Pet Protector to the Rescue
Dear owner: Please leave me at home. It gets really, really hot in the
car. I don't like it. Love, your loyal pet.
Does this look familiar? I hope not. If you've been the recipient of
such a note, then you're guilty of inflicting a cruelty no animal
should be forced to suffer--being left in a parked car on a warm day.
Yes, I'm willing to admit that I am the local pet protector who
secretly slides these notes under your windshield wiper. As you may
have noticed, I always make sure that the writing faces the inside of
the vehicle. That way, it can be easily read when you finally do
return to your pet.
I am the person who advised the cashier at Chapters that you had left
your headlights on. It was the tiniest of lies. I'd hoped that, after
hearing the announcement, you would rush out, read my note, feel the
appropriate amount of shame and vow never to leave your dog in the car
again. Just to let you know, I waited 15 minutes before you returned.
What were you thinking?
Many errant pet owners may claim they're only making a quick dash into
the grocery store. But you know how it is; a list of three items can
soon turn into a cart full of food. The line-ups can seem
excruciatingly long to the animal you've left in the stifling heat.
Just recently, I happened upon a policeman standing helplessly beside
a parked car. A dog, its tongue dangling over its lower jaw, paced
along the back seat. Interested bystanders lingered in front of the
stores. The cop mumbled into his radio. Was he getting permission to
break the window and rescue the animal? I sat in my own car (windows
cranked open) and waited.
The sound of smashing glass was not to be. Instead, a harried woman,
with two young children tugging on her arm, approached the car. At
that moment, I envisioned her back at home, rounding up the kids,
searching for her purse and shopping list before heading, breathless,
out the door. The kids may have begged to bring Fido along with them.
Overworked and tired, she gave in.
The cop spoke to her, the crowd dispersed, and I started my car and
pulled away. I had mixed feelings about that particular episode. I
could empathize with the woman but the fact remained--the dog could
have died.
Even with the windows partially open, the temperature inside a car can
reach 49 degrees Celsius within minutes. I often hear warnings on the
radio and television advising pet owners about the dangers. And,
still, people continue to invite their beloved canine friends along
for the ride.
Last summer, unprepared, I would scribble my notes on any available
scrap of paper--a bank receipt or a Starbucks serviette. This year,
when the warm weather began to poke its way through the winter's
chill, I knew it was time to pull my pet protector cloak from the
closet. Anticipating a rash of owners not heeding the media warnings,
I've printed off 20 copies of the note (it's true, this is becoming a
bit of an obsession). I'll stash the notes in my glove compartment
and, hopefully, there will be some remaining when the weather
eventually begins to cool.
No one's ever caught me playing the crusader to these four-legged
victims. I'm very careful. With the ease of a seasoned stalker, I
stroll toward my target and, in a fluid motion, whisk the piece of
paper into place. Seldom do the animals, usually dogs, make any kind
of fuss. The odd time, I see the owners discover my note. It's
interesting to observe their suspicious and, sometimes, angry glances
around the parking lot.
I'm not brave enough for a confrontation with the dog's owner; I know
how defensive I would get if someone questioned my ability to care for
my pet. Most people love and treat their pets as an important member
of the family. It's understandable that, in a moment of weakness,
owners give in to the pleading in their dog's eyes as they pick up the
car keys. This is one time that owners must say no. The animal will be
much happier and safer in the home.
I will continue to protect the furry citizens in my town. I encourage
everyone to be on the lookout for those black noses pressed through a
sliver of open window, trying to catch a whisper of fresh air. Print
your own notes (I always try to be as polite as possible). Make a
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