So I was at the police station about to get my criminal record check done and I noticed that in the van parked beside me, a dog was shut inside. The windows were up, and the sun was out. Now I know it's not the hottest day today (25C is supposed to be the high, so it was probably about 23 at the time) but that is still hot enough for the vehicle to heat up rather quickly.
I always feel sorry for animals shut up inside cars. They can't open the window or door to cool off, and plus they are wearing a fur coat! How would we feel in that situation? Everyone knows not to leave an animal in the car during a sunny summer day.
It's not the first time I have seen this. Nor, I'm sure, will it be the last. But I've never had the guts before to really do anything about it. I'm not a trouble maker, or shit-disturber. I'm really rather a wimp. I avoid confrontation at all costs. So the thought of approaching some stranger and having words with them over this issue makes me feel a little sick and weak-kneed. Even if it is in defense of something completely defenseless.
And so my conclusion was that this time I wasn't going to be a wuss about it. I was going to "woman up" and do something about it this time. I went inside the station, and approached the desk.
Friendly-looking officer - "Can I help you?"
Me - "Well, you see I came in for my record check, and there's a dog completely shut up inside a van beside me..."
Officer - Stoney silence.
Me - Feeling rather awkward and uncomfortable.
"So, err, I was wondering if you could
Officer - "He'll be alright, no one's been in here that long."
Me - Feeling incredibly stupid and meddling by this point. I mumbled something about how I just felt sorry for the animal and went on my way.
So that's my heroic effort and how it went down. Never again will I try that. I felt so idiotic. Not to mention I'm sure the guy who owned the van heard every word and probably felt pretty smug about it. He was probably thinking, stupid cow, who does she think she is anyway?
So I'm wondering if everyone else would have done the same, or left it? Would you have carried it further, or slunk away with your proverbial tail between your legs like me?
WHAT?! The officer actually did that? Wow. I thought it was illegal to have kids or pets in a vehicle with the windows up (heck, just leaving young kids alone in a vehicle is likely illegal).
ReplyDeleteYou did the right thing. The officer ... not so much. Perhaps it was the "I came in for my criminal check" part. The officer might have thought the wrong thing of you instead, hence the stoney silence.
Very weird. If it was me, I'd be tempted to call the station back, hoping the same cop wasn't at the desk, and complain about the poor customer service or something along with the original issue. But I also have a hard time letting things go.
"He'll be alright, no one's been in here that long" ... that has me shaking my head. THAT'S NOT THE POINT!
At least now you can rightfully think, "what a pig" about a cop ;)
No offence to any police officers reading my past sentence above ... It was only meant in jest!
ReplyDelete:)
I am exactly like you, very non-confrontational. I would have said something just as you did, and also would have shrunk away in defeat, just as you did. I don't think he was right to say that. Maybe he was right, the dog would be fine, it hadn't been that long, BUT, what about the NEXT time, when it's hotter, and the owner goes somewhere longer??
ReplyDeleteWhat an ass. Apparently you needed to contact the humane society instead of the police. I love Cindy's comment and her second one. Hee, hee.
ReplyDeleteLisaDay