I had occasion to witness something very disturbing on June 17. I was leaving the Parksville Medical Clinic and heard a dog barking.
I looked around and saw a dog in a hot car. The windows were halfway down but it was hot out. I called the SPCA and waited for them to arrive, which they did within 15 minutes and they determined the temperature inside the car was 33C. The dog was OK and the people came back and were warned of the dangers of leaving a dog even for a short time in a hot car.
While it was upsetting to see this, that was not the disturbing part. While I sat there waiting for the SPCA, no less than 10 people walked by and saw this dog in the car and did nothing.
I am saddened that we don’t feel the need to help an animal in a potentially dangerous situation. We need to do the right thing to help the helpless. I am very sure that just as many people ignored the six Abottsford dogs’ cries for help and we all know how that ended.
Don’t wait for someone else to do the right thing — it could cost the life of an innocent creature, who only wanted to go for a car ride with its family.
Melissa Campbell
Qualicum Beach