I was a little humiliated...

[Cookiebaker]

So yesterday, there was a Christian festival at a park in town, and we decided to go (which, by the way was amazing!) anyway, we had decided to take Malone along with us because dogs are welcome. But when we got there, the place was PACKED almost shoulder to shoulder, and we decided to leave him in the van because he doesn't handle it very well when there are tons of people milling around. A couple of things though:

1. He had a huge bowl of ice water
2. We left the ignition running with the fan on
3. The windows were open
4. the van was half in the shade (it was 80 degrees out)
5. I kept checking back on him every 10-15 minutes to make sure he wasn't panting (which he wasn't)

I was heading back to find Mark after checking on him, and I observed some 'strange' behavior by 3 police officers. I wondered what was going on...they were radioing back/forth and writing stuff down. I found Mark, and we sat down to eat lunch in the shade, and we were directly facing the soundbooth. I looked up, and saw a cop conferring with the sound booth tech, and said to Mark (I had told him what I had observed) "huh! they are going to make an annoucement. Maybe we will find out what is going on?"

We about DIED when the announcement was "will Mark W**** please report to the sound booth immediately? Mark W***** to the sound booth"

Long story short, the cop had seen Malone in car and was concerned about him, because he didn't see the water bucket that was on the backseat floor. So we went and turned the AC on for him.

So, I felt a little humiliated at being called out like that, but I was thankful for the cop's concern for the welfare of my doggy. Better safe than sorry!!!!!!!

[Ginger's Mom]

I am glad to hear that things turned out alright, and that you were keeping an eye on things. I actually think that they handled it pretty well, they could have just made the announcement, "could whoever left their dog in the car please come up front." Now that would have been embarrassing.

[boomersooner]

Or they could have done nothing and some dog might really be in distress.....Even though I know it was embarrassing....I probably would have died from it....and Malone was fine with you checking on him every few minutes....at least they were concerned. Makes me feel good they were concerned for sweet Malone's welfare.

[Karen]

It is nice that they were concerned, and even though they called out Mark's name, they didn't say why, so maybe folks thought he won a prize or something! And now they know you are good, concerned dog owners as well.

[Grace]

Hate to be the spoil sport here, but you should have been embarrassed.

Twice I have come across dogs in cars in parking lots; both times the owners showed up before I could call the police. Both times I asked them if they would have left their children in the car.

Enough said.

[Cinder & Smoke]

... we decided to leave him in the van ...

1. He had a huge bowl of ice water
2. We left the ignition running with the fan on
3. The windows were open
4. the van was half in the shade (it was 80 degrees out)
5. I kept checking back on him every 10-15 minutes ...

I found Mark, and we sat down to eat lunch in the shade ...

Better safe than sorry!!!!!!!

I dunno ... but all things considered ...
I have to think Malone might have been a Happier (and Safer) Kampur
if he'd stayed Home.

Breathing in 80 degree air doesn't offer very much cooling power.

I collect some pretty UN-happie *glares* ( )from Klipp & Klopp when they get
told they'd better *wait here* whilst I hop in the Bus and zip off on errands;
but I don't have to *worry* about them doing a melt-down in the Bus
while I'm ditty-boppin around in Wally's air conditioned emporium.

[Rachel]

I agree with Phred. You really don't realize just how hot these vehicles can get regardless of cracked window, bowls of water, etc. I once had a dog in the car and the temperature was not hot at all outside (more like warm) but the sun was shining. I decided to stay with her instead of going into the store with my husband. It wasn't more than a few minutes before I was extremely uncomfortable and had to open the windows wide and even the doors. I'll never forget that close call and basically I don't take my dogs with me if we would need to stop and leave them in the car during any of the warm months.

If you left the windows wide open, Malone could have escaped or someone could have entered the vehicle and removed him. I'm glad you relayed this story because it shows how easy it is to make a mistake with a precious family member.

[Cookiebaker]

I'm sorry but I feel the need to defend myself here and my actions. Maybe what you didn't catch in my original post was that I WAS responsible. I checked on Malone on THREE separate occasions all within a little less than 45 minutes. He was NOT even panting. In fact, he was laying down and sleeping, the essence of a happy comfortable pup. It was COMFORTABLE in the van. I SAT in there WITH HIM for several minutes. I would NEVER put my dog at risk. Yes, it was 80 degrees out, but the wind was cold, and I was comfortable in short sleeves and a sweater...this IS New England after all.

Please don't make me look like a bad doggy parent for taking my dog with me. Thank you.

[Jessika]

If I had been in the same situation, I probably would have either left to go back home or at least dropped the dog off.

I think the cops handled it well though, considering it probably could have been more embarrassing as someone had mentioned if they'd have been like "Will the owner of a [VEHICLE] with their dog inside please come to the booth" or whatever, you know? Well... idk I guess it seems more embarrassing since they used your name, but I'm pretty sure most of the people there would have known your name to put it to your face to think "omg those are the people that were called over the loud speaker to go to the booth!!"

How long were you at the festival?

EDIT: I left my car on with the fan running once while I was at school for kennel on a weekend and had Jamie with me.... went to check on her after 30 or so minutes to find the car was blowing hot air and my car battery had died

[Kfamr]

I have faith that Anna and Mark would never have done anything that would have caused harm to Malone. None of us were there, and Anna, who has always been a responsible dog owner here, is telling us that Malone was just fine.


Eesh.

[shepgirl]

Sounds like the dog was pretty comfy to me. Ice water, fan running with open windows. If the dog would have been distressed it would have been panting and drooling and not sound asleep.
Glad you have vigilant cops around though , some people might not have had water and running fan for their dogs. I think they handled everything well, no need for embarassment.

[Grace]

I have faith that Anna and Mark would never have done anything that would have caused harm to Malone. None of us were there, and Anna, who has always been a responsible dog owner here, is telling us that Malone was just fine.

Malone is fine - so why was this topic posted in the first place? Cookiebaker said herself that she was humiliated by the presence of the police. Why - if she felt she had done nothing wrong?

She had to know that some of us would disagree - someone almost always disagrees on this board

It is against the law in Poughkeepsie, New York, and Joliet, Illinois, and Pennsylvania and California.

[caseysmom]

Malone is fine - so why was this topic posted in the first place? Cookiebaker said herself that she was humiliated by the presence of the police. Why - if she felt she had done nothing wrong?

She had to know that some of us would disagree - someone almost always disagrees on this board

It is against the law in Poughkeepsie, New York, and Joliet, Illinois, and Pennsylvania and California.

She posted because we are her friends and know her whereas the cops didn't...

{{{hugs cookiebaker}}

[Kfamr]

Malone is fine - so why was this topic posted in the first place? Cookiebaker said herself that she was humiliated by the presence of the police. Why - if she felt she had done nothing wrong?

She had to know that some of us would disagree - someone almost always disagrees on this board

It is against the law in Poughkeepsie, New York, and Joliet, Illinois, and Pennsylvania and California.

Because once upon a time the members of this forum were like a family and a bit more understanding and comforting than what is being displayed in this thread.

Apparently so, it's not always like that anymore.

[BC_MoM]

Because once upon a time the members of this forum were like a family and a bit more understanding and comforting than what is being displayed in this thread.

Apparently so, it's not always like that anymore.

I have to agree.

Quite honestly, I laughed when I read Anna's post! I found it pretty funny.

I think people may just be overreacting a little bit. Anna is a responsible person, and I could never see her leaving Malone in a bad situation.