest absurd observation from Trump. No reflection about the publication of Mary Trump’s new book.
No, with temperatures hovering around 90 degrees for consecutive days, something really concerns me. Now don’t misunderstand me. This is summer, and it supposed to be hot. All during the long winter months in Wheeling I daydream about the kind of weather we’ve had lately. I love days when the temperature is still in the low 80s or high 70s after the sun has gone down.
BUT hot weather poses a real danger for dog owners who take Fido shopping with them and then leave the poor pooch in the parked car with the windows open a crack. Many people don’t realize how quickly the temperature in a parked car becomes dangerous for a dog or any pet.
At this writing, the outside temperature was 85 degrees, and that means that the temperature inside a parked car would increase to 104 degrees in just 10 minutes. And after 30 minutes the poor dog would be sitting in 114 degrees! Unfortunately dogs can’t perspire to deal with the heat the way human beings can.
The National Traffic Safety Association has said that leaving a dog in a car during a hot day is tantamount to putting it in a microwave. As the temperature rises inside the car, the excessive heat causes the dog’s blood to become thick and put stress on its heart. Some of the symptoms a dog may display when it has been exposed to too much heat include heavy panting, drooling, drowsiness, vomiting, and collapsing.
The Laws
In West Virginia (and 30 other states) it is against the law to leave a dog (or any pet) in a hot, parked vehicle. Here is the law as stated: “West Virginia State Code §61-8-19 Cruelty to animals; penalties; exclusions.“(a) (1) It is unlawful for any person to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, (E). Leave an animal unattended and confined in a motor vehicle when physical injury to or death of the animal is likely to result.” The penalty for violating the law is a fine of possibly $300 and maybe 6 months in jail.
If you go to the grocery store and see a dog locked in a hot car, you are perfectly within your rights to take down the license plate, the color, and make of the car, and then go into the store and have the owner paged. If it happens to be at a mall where there are multiple stores, call the police, and don’t leave the car until the problem has bee solved.
Because I’m a dog lover, anytime I hear or read about the abuse of dogs, I see red. I simply cannot understand why anyone could or would intentionally hurt a dog, or any innocent animal for that matter. Dogs are so devoted to their owners, and their love is unequivocal. All they ask in return is a good meal during the day and copious pats on the head and hugs.
Numerous stories about a dog’s love and devotion abound, but my favorite one occurs in “The Odyssey” by Homer. The hero of this story is Odysseus, the king of Ithaca and a great warrior. Odysseus has a faithful dog named Argos, and when his master goes off to fight in the Trojan War, poor Argos is horribly neglected. Before Odysseus left, Argos was known for his strength and speed and tracking skills.
Two Decades
Counting the war and his struggle to get back home, Odysseus is gone for 20 years. When he finally arrives back in Ithaca, he discovers that his home is besieged by suitors vying to marry his wife. To get into his house without being recognized, he disguises himself as a beggar. But when he approaches the entrance to the house, he spots Argos lying on a pile of cow manure and riddled with ticks. Argos immediately recognizes his master, but he lacks the necessary strength to stand up. Thus he manages only to lower his ears and wag his tail.
Odysseus cannot blow his disguise by recognizing Argos, but a tear runs down his cheek as he enters his house. And Argos puts his head down and dies.
Now if you are a dog owner, quit reading this, find your precious pooch or pooches and give him or her or them a big hug.
PLEASE WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC, PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING, WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN, AND RESCUE DOGS LOCKED IN HOT CARS
