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harrisonsdream
08-06-2007, 11:25 AM
Dear Abby
Leaving dogs in hot cars considered cruel


By ABBY
Universal Press Syndicate


Dear Abby:

For the second time this week, I saw a dog left in a car while its owner went shopping. Please remind your readers that anything more than 70 degrees — or even 65 on a sunny day — can mean that the inside of a car will quickly climb to more than 100 degrees!

The dog today, an adorable pug, was panting desperately against the window, which had not even been cracked a couple of inches in an attempt to do the right thing. The car had a couple of doggie decals on it, as if the owners believed themselves to be animal lovers!

Please also let your readers know it's OK to leave a polite note on a car, telling the owner that it's too hot to leave a dog in a car, and to alert the manager of the store (if they know which one) so an announcement can be made that there is a dog in distress. It's worth the extra minute to try to courteously educate and alert the careless animal owner.

NO DOGS IN THE CAR AFTER MEMORIAL DAY

Dear No Dogs:

Thank you for your important message. I spoke with Capt. David Havard of the Los Angeles SPCA, who kindly provided the following information: "Leaving a dog in a car can be considered neglect or abuse. There are laws governing cruelty to animals, and enforcement of those laws would fall under local jurisdiction."

So, readers, if you see a pet left in a parked car, the first thing to do would be to alert security personnel for the parking lot. And if the lot has no security personnel on duty, notify the police. Leaving a note on the offender's car is not enough because the poor animal could be dead by the time the owner returns.

Dear Abby:

Last year, for our 13th anniversary, I bought my wife a pair of diamond earrings (about 1 total carat). The only thing I did not mention was that they were man-made diamonds and cost only about one-fourth of the real thing.

Abby, she lost the earrings on a recent trip and is heartbroken. I hate to see her feel this guilty. I want to tell her the truth, but I'm torn because I don't want her to think I'm cheap for getting her man-made diamonds instead of real ones.

TO TELL OR NOT TO TELL in Houston

Dear To Tell Or Not To Tell:

There is a way for you to expiate your guilt. Buy your wife another pair of earrings — and this time make them the real thing. (P.S. Because of your wife's track record, be smart and insure them.)

texasgal
08-06-2007, 12:34 PM
okay... so the dogs in hot cars part... i've always seem them in cars with the windows partially down and never thought more about it. but i don't have a dog so i don't take one with me and haven't needed to think about it for myself. nice to know someone is looking out for the dogs :).
the earrings thing... you'd think she keep up with them better if she thinks they were costly! but what kind of woman is she that her husband is afraid to tell her the truth? he's honestly afraid she'll think he's cheap? doesn't sound like he entended to be cheap...maybe that was in the budget and nothing more. what he should tell her is that he was looking out for the exploited diamond miners in other countries and wanted to be "socially responsible." i think that would work better...

DakotaCowgirl
08-06-2007, 02:39 PM
I consider that abuse and they shouldn't be allowed to have pets!

As for the diamonds, I would just get her another pair. I would also rather have the truth then anything though.

harrisonsdream
08-06-2007, 02:43 PM
I consider that abuse and they shouldn't be allowed to have pets!

As for the diamonds, I would just get her another pair. I would also rather have the truth then anything though.

yep. it's one thing if you are getting gas and your dog is in the car but it is quite another if you are parked at the grocery store and your dog is in the car. a couple times on the way home from the vet or the petstore with cosby i was going to stop at the commissary but it was too warm so i dropped him off at home and left again. he needs to tell her the truth about the diamond earrings.