Now, the penal code is clear: Thou shalt not leave an animal in a car.
Legal folks have worked to further define that. Who hasn’t stopped by the dry cleaners to pick up cleaning on the way back from the vet?  Clearly, the animal is within sight. The windows are down. And the owner will be returning momentarily. (Even this is scary for me after I passed out during a shopping errand. You really never know IF you’re making it back to your car. So keep that in mind when bringing your pet along for the ride.)

However, this animal was in a parked car. with the windows barely cracked.  on a hot day. with no shade. and the only place to enter was the Pet Expo, not someplace you just run into.

I have written letters to the event venue and the PD asking them to review and make changes to how they respond to calls re: Penal code 597.

Do you take your pet with you? How would you have addressed this situation?

Personally, I don’t think Michael Vick should ever be responsible for the well-being of an animal again. First, his intentions are wrong. He wants to show people that he’s changed, not that he wants to improve the life of an animal. He just wants an animal in his household.  

Second, his daughters should know that their father did unspeakably cruel thing to dogs, and because of that cruel, intentional choice he cannot own animals again…ever.   When his daughters are old enough to live on their own and choose to have animals, they can have them. 

I agree with Los Angeles sports announcer Roger Lodge when he said, “I’ll believe Michael Vick is truly repentant when he donates 90% of his annual income (salary and endorsements) to the ASPCA.” I’d like to add Dogtown, U.S.A., the rescue that took in the Vick’s victims, to that.  In my mind, if Vick was truly on the right track, he’d accept fiscal responsiblity for the dogs he caused irreparable harm to.

As for the daughters of Vick, I am truly sorry that their father made such a horrible choice.  I’ve heard people say, “Well, it’s not like he was carrying weapons or assaulting women.”  To that I say: Human beings have recourse. Animals and children do not. They rely on adults to stand in the gap for them when evil people harm them.”

I think it would appropriate for the Vick daughters to get involved with animal programs where the animal is under someone else’s care, e.g. riding lessons, volunteering at an animal shelter, working adoption events.   That way they can gain a respect for animals from people who truly care about the animals and the children, not now it looks to one’s adoring, yet myopic, fans.

Thanks to Overboard creator Chip Dunham for issuing these very important pet care reminders.

I LOVE THIS CARTOON! It’s been on my refrigerator since it ran in my local paper on 07/31/07. Chip Dunham, the artist, periodically issues these reminders to pet owners who travel with their pets. Thanks, Chip!

I encourage you to check out his work… and if you like it, ask your local paper to carry OVERBOARD!

http://www.gocomics.com/overboard/2007/07/31

“The Animal Legal Defense Fund is working to ensure that convicted animal abusers are exposed and prevented from harming new victims by promoting model legislation to establish an animal abuser registry in every community across America.”

FOLLOW THE LINK TO ADD YOUR VOICE AND LEARN MORE!  http://www.exposeanimalabusers.org/