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Be careful not to roast Fido this summer
Part of the job of being editor is dealing with blowback. Blowback is when an item in the paper ultimately comes back to haunt me. Often, we send stories out there expecting certain people to be upset. Frequently, nothing happens, but when it does, I'm prepared. But, what happens with even more disturbing frequency is blowback from unexpected sources.
Such was the response to a photo that ran in the July 20 issue on page 12. The picture was of a dog sitting in the cab of a pickup. The window was down, but the dog's tongue was hanging out. I have to admit that when I first saw it, I wasn't worried about the dog. All I could think was that I needed another feature photo and this one would do nicely as most normal people love dogs and dog photos. I stuck it on the page and moved on to finish the paper before deadline.
It was not long after I got to work the next morning that the complaints started. How could we print a picture of a black dog in a black truck on a hot July day? Couldn't we see the animal was in distress?
At first, I backpedaled. The window was open all the way. The truck appeared to be in the shade. The owner said he wouldn't be gone long. But as the day wore on, I realized I should not have printed the photo. I didn't know if the animal was uncomfortable. I didn't know if it had water. And I didn't know if the owner really planned to return soon.
Mea culpa. I realized that I would never have left either of my dogs in a similar situation and certainly don't advocate anyone else doing it. This time of year, our dogs stay home in the air-conditioned house unless they are out fertilizing the lawn; and those trips, especially at midday, are brief. They get their big walk of the day at 8 p.m., and sometimes it's still pretty hot then, but at least the sun is nearly down. Some evenings we'll drive down to Fernandina for a walk on the beach, but there they can take a dip if they get overheated.
And if you really want to see how your dog feels, slip on a fur coat tomorrow and then stand outside for a while during the afternoon. Try to cool off just by panting.
So please, don't leave your dog in a car this summer, even with the windows open and even if water is provided. It's just too risky. It might be acceptable to leave your dog in the car if it's on and the air-conditioning is on full blast, but that leaves another problem -- theft. If you read this week's police blotter, you'll notice both incidences of auto theft were made easy by the keys being in the vehicle. Until it cools off, leave your pets at home.
Heat is not the only summer danger that your dog faces:
· All dogs should be on preventative medication for heartworms and to prevent fleas and ticks.
· Pesticides and lawn care products can be harmful or fatal, so read the label and keep your pet out of the neighbor's yard. (Your neighbor will appreciate it if your pet isn't leaving dog bombs in his yard, anyway.) I was reading the label on the fire ant killer I bought the other day and saw that it works through the inhibition of the enzyme cholinesterase -- just like the chemical in deadly Sarin gas. A few licks and bye-bye, puppy.
· And no matter what the weather or season, it's very dangerous to let a dog ride in the bed of a pickup.
Finally, get your pet spayed or neutered. Just go down to the animal shelter to see why.
(Jonathan Maziarz is the editor of the Tribune & Georgian and a regular Friday columnist.)
Such was the response to a photo that ran in the July 20 issue on page 12. The picture was of a dog sitting in the cab of a pickup. The window was down, but the dog's tongue was hanging out. I have to admit that when I first saw it, I wasn't worried about the dog. All I could think was that I needed another feature photo and this one would do nicely as most normal people love dogs and dog photos. I stuck it on the page and moved on to finish the paper before deadline.
It was not long after I got to work the next morning that the complaints started. How could we print a picture of a black dog in a black truck on a hot July day? Couldn't we see the animal was in distress?
At first, I backpedaled. The window was open all the way. The truck appeared to be in the shade. The owner said he wouldn't be gone long. But as the day wore on, I realized I should not have printed the photo. I didn't know if the animal was uncomfortable. I didn't know if it had water. And I didn't know if the owner really planned to return soon.
Mea culpa. I realized that I would never have left either of my dogs in a similar situation and certainly don't advocate anyone else doing it. This time of year, our dogs stay home in the air-conditioned house unless they are out fertilizing the lawn; and those trips, especially at midday, are brief. They get their big walk of the day at 8 p.m., and sometimes it's still pretty hot then, but at least the sun is nearly down. Some evenings we'll drive down to Fernandina for a walk on the beach, but there they can take a dip if they get overheated.
And if you really want to see how your dog feels, slip on a fur coat tomorrow and then stand outside for a while during the afternoon. Try to cool off just by panting.
So please, don't leave your dog in a car this summer, even with the windows open and even if water is provided. It's just too risky. It might be acceptable to leave your dog in the car if it's on and the air-conditioning is on full blast, but that leaves another problem -- theft. If you read this week's police blotter, you'll notice both incidences of auto theft were made easy by the keys being in the vehicle. Until it cools off, leave your pets at home.
Heat is not the only summer danger that your dog faces:
· All dogs should be on preventative medication for heartworms and to prevent fleas and ticks.
· Pesticides and lawn care products can be harmful or fatal, so read the label and keep your pet out of the neighbor's yard. (Your neighbor will appreciate it if your pet isn't leaving dog bombs in his yard, anyway.) I was reading the label on the fire ant killer I bought the other day and saw that it works through the inhibition of the enzyme cholinesterase -- just like the chemical in deadly Sarin gas. A few licks and bye-bye, puppy.
· And no matter what the weather or season, it's very dangerous to let a dog ride in the bed of a pickup.
Finally, get your pet spayed or neutered. Just go down to the animal shelter to see why.
(Jonathan Maziarz is the editor of the Tribune & Georgian and a regular Friday columnist.)
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