Excessive Heat Warnings and Animals--I'm Only Human

A heat warning has been put in place for this weekend because it's going to be pretty warm. Make sure to stay cool everyone! Lots of fluids and fans!

That being said, let me tell you about my venture out this morning with the car and my dog.

Leaving my house around 8:15 this morning, I had to go to my mom's apartment and water her plants... She's on vacation. No big deal.
It's nice outside. So I decide to take Rex (my dog) for a ride-along, and I know he likes to hang out with me anyway.
I get in the car, start it, and realize I need to get gas. No big deal, I'll pop over to my local Fred Meyer, they have cheap gas. And I have to pick up my prescription too.. Well, I have Rex.

I'm already driving at this point... I don't want to take two trips or double back--money is at a premium around here.

But wait, I also have to pick up stuff to make his dog food from the store, and meat for dinner, and power steering fluid. Well, it won't be THAT long, he'll be fine.


I head over to Fred Meyer. It's 8:50 am when I get there.
Realizing I still had 10 minutes to when the pharmacy opened, I parked the car in the shade on the side of the store--instead of in the blinding sun in the middle of the parking lot. It's still pretty early in the morning, still pretty cool, and I won't be that long. I left Rex in the car.

Let me tell you something about my dog. He may look cute and sweet and friendly--and believe me, he is. But I have no problem leaving him in the car, windows rolled down five or 6 inches so he has some breeze and can stick his face out the window if he gets warm, especially in the shade. Nobody is coming near that car. And, if you come near the car and look sketchy Rex will make quite some noise. He is protective over what's his. He's a good dog. I wouldn't trade him for the world.

So, I get my things, head out to the car. Rex is all cool, happy to see me, not even panting. I didn't have a broken window, everything was fine.There was a truck parked a space over from me, and I have no doubt that the driver of that truck looked into the car. And please, be my guest. (Sorry Mom, I would have paid for damages if your car would have incurred any, you know that.)

I think people should exercise caution when leaving animals (particularly dogs) in the car. and NEVER leave your kid in the car. (I saw a sleeping baby in a car the other night at Thriftway, and if I wouldn't have had a sick fiance waiting for me at home, I would have waited for the driver to come out so I could say something. Not even be rude, but say "Hey, I totally get that they're sleeping and you don't want to wake them up and I know you wouldn't have been that long, and you probably locked the doors, but just don't do it man. It's not safe.")
Don't park your car in the blinding sun in the middle of the afternoon or the evening with an animal inside. It would be better to take another trip than risk a broken window and/or police called. Even if it's just a minute. That 2 inches most people leave the window down does nothing.

Was it a bad decision to leave my dog for 20 minutes in the car this morning in the shade with the windows down far enough he could put his head out? Probably not a great one, but definitely not detrimental. Would it be a bad decision to park in the sun in the middle of the afternoon with the windows down an inch and be gone 20 minutes? That is probably a bad decision.
Look at this vet video, I'm sure we've all seen it. He's in a hot car...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbOcCQ-y3OY


The moral of the story here:
Don't leave you pets (OR KIDS EVER) in a car, especially on a warm day in the sun. But if you have to, don't be an idiot. Park in the shade, roll the windows down a little more, and be as quick as you can (We're talking Supermarket Sweep here people--Anyone else remember that show?).
Can't find any shade? Well, I guess you better take them home before you go back.

That was my condition. I was going to drive to Fred Meyer, and if I couldn't find shade, I was going to take Rex home and double back. I refuse to leave him parked in the sun. REFUSE.

This is my wonderful Rexie :)