Health & Fitness
Little Dog gets a voice this past week-end
Events this past week-end involving a family leaving their pet dog inside their locked and suv at the Natick Mall in 78F Degree weather, for well over 1hr.
We can't speak dog, but as humans go, we are smart enough to figure out that a dog panting means he/she is hot. We should be smart enough to know that in 78F Degree weather, a locked vehicle with the windows up its hot enough to harm a pet.
This past week-end I get a call from my wife who asks me to find out Natick Mall Security's number, after asking why I need to do that, she tells me that some kids were thinking about breaking a window in the parking lot, because someone left a little dog locked, leashed and the leashed tied in a car; "Windows up?" was my first question, "YES!" she responded.
My first thought was to tell her to find a rock and break the window herself... but, I am not one to condone vandalism so I told her I would call Natick PD.
I called Natick PD and the dispatcher asks me for information that I really did not think about, like Color, Make and Model of the car; let me find out and call you back.
I get the info from my wife, and called them back, I get told that the Natick Mall Security were taking care of it. I thought Great! Things will get taken care of soon.
I called my wife to let her know and she informs me that security was there and kids had moved on and car is safe, but said that "there was nothing we can do, it's up to the police"... in regards to the little dog. NOTHING? Really? What world are we living in, that we care more about a car than a pet?
Now I'm beyond upset, thinking, it's a good thing I'm not there because I would have broken the window, and give that little dog some fresh cooler air, water and start the process of cooling.
I can't vent, other than Facebook, so I post what is unfolding, and I get many requests for "breaking the window", at this point the thought is really going in and out of my mind; My wife comes home to pick me up, and I get a few calls from friends one of them who works at an animal rescue place informs me that she will meet me at the mall, she has the water, bowl, cooling blankets and a rock! "Did you say a Rock?", Ok, I'll see you there.
Upon arrival, Natick PD is already at the car, and from what I saw a failed attempt to 'slim-jim' the door open, so, we wait... and wait... just over one hour now since the first call from my wife, and who knows how long before that!; but we wait, I manage to snap a shot of the little one, who appears to be 'panting' and alert, my friend arrives and the rock stays in the car, police were in charge at this time, we're waiting. My friends talks to the police, and please don't get me wrong, I have no issues with the police, but what he says next really irked me, "It's not that hot out"... the problem is not the outside weather, the problem is the heat inside that oven-like interior!!!
The car unlocks and light flashes, signaling that the owner is nearby, the police officer asks if that's their dog, they say yes, and even mention that they were not there that long, I don't know the math, but 78F degrees outside, for about 1hr 10mins, I'm sure the temp inside is more like an oven at this point.
They refused to let us give the dog water, and even make snide remarks like "oh, poor you had to wait an hour" I start getting a bit verbal because the little dog can't really say "Hey stupid, I'm hot in here" the police says something that I really did not hear but I got the jest that he really did not want us there.
We walk away to let the police do their duty, to our surprise, the police just leaves... All the police got was a license and that's it! they can go, all is well... Now I'm just plain disappointed in the way our justice works, BUT, in the Police defense, as far as I know, there is no law agains leaving a dog unattended in a car, which confuses me because there is: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 272, Section 77 which deals with "Cruelty to Animals" and part of it says the following:
- and whoever, having the charge or custody of an animal, either as owner or otherwise, inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon it, or unnecessarily fails to provide it with proper food, drink, shelter, sanitary environment, or protection from the weather
But, the police thought everything was ok, and a call came in that was more important. Hey, the dog seemed ok, and we tried everything we could do and within our power to help the little guy, right, it's over.
Wrong, as they drive away, we are being sworn at, and called names, so, in this day and age, and the use of technology, I start recording their actions, and what do I capture? the guy, dangling the little dog outside the car window, and I presume that because I am spanish, they thought all spanish people clean houses, because they try to insult me by asking of me to go clean their house. Now, I know this is not Michael Jackson dangling his baby off a balcony, but it is a moving vehicle and it's dangerous to do, amongst the thoughts that go through my mind is this one: these people should not have pets.
It's over, time to go home, right?
Wrong, they come back, Probably because common sense got its engine going inside their minds and thought, we should not have done that in front of a camera! too late, already done. Lady gets out of the vehicle and informs me that I did not get her permission to record her, in my anger I pay little mind, just like her paid no mind to her ignorant ways, her other half comes out and tells me I have to stop, the phone keeps on recording, they are about to call the police on me now??? I give them the number for 911 (just in case they did not have it) I was going to stop recording, but she then goes on to tell me to put the video on YouTube, GREAT IDEA! she reinforces the request by the words "Do it!" So, I did!
I may be a simple person, and I have no problem being simple, but I do have a voice, and when something bothers me, I have no problems letting you know, but an animal with no voice needed some help, and I am glad I was able to get involved and get others involved to raise awareness to this family who obviously has no clue how to care for a pet.
I wish Massachusetts would change their laws to give these pets a voice. If ALL we were able to get out of the whole ordeal was to make these people think about their pet next time they want to go to the mall on a hot and muggy summer day! then our mission was accomplished!
-Mario
First Video of them Leaving (little dog being dangled outside the moving car)
Second Video of them Returning
