Wait until the dogs are DEAD ?

So it is true, “no good deed goes un-punished”. After watching and hearing two small dogs howl for 15 minutes, locked in a minivan parked in the sun on a day when it’s +34C, I phoned 311 for info on who I should be talking to, they connected me to the humane society, sad thing was they said someone could call me back in 15 to 20 minutes. CALL me back, really ? Next I talked to the police who said the fire department would come out a deal with it. When the fire department showed up 15 minutes later, the owner of the minivan had came out of the restaurant and opened her door and said it was not locked and she was only inside for 2 minutes (big lie, I was watching and waiting). After one member of the fire dept. stuck his hand in the doorway, he told me it was not too hot for the dogs(well I guess not after the door was open to air it out), when is a hand in a doorway an accurate temperature sensor ? It’s really sad how the firemen seemed not even interested in warning this dumb woman, they just wanted to go, and said “it’s been dealt with” (they did nothing). I was told by the firemen to use some common sense before reporting things like this, that I know nothing about dogs, and that they were not in distress,( they never even checked out the dogs, I guess the howling was just for fun). In the end I was made out to be the bad guy for reporting this. So I guess by their “common sense” I should wait until the dogs are DEAD before phoning. Sad, really.

The quality of the employees has deteriorated in every job field police and fireman included. Chalk it up to less pay, less benefits, less education, whatever it's a fact of life these days. Please don't let that deter you from being any less compassionate. You did the right thing. They are firemen not vets. Hope the owner sufficiently shamed and inconvenienced enough that they will think twice about leaving their pups in a hot car again. I am sure the dogs appreciated your choice even if no one else seemed to and after all isn't that who you cared about most in the situation?

sounds like a bunch of morons to me which is pretty normal. you should have just broken a window and ran

reply to post by Grayarea

You absolutely did the right thing. We have public service announcements around here every year to remind people about the issue. Here is a graphic chart I came across which shows how quickly warm outside temperatures can become terminally dangerous inside the car.



The U.S. also charges people for doing this with animal cruelty among other things...

Owners face criminal charges if they leave pets in hot car

That fireman sounds like the type of person who is leaving animals alone in hot cars, by the sound of it.

I would say write some letters to the Fire Department, the Humane Society, The Mayor, and the local TV station, and explain to them the truth and the fact that you were not given the opportunity to express what really happened and the lack of concern from the authorities was completely unbelievable, not to mention treating you the way they did. Thats what I would do anyway. These people need to be reminded of the responsibility they have to Animals as well as Humans.

reply to post by Grayarea


A few years ago my neighbor had her boyfriend over. Big biker type--huge, bearded, tattoo'd all over. Whenever he came to visit her he'd park at the curb in front of my house. Used to give me the evil eyeball whenever he got out of his truck (he rarely rode his bike on his visits). He had two malamutes he always left in his truck.

One very hot day he was in her house for several hours. Those two malamutes looked miserable: Panting, crying, looking out the windows. They eventually lay down in the seat and went quiet. I figured they were near death.

I tried the police department. Got a recording giving instruction on non-emergency calls and a list of departments. (I didn't call 911, because you can get in pretty serious trouble if they determine it was a non-emergency.) Tried the fire department--not their bailiwick. Called Animal Control--they'd only come out if the animal was dead. Finally called the Sheriff's Dept. and they had a couple of officers there in a few minutes.

I went with them to the truck. The dogs stood up and started barking at us. The biker came out of the girlfriend's house. He came over and showed the officers that the back window of the truck's cab was open and that the dogs weren't suffering. Me he gave the evil eyeball....

Still, I'm glad I called....

Well I geuss what bugged me the most was they acted like I was putting them out by having to come there to start with. They acted like they did not even care about how hot a car can get in a few short minutes or what condition the dogs were in.

I don't care what they say, if I see this again, I'm burning up the phone lines. Animal abuse just makes me sick.

Wow....I love dogs....I don't want dogs to die. That's so sad.

reply to post by Grayarea


Did you do anything? Break the window?

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


I love the little dog in the car! OP you should find something like this and print up some and drop them off at both the police and fire department. Maybe it's that they don't understand and not that they don't care. Many people just don't realize how quickly it can get dangerously hot for an animal or child left in the car. Possibly even contact the local paper and tell them your story and ask if they could run a PSA story.Imagine the good you could do. Everything happens for a reason maybe this was the reason. You have the opportunity to turn something negative into something really positive OP.

Originally posted by Bonkrh
sounds like a bunch of morons to me which is pretty normal. you should have just broken a window and ran

This is illegal but a very moral decision, I AGREE!
Break a window and leave.
If asked, deny everything!!
Star to you Bonk.

reply to post by zonetripper2065


Judging by the way it all went, I would have been arrested for breaking into her minivan if I touched the door handle.

reply to post by Ladysophiaofsandoz


The local morning paper just ran an item about watching out for your pets in the heat today. Do they train firemen to read now ? lol

reply to post by Grayarea


True.so the dogs are probably dead. I've worked alot of retail, seen many windows broken. In some states it's even legal.

reply to post by zonetripper2065


No the dogs are ok according to Mr. Vet/Fireman/Tempsensorman. They maybe dead soon if that woman can't figure out where she left here brain. 34C = 93.2F, sort of off the chart as posted above.

reply to post by Grayarea


well thats good, good thing ya called.