The One About the Elderly, Dogs, and Hot Cars

Dogs Die in Hot Cars

About a month ago, we had a heat wave. It was minor compared to the rest of the country, but significant around these parts.

I was going to Safeway and had Cinder in the car. I rolled down the passenger- and driver-side windows about half-way down, made sure that Cinder had enough water, and went in to go get our groceries.

After about 10 minutes of shopping, I hear someone break into the Muzak with, "Will the owner of a green Honda hatchback please go out and check your car. Your dog seems to be in distress."

I left my cart in the middle of the aisle and almost knocked a child over while running through the automatic doors. I imagined her somehow sticking half-way out the window.

I got there and she was fine. Barking, but she always barks in public. A little old lady pulled up behind my car and unrolled her passenger-side window. "Is that your dog?" she asked. Yeah. "You need to roll down the window. He's not very happy." Mam, I said, the windows are rolled down. "Oh," she scowled, "Not hardly enough. He's barking because he's so hot!"

I didn't bother to tell her that he was a she and she was barking because she hates strangers.

Later that same day, while leaving another store, I watched a man in his nineties park a brand-new car in front of a parking garage pylon. It was clearly not a parking spot and he seemed confused. I walked up and told him he was not in a parking spot.

"So?" he said. Well, I don't think you can park here, I said. "Why not?" Well, for one, you're sticking about 6 feet intro the lane.

"People can drive around," he said. "It's hot and I want to park in the shade," he said, adding, "I've got a dog in the car."