The sun is shining brightly and it was the hottest July we have had in 60 years.
Families are going to the beach, water parks, and out for ice cream to beat the heat – kids and the pooch in tow.
It’s 5 p.m., time to think about dinner as we head home.
“Just going to run into the store for five minutes.” It’s something we all do and don’t think twice about… except there is a dog in the party.
Media has done its job by making the public aware of the dangers of leaving kids and pets in cars. It has not gone unnoticed.
I take my children out of the car, tuck my four-pound Chihuahua in my daughter’s arms and head into the store as I’ve done countless times.
I’m met with smiles.
Then I encounter a problem. A store clerk tells me “no dogs.” I tell him I’m not leaving my dog in the car to cook.
I’ll be done in five minutes and she’s not harming anyone and not on the ground.
I get followed around like a criminal by this person, told over and over “no dogs.”
By this time I’m angry and frustrated and walk out of the store as he calls for management saying I’m causing trouble. I decided to take the high road and leave as it was for the best to avoid confrontation.
My dog is four pounds, silent, and harming absolutely no one in my daughter’s arms.
While I completely agree that dogs are best left at home where they can be comfortable and cool, many pet owners like myself take their dogs everywhere with them.
What does a pet owner do when faced with that decision with an unplanned five-minute store run?
Perhaps stores can take into consideration the risks, and allow dogs (of certain size) to be carried in arms or a dog bag.
Maybe doing so would help cut down medical distress calls to the SPCA.
A bowl of water outside couldn’t hurt either to help cool our pooches down.
A. Leslie, Delta
