| Don't use your car as a microwave oven | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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Many people this time of year get a major case of the duh's. They forget that their pets are not stuffed toys and they breathe air just as they do. You cannot leave your pet in your car while you eat lunch or have your facial hair waxed. I have heard many stories about people who have left their pets in the car while they went shopping, or just used the car as a doghouse while they watched their favorite dopey soap opera. It is against the law to leave your pet in the car while you are out shopping or having your brain tuned or for any other reason. Your car becomes an oven in about 20 minutes in even the most mild of summer temperatures. On days when it is over 85 degrees, it takes only 10 minutes before an animal goes into distress because of the heat. This can vary by the type of dog, its age, or its weight, as well as whether or not you left the window open a crack. Just last week, I heard that someone left their basset hound and long-haired dachshund in the car. To top it all off, all the windows were completely rolled up. When the two brain scientists came out of the store, it was determined that they were having lunch and had lost track of time. These people no doubt care and love their animals, it's just that people can get a case of the duh's. When they were questioned, they were both obviously upset and they both realized they were just plain wrong. Hopefully they will never do it again. It is sad because this type of thing happens every day and people sometimes pay the extreme price when they find their pet dead in the car because they could not handle the extreme heat build-up. People have to realize how fast a car can heat up and if they think this is an exaggeration, they should go into their car when it's over 80 degrees outside, park it in a lot out of the shade and then turn it off. While they sit there with the windows up sweating their brains out, it will be no time before they reach for the air conditioning knob. You have to remember that people have the ability to understand temperature changes and why it happens.and that we can end the situation by simply turning the air up. Animals, however, will just go into a panic. It is just plain common sense and as pet owners and responsible human beings, we must step up to the plate if we want to own and take responsibility for another living creature. Many times people tell me that they bring their pets in the car with them because they do not have the heart to leave them at home. I say, do your pets a favor; they would rather be left alone at home and sit in an air-conditioned house or at least a house that is breathable than be boiled alive in the Beamer or the Cadillac Seville, while you, as I said before, have your facial hair waxed or shop for your pool party. If leaving the dog home alone is not an option because he destroys the house when unattended, consider buying a large animal crate. This works well when the dog is alone. If this does not work for you, try putting up a good dog run outside with a proper doghouse as well. If none of what I suggested seems like a good idea to you, then give up your pet for adoption, you do not deserve to have it. A rock in your case would do just fine as a pet. Grandmaster Buddy Amato operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy, 589 Palmer Avenue, West Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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