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News & ArtsWednesday, July 29, 2009
Mailbag / The Weather Hot Tip
Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Wed, Jul 29, 2009 at 11:44 AM
This week alone I've seen the following:• People running or walking their dogs on hot pavement (it burns their pads).
• People leaving their dogs in cars: Gray Nissan [license plate number redacted] at University Village, shame on you.
• People leaving their dogs tied outside of resturants while they cool their heels in the air conditioning inside.Are these people stupid, selfish, thoughtless, or insane?
I work at an animal hospital. I see the heat stroke, vomiting, and organ failure 15 minutes in a hot car can cause.
Get a grip, Seattleites... be mindful or let someone else raise your pet.
D. Kaye
Photo by Archie McPhee Seattle from The Stranger's flickr pool.
2
This is just part of what pisses me off about dog owners in Seattle. As well as dog owners, think that it's okay to keep a mid or large size dog in a fucking apartment all day since they go for a walk in the morning and afternoon. Dogs need to have a yard to play/run in during the day with shade and plenty of water.
Apartment owners with dogs are animal abusers. There I said it.
Apartment owners with dogs are animal abusers. There I said it.
3
At least they won't be peeing on your lawn.
Big dogs in the city is so hip as they go about spreading copious amounts of piss all over the place. If restaurants allowed me to take my big dog into the restaurant this would have never happened in the first place. I promise to order him a meal and he won't even use the silverware.
Big dogs in the city is so hip as they go about spreading copious amounts of piss all over the place. If restaurants allowed me to take my big dog into the restaurant this would have never happened in the first place. I promise to order him a meal and he won't even use the silverware.
4
i tried to spray the cats with the fine mist of a water bottle and i think they hate me now
maybe ill just fill up the tub and toss them in
maybe ill just fill up the tub and toss them in
6
Yeah. Same goes for dog owners in cold weather. I've seen dogs tied up outside grocery stores when it's -10C, -15C outside, worse with wind chill. Sure, they're covered in fur, but when the wind whips up, it's not a friendly place to be.
7
Even worse - "green" dog owners leaving steaming piles of dog poo on their neighbors yards cause they don't want to use a plastic bag and it's "too hot".
But a lot of dogs have been whining and yelping in Fremont after their owners went to work and left them in a locked up tighter than a barn apartment/condo. Sheesh, at least open the windows on the top floors!
But a lot of dogs have been whining and yelping in Fremont after their owners went to work and left them in a locked up tighter than a barn apartment/condo. Sheesh, at least open the windows on the top floors!
8
@2 - you do realize that different breeds have different levels of activity needs, right? Some larger breeds are perfect apartment dogs.
Anyway, back to the hot weather - the dog owners who leave their dogs in cars in the summer are just asking for a tragedy. There was already a case on the news from last week when the weather wasn't nearly as bad as this in which a woman's 2 dogs died in her car while she was out shopping or something. I don't know how any dog owner can not know how dangerous that is.
Anyway, back to the hot weather - the dog owners who leave their dogs in cars in the summer are just asking for a tragedy. There was already a case on the news from last week when the weather wasn't nearly as bad as this in which a woman's 2 dogs died in her car while she was out shopping or something. I don't know how any dog owner can not know how dangerous that is.
9
Maybe D. Kaye should nail rambling notes (which may or may not be passive aggressive) written on massive pieces of poster board to the dogs instructing the owners on how to better take care of their pet.
10
My dog has currently found the one spot in the house where he can both lie in the sun and be next to an air conditioner vent. It's like he can't give up lying in the sun (his favorite activity), even though it's 101 outside.
Also, @2, it is possible to responsibly have a big dog in an apartment. We lived in an apartment in Chicago with an 85-lb dog, and because we took him on runs/to the dog park, etc., he didn't get any less exercise then than he gets now with a yard to run/play in.
Also, @2, it is possible to responsibly have a big dog in an apartment. We lived in an apartment in Chicago with an 85-lb dog, and because we took him on runs/to the dog park, etc., he didn't get any less exercise then than he gets now with a yard to run/play in.
11
Cato, shut up about what you don't know about.
My dogs are passed out in front of the fan in the back bedroom and refuse to get up for anything short of snacks. So's my spouse, come to think of it.
I went to school in the desert. I love the heat.
My dogs are passed out in front of the fan in the back bedroom and refuse to get up for anything short of snacks. So's my spouse, come to think of it.
I went to school in the desert. I love the heat.
12
@2, depends on how much time you are willing to put into walking and running your dog. If it's twice a day, then you will have one unhappy puppy. I live right near a park with some enclosed areas and my dog gets at least one long off-leash run (often 2) every day and a few walks on top of that. I am not in Seattle so maybe it's harder to find places to safely run a dog out there, but I doubt it. Honestly, ef you.
13
@7 - ewww. How do they think it's green to contaminate the local water with E. Coli and other fecal materials???
14
if i see your dog locked in your car on a hot day, i will break your car windows with a rock or a brick and call animal control to come and take away your dog.
15
@4: Yesterday I ended up just putting the cat in a bathtub with a few inches of cool water in it and pouring it over her. She was pissed, but she was also cooler than before (when she was laying in the one patch of sun in my 95 degree apartment). I'd much rather damage her pride by getting her wet against her will than have her get heatstroke. I think anyone who leaves their animals outside/chained up?in cars/without water on days like today should be gleefully shot and then left to die in the street.
16
Also, remember to consider other animals even when it's not really hot out by not eating or wearing them. Go vegan!
17
@14: you should at least wait a couple of minutes. i take my dog to work and left him in the car this morning for 5 minutes while i went into bartel's to see if they had any fans (they don't, duh). but the car was actually cooler than outside as i had already driven 10 minutes with the a/c on.
if some jackass had broken the window of my car i would have thrown the brick at his face.
if some jackass had broken the window of my car i would have thrown the brick at his face.
18
Serious question... where else would you leave your dog while you cool off in a restaurant? At home with no A/C, where it very well may be hotter inside than out? At least they got a walk and some breeze and possibly some shade on the sidewalk.
19
i'm with #14 - jp .... bust them out and call the cops!!
i don't even think you get in any trouble for it - honestly -
i don't even think you get in any trouble for it - honestly -
20
my cat refuses to go in the basement, and has been laying in the sun in the stifling living room. unless he's outside on the hot patio pavers. i told him he was stupid but he just stared at me.
21
@17 - of course, after waiting a few minutes. if someone's just in 7-11 buying a slurpee or whatever, then of course we'd not break in.
22
my dogs keep wanting to go out onto the deck and lay in the sun. one of them is a black lab! i let her do it for a few minutes and then insist that she come back inside where it's cool. when she gets to the door, she's soaked up so much heat i can hardly touch her. but then she lays on the tile eating ice cubes.
she's at it again right now, laying by the door, whining to go out ... but she just came in five minutes ago.
she's at it again right now, laying by the door, whining to go out ... but she just came in five minutes ago.
23
You know, my car (after the A/C has run for a few minutes) is far cooler than my house (no A/C -- thanks, cheapo builders! and hot wood floors) at this time of day.
So please eat shit, self-righteous dog douchebags.
So please eat shit, self-righteous dog douchebags.
24
I live in the desert with a small (14 lbs) dog. I let him out for fifteen minutes in the morning, and then we take a five mile walk every night, because its unconscionable to let him outside all day during the summer, even with shade. I had a neighbor in an apartment building once who had a rescued greyhound, and she went for 20 mile walks every evening. It is COMPLETELY possible to keep a dog in an apartment and healthy, as long as you can commit to taking SERIOUS walks at night (as opposed to vegging out in front of the TV or, you know, having a life)
25
I've been dipping my hand in ice water and then petting the cat--he's tolerating it, and has perked up quite a bit. Better long-term strategy than the bathtub, I think. Also planning on making catsicles out of chicken baby food today.
26
@2: Dude, while I get where you're coming from, here's what you need to know about dogs: They sleep all day. Literally. I have a fairly large home and a nice yard and when given the choice my dog wants to sleep inside all day long. It was true when I lived in an apartment and it's true now that she has a big home and yard to play in. Dogs come to life when their owners come home in the evening. Even when I'm home all day long my dog wants to sleep until the evening. So quit hating on the apartment dwellers, their dogs are happy with their walks.
27
Carollani - I work from home, and I can say you're absolutely right. My dog sleeps until at least noon. He gets up at 9 because that's when I give him breakfast, but then he conks out again.
The other thing is that my dog has literally no interest in being outside and playing unless I'm out there too. I'm not sure if that's his personality or breed, but that's what happens. So, the amount of time I have to spend exercising him is no different now (with yard) than before (no yard). I have to be throwing a ball with him or on a run in order for him to get exercise.
The other thing is that my dog has literally no interest in being outside and playing unless I'm out there too. I'm not sure if that's his personality or breed, but that's what happens. So, the amount of time I have to spend exercising him is no different now (with yard) than before (no yard). I have to be throwing a ball with him or on a run in order for him to get exercise.
29
How about we ban people who offer unsolicited advice to dog owners. The other day, I tied my dog up for 2 minutes to go into a convenience store to buy him bottled water. (That's right, I'll shell out $2 for bottled water for my dog.) When I got out two minutes later, 4 people (yes 4!) were waiting to tell me 'it's too hot for your dog.'
We were 3 blocks from home, but rather than waiting to get him water then, I stopped and bought him something I'd never even buy for myself (a $2 24oz water bottle.) When we got home, I rubbed him down with an ice pack in my 1 bedroom apartment that fits a 90lb dog quite fine, thanks.
I treat my dog better than #2 would treat his own child, I guarantee it.
So stop with the unsolicited advice. You don't know what's best for my dog, and you can't gauge a person's care for their dog off of a 30 second assessment on the street. I for one, will gladly call you out for being an idiot if any one of you so much as thinks about advising me on my dog. And if you're dumb enough about it, I might even have him piss on your leg.
We were 3 blocks from home, but rather than waiting to get him water then, I stopped and bought him something I'd never even buy for myself (a $2 24oz water bottle.) When we got home, I rubbed him down with an ice pack in my 1 bedroom apartment that fits a 90lb dog quite fine, thanks.
I treat my dog better than #2 would treat his own child, I guarantee it.
So stop with the unsolicited advice. You don't know what's best for my dog, and you can't gauge a person's care for their dog off of a 30 second assessment on the street. I for one, will gladly call you out for being an idiot if any one of you so much as thinks about advising me on my dog. And if you're dumb enough about it, I might even have him piss on your leg.
30
@23: How long you think the a/c coolness would last if you left the dog in the car? I'd give it 5 minutes, tops. Great for a quick run into the store, but not much else...
@29: arguably it's better to have dumbasses pester and question you than to have dumbasses let dogs die. I think a dog tied up outside for a minute is leagues above leaving a dog in a hot car, though. If people waited around for you, sounds like they weren't there long, ergo you weren't there long--so your annoyance is probably justified.
@29: arguably it's better to have dumbasses pester and question you than to have dumbasses let dogs die. I think a dog tied up outside for a minute is leagues above leaving a dog in a hot car, though. If people waited around for you, sounds like they weren't there long, ergo you weren't there long--so your annoyance is probably justified.
31
I also doused my cat with ice water. He actually tolerated it, but he's a maine coon and supposedly they don't mind water.
32
If you really want to get into it (I'm sure you don't), personal animal ownership in general wasteful and selfish.
The discussion of this is somewhat obvious, but people's emotional attachments and entitlements pretty much override/rationalize the actual economic or humane reasons against keeping a tamed beast in your apartment and making it follow you around as you please.
(not a PETA/animal rights/vegan nut)
The discussion of this is somewhat obvious, but people's emotional attachments and entitlements pretty much override/rationalize the actual economic or humane reasons against keeping a tamed beast in your apartment and making it follow you around as you please.
(not a PETA/animal rights/vegan nut)
33
Ooh, that's a good idea.
@32,
Cats and dogs are domesticated, not tamed. This is the life they and their ancestors have known for thousands of years. A tamed animal is an animal that was once wild and has been trained and/or beaten into submission.
As a crazy cat lady, I'm terribly worried about my cat in my convection oven apartment. But I left bowls of ice water for her and laid out some otter pops under towels in case she wants to lie on them. Although she gave me a "what the fuck are you doing" look while I was setting them up.
Also planning on making catsicles out of chicken baby food today.
Ooh, that's a good idea.
@32,
Cats and dogs are domesticated, not tamed. This is the life they and their ancestors have known for thousands of years. A tamed animal is an animal that was once wild and has been trained and/or beaten into submission.
As a crazy cat lady, I'm terribly worried about my cat in my convection oven apartment. But I left bowls of ice water for her and laid out some otter pops under towels in case she wants to lie on them. Although she gave me a "what the fuck are you doing" look while I was setting them up.
34
@32: You're doing a hell of an impression of one, though. You know fuck-all about the domestication of animals.
@Bethany: Publish the license plate number. People have a right to know who's abusing pets.
@Bethany: Publish the license plate number. People have a right to know who's abusing pets.
36
@32. I agree with you to a point that personal animal ownership is wasteful and selfish (in the same way that other personal decisions like "do I get a car" are). However, I would also say that there's a difference in the selfish-ness level between people who've gone to a breeder to get a pet (thus, indirectly, causing more animals to be created to satisfy their own wants) and people who have gone to a shelter (giving an animal a place to live, when the alternative might be death).
If there were no shelter dogs, then the decision to get a dog becomes much more of a selfish, personal wants-based decision. As it stands, there's a practical reality that you can have a pet while mitigating some of the negative impact of overpopulation or owners who don't/cant care for their animals.
If there were no shelter dogs, then the decision to get a dog becomes much more of a selfish, personal wants-based decision. As it stands, there's a practical reality that you can have a pet while mitigating some of the negative impact of overpopulation or owners who don't/cant care for their animals.
38
I saw a pooch locked in a car yesterday (the window was cracked but that didn't do shit to cool it down). After 15 minutes of waiting for the owner, I called the cops. They said unless the pooch was in distress (when I probed them further about that, they said distress meant that it was passed out and dying) that animal control couldn't do anything about. I told them the pooch was passed out and I had been there for almost twenty minutes and the cop finally transferred me to animal control. They told me unless the dog was in distress (ARGH!) that they couldn't do anything, despite me telling them all that is written above. It was extremely upsetting. I guess if the pooch is heavily panting on the floor of a car with tongue is lolling out of its mouth, trying to crawl under the car seat, that means the dog is not "in distress", according to Seattle Animal Control. I was obviously upset and the dispatcher was extremely patronizing and acting as if I was over reacting. On the hottest day in Seattle. Ever. WOW. They even hung up on me after I began questioning their response. I gave the pooch some of my bottles water through the crack in the window and waited until the owner came out. When I said something to her she got extremely offensive. She is lucky I didn't beat the shit out of her but it was pretty intense- a small crowd had gathered and several staff members from LA Fitness were getting involved with bitching her out as well. Poor little white fluffy dog!
So yeah, basically if you think animal control or SPD gives a shit about dogs dying from heat exhaustion, think again. I was in tears telling them about a dying doggy and they hung up in my fucking face. The brick is a better method.
So yeah, basically if you think animal control or SPD gives a shit about dogs dying from heat exhaustion, think again. I was in tears telling them about a dying doggy and they hung up in my fucking face. The brick is a better method.
39
@2 In regards to your statement about "dog owners, think that it's okay to keep a mid or large size dog in a fucking apartment all day since they go for a walk in the morning and afternoon. Dogs need to have a yard to play/run in during the day with shade and plenty of water."
First off, my dogs are part of my family, so they live in my house, with my family. (Just 4 months ago, my dwelling was an apartment.) To leave a dog outside in the yard to "play" by themselves is stupid...why leave them to swelter in the heat (or even the shade in the heat) to lay on the ground, only to get up to bark when neighbors pass by, when they can be enjoying the comforts of the couch or the doggie bed indoors, like the rest of the family?
Also, in regards to "Apartment owners with dogs are animal abusers. There I said it."
Do your research. Some dogs are bred for their lazy qualities, making them perfect dogs for apartment dwelling. People who leave their dogs outside in the yard 24 hours a day because they are "animals" and don't deserve the constant companionship of people are abusers. Those that leave their dogs in the yard in this kind of heat are the same dog owners who leave their dogs in cars and tied up outside while the humans go into air conditioned stores & restaurants for hours at a time. Also, if you're just judging by what you see as you walk by the situation, how do you know that the person didn't go inside for 1 minute? I frequently take my dogs with me when I run errands, and as long as I'm not inside for more than 5 minutes, I'll tie them up outside....otherwise, I'm probably going somewhere that I can bring them inside.
Cato the Younger Younger is an idiot. There I said it.
First off, my dogs are part of my family, so they live in my house, with my family. (Just 4 months ago, my dwelling was an apartment.) To leave a dog outside in the yard to "play" by themselves is stupid...why leave them to swelter in the heat (or even the shade in the heat) to lay on the ground, only to get up to bark when neighbors pass by, when they can be enjoying the comforts of the couch or the doggie bed indoors, like the rest of the family?
Also, in regards to "Apartment owners with dogs are animal abusers. There I said it."
Do your research. Some dogs are bred for their lazy qualities, making them perfect dogs for apartment dwelling. People who leave their dogs outside in the yard 24 hours a day because they are "animals" and don't deserve the constant companionship of people are abusers. Those that leave their dogs in the yard in this kind of heat are the same dog owners who leave their dogs in cars and tied up outside while the humans go into air conditioned stores & restaurants for hours at a time. Also, if you're just judging by what you see as you walk by the situation, how do you know that the person didn't go inside for 1 minute? I frequently take my dogs with me when I run errands, and as long as I'm not inside for more than 5 minutes, I'll tie them up outside....otherwise, I'm probably going somewhere that I can bring them inside.
Cato the Younger Younger is an idiot. There I said it.
40
@14
That. Is. Retarded.
There's a huge misconception that dogs, in their natural state, fucking jump after butterflys all day. No. Dogs, inside or out, are fucking bored. Dogs don't actually use yards to run and play. Check it out someday. Go by a house with an untethered dog in the backyard and observe how much playing there is other than charging the squirrels/cats/dogs/people that walk by.
Dogs want to be by their people more than anything. They're as social of animals as people, maybe moreso. Sharing time with your pet, like sharing time with your kids, is how to have a well (or better)-adjusted dog.
That. Is. Retarded.
There's a huge misconception that dogs, in their natural state, fucking jump after butterflys all day. No. Dogs, inside or out, are fucking bored. Dogs don't actually use yards to run and play. Check it out someday. Go by a house with an untethered dog in the backyard and observe how much playing there is other than charging the squirrels/cats/dogs/people that walk by.
Dogs want to be by their people more than anything. They're as social of animals as people, maybe moreso. Sharing time with your pet, like sharing time with your kids, is how to have a well (or better)-adjusted dog.
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