I\u2019m glad Officer Dawn Neely is educating the public about an often deadly issue for pets. The dog in Rifle was left in a closed car with AC running until the motor shut off for an hour and forty-five minutes while its owner \u201cvisited someone.\u201d<\/p>\n
State law does give immunity to anyone forcibly entering a locked vehicle to assist an at-risk person or animal. I\u2019ve paged owners when there is time \u2014 the dog is only rapidly panting, not yet on the floor. When time is short I immediately call dispatch with model, color and license of vehicle. Owners have returned, yelled\/cursed, told me their dog \u201cis fine\u201d and to \u201cf-off.\u201d I attempt to tell them there is no judgment here, only concern for the dog. Police say to not confront an offender, let the officer do this; I agree, but sometimes limited confrontation is inevitable. I\u2019ll never hesitate to speak for an animal. An abused child can tell a teacher, a neighbor, a sitter. We must speak for animals. After these tragic events we think \u201cHow can someone just forget their child or pet?\u201d Sadly, it happens every year.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve seen dogs in cars returned to by elderly owners seemingly oblivious to the heat and to the fact their dog is wearing a fur coat. Too many visitors to high altitude mountain towns think it\u2019s OK to leave dogs in vehicles because \u201cit\u2019s the mountains.\u201d Animal control officers, in the fall season at 9,500 feet, have found dead dogs in cars at trail heads. It\u2019s bad enough they don\u2019t get to hike, outrageous they\u2019re left in cars to wait (and die).<\/p>\n
When I hear a constantly barking dog, I find its situation. Often the silent ones have retreated to the floor to seek shade and cooler air. We cannot canvass an entire lot, but we can listen, look and report the ones clearly in distress. A constantly barking dog anywhere is not getting its needs met.<\/p>\n
Retailers, please post signs at entry doors that say \u201cNo Dogs or Kids Left In Cars.\u201d A dog tied in the shade of its owner\u2019s car is safer than inside it.<\/p>\n
Nancy Morey,
Glenwood Springs<\/p>\n