Get The Law Right!!

I was shocked when I was approach about this article.

It happened July 3 2009 in the afternoon the temperature was 35 C. My parents went to Osoyoos BC and they always bring their dog with them. They have been doing this for over eight years. The police have never ever approached them. This was a first. The police office was young and looked like he was new to the police force. My parents have always left the air conditioner on for their dog when it is hot out so that their pet does not get sick or killed from the heat. They have a dark van so it gets very hot in their vehicle. The young police office did not seem to care he just said leave your dog at home or just leave the windows open and if he saw their vehicle again running he would double the fine witch would come to $210 dollars. Even with the window partly open a dog can die from being cooked to death. A dog in a car with the window opened can still die. With tempature of as low as 72 degrees. According to Researchers a cars interior temperatures can heat up by average of 40 degrees within an hour. With 80% of the increase in the first 30 minutes. A window a crack open provides little relief from this oven effect. This research was done by the Stanford researchers. I know this for a fact because I receive a letter every month from animal rescue 911. This year alone so far in Okanagan BCSPCA officers have responded to more then 50 “hot Dog’ and more then 200 complaints across BC. Every year 100s of dogs die in vehicles because of heat. They basically get cooked to death. My parents bring their dog with them every where for many reasons. Some People where starting to use their heads. They would leave the air conditioner on for their pets. Now they are being told they can not do that any more. Now more dogs will end up dieing do to this law that you are not aloud to leave your vehicle running.

Every one say leave your dog at home. The problem is some people have dogs that need a lot of care. For Example my parents had a dog that was blind and if they left him at home alone he would start to panic. He would do every thing in his power to get out of the house. So they could not leave him at home. Another example was there was this older couple who dog was getting up in years. They also brought their dog with them every where. The husband worked for the SPCA of Alberta. Some people who do not have air conditions at home bring their dog with them because they have it in their vehicles. Some people even have dog that need medication that they bring with them. That way if they are not at home when their pet needs the medicine. They have their pet with them so they can make sure their pet get the medicine that they need. People who have ageing or sick dogs or other pets can not afford to have a baby setter come in. Trust me pet baby setters do not come cheap especially if they need to give them medicine. I have had pets all my life and I have done a lot to keep my pets healthy and safe. That includes giving them medication. And so have my parents and many other pet lovers.

The Officer started talking about the O-Zone at the same time a person came walking out of the real east office. He lit a cigarette right away in front of the door. According to BC law you can not light a cigarette in front of any business you must be at least 30 meters away from the door. The office did not say a word to this person. He just kept talking to my parents. He saw the person. My parent became very upset and tried to talk to the office but he would not listen so my mom came to me.

The crazy think about all this is there is another law in BC that if a by-law officer see animal in a vehicle and the animal is in trouble because of the heat. He has the right if the owner is no were to be seen, to mash the window to help the animal.

What about our children that are old enough to say they what to stay in the vehicle. You are not aloud to have your air conditioner on for them. We really need to take a look at the laws better. Lets get the laws right. People need to have their vehicle running for the air conditioner to work. We have many laws I think we need to look into.

By J Fraser