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Friday, May 20, 2016

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Day-Time

I'm not usually one to get on a soapbox but here goes.

So this happened a little over an hour and a half ago, and it pissed me off. 

I park in the same spot at school every day because I’m a creature of habit.  Today was no different.  However, I remembered there were nursing practicals so those students had rolled in very early.  Naturally, my spot was taken.  But that wasn’t why I was pissed off.

I found a nice spot—two rows back.  For those of you who don’t know, parking where I work is limited.  Even if you arrive before 8:30, it’s possible to find all spots in all lots taken.  I’m usually there by 7:00 so I can read the paper, then do my crossword and Sudoku.  I walk into work around 8. 

Some background on today, though. I have a tall schedule to fill.  I’m helping out with student assessments and had seven, 8-page papers to read and grade based.  I have meetings at the Stanton campus later, and then have to come back to Wilmington.  Rather than do the crossword and Sudoku, I decided to save them as something to do after work tonight.  I thought I’d get an early start on the assessments, so I walked in a half-hour earlier than I usually do.

I crossed the street, walked in, and greeted our public safety officer.  He immediately got up and walked over to me.

Officer: Jack, I’ve been trying to call your office for the past twenty minutes. Why’d you do that?

Me: Do what?

Officer: You have a dog, right?  In your car?

Me: No.  Why?

Officer: You have a brown Nissan Pathfinder, right?  And I know you park in that same spot every day because we’ve talked about it.

Me: Well, actually today someone was in that spot so I parked in a different one.

Officer (walking out the door with me, pointing to the car in my usual spot): That’s your car, right?

Me: Looks like it, but like I I had to park in a different one because that person was already there.

Officer: And you don’t have a dog with you on campus?

Me: No.

Officer: Well, someone does and it’s in that car in your spot. 

Me: Oh my God. Are the windows open?

Officer (looking): No. [Calls for backup].  Uh, yeah, we need to find the owner of that car ASAP and if we can't...Jack, thanks.  I'll talk to you later.

I then went on my way once I determined they were going to either find the owner or break the car window. 

So what really pissed me off was that someone who had their practical exam (exams that run from like 7-10 or maybe later) had locked a dog in their car with no windows down.  The car was in the sun.  Even though it felt a little chilly outside, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the car’s internal temperature with no windows down is going to rise pretty quickly.  I read once that even on like a 60 degree day (like today) a car's internal temperature in the sun can reach 100 degrees.  

So, my question is, who the hell does that? Seriously, what is wrong with you?  I understand if you couldn’t get someone to watch your dog that early, but a) at least leave the windows down so the dog doesn’t get heat stroke and b) why not mention it to public safety? 

Ask them to check on your dog periodically?  Obviously any pet owners can insert suggestions--just thinking off the top of my head.

Instead, you selfishly took your exams without giving any thought to this poor dog.  That pisses me off.

And you who did this wants to be a nurse?  Really?   Working with humans?   You can't even take care of your pet properly.