[Maven]

What is wrong with some people? This past weekend, my boyfriend and I stopped at a Cracker Barrel to eat. We had just come from the local bird store in the area, where my bf and I like to visit the birds. The car right next to us had live birds in cages (I think there were three cages, but at least two that I could see for sure), with the windows most of the way up! It was freakin' HOT that day! No pet should be left inside a hot car like that; having the window cracked is NOT ENOUGH! My bf was ticked off about it, too.

On top of the heat and health issue, it's just stupid: These birds are exotics--one was an eclectus parrot, and I'm not sure what the other I saw was, but it was an exotic, too; there may have been more than two birds in there, but the other possible cage was covered partially--and worth hundreds, even thousands, of dollars! It wouldn't be hard for someone to break into the car to steal them.

I should have copied their license plate number and reported them to the local SPCA, but I didn't think of it until after we went into the restaurant, probably because I'd only had three hours of sleep that day and my brain wasn't fully functional. In any case, I told two girls at the counter, who looked at me like, "What do you want us to do about it?" and my boyfriend told the waitress to tell a manager. I don't know if anything was done, but the car was gone when we went back out. If it had still been there, I'd have gotten that license plate.

[Kiya]

hope the birds weren't stolen...

but yea, i don't know why people don't think about the heat, cars and their pets/babies

[AAAAA]

I agree with you some people are idiots! I would have called the police, there was nothing that the employees at cracker barrel could do. Cruelty to animals is a crime. Granted the penatly is too light in my opinion, but a crime none the less.

Earlier this summer a co-worker, in her late 40's btw (old enough to know better), got a kitten. She did not want to pay the pet deposit in her apartment so in her mind (there is no logic here what-so-ever) instead of smuggling the thing in and leaving it there, she put it in her backpack and brought it to work everyday and left it in her flippin car and intended to do so all summer long!

I didn't know any of this until she stormed up to me demanding to know if I called the police on her. What an odd statement, what would I be complaining about exactly? She explained the situation (expecting sympathy) and I said that I wished I could take credit for it and I would have had I known what she was doing. That whole week the coolest it ever was 87, her car was parked in the sun, the window opened just a crack. That car was like an oven!

[Sabrina]

I see it often with dogs. No water, windows all the way up and very hot conditions. There have even been reports of animals dying like this. It is just plain ignorant. I don't undertand that anyone with any little bit of logic or common sense can do something like this.

[yupitsme]

That makes me so mad!! I see it done all the time with animals and KIDS!! People are idiots! I have an umbrella cockatoo.. and if she were left in any condition like that, you'd hear it!! They were probably thinking it was ok, because most exotic birds love the heat.. They may love it, but being in a car like that will kill them ..
Sorry you had to see that

[Naturefreak]

Some people have no sense !!!

Thank God most of us do .

Makes me to call myself one sometimes .

Ignorance , idiots , stupidity those are ALL a good choice of words.

[Pomegranate]

OMG!! How can people be soooooo thoughtless? Do they think animals are any different from people when it comes to care? They should lock these people in a hot care with just the windows cracked for a bit so they get an idea of what's it's like! Both these stories about the birds and the kitten are horrible.

GrrrrrRRrrRrr.

That makes me EXCEPTIONALLY angry!

Yes, exotic birds like the heat. HOWEVER. In their natural environments, they are able to FLY to cool off, Sand bathe, water bathe, roost in trees, get the wind, and drink lots of water! That does NOT equal being left in a hot car.

When a pet is in a hot car, even with the windows down that car can reach 120 degrees and im willing to bet more than that depending on how hot it is. Its like a greenhouse, everything is magnified.

dont even get me started about the type of people that would love to steal those birds to sell illegally or god forbid it even fight them(yes - that mostly happens with roosters but people do fight other types of birds for FUN. FUn?!?! whats fun about seeing animals fighting. Scares the crap out of me!) Really, take them home first, get them settled, THEN go for dinner.

Personally If you remember anything about the car, I'd STILL call the SPCA and report it. They may not be able to do anything but they may also be able to check the customer list from that store if they were purchased there and locate them.

I wish ppl would know that animals need to be treated with care and like a person.
It makes me sad not angry......Maybe more needs to be put out there in the world about animals and being left in a car. Sometimes I wonder if maybe ppl just are not thinking with thier pets.

[Elysium]

There is nothing that gets my blood boiling faster than seeing or knowing that an animal is locked up in a car on a hot day, even if the windows are cracked!! This should never happen!!!

I am a strong advocate for animal rights!! I am not very patient when it comes to neglectful people. I have done it before and I will do it again if I shall ever come across another situation like it.

I found a puppy...it was only 16 weeks old and it was locked in a car that was in the parking lot of a grocery store. The windows were cracked slightly, but there was no water for the pup. The outside of the car was BLAZIN' hot so I figured it had been sitting there for a bit. The poor baby was panting and breathing really hard. I went into the store and told the people at the customer service desk that someone had left their lights on and I gave them the license plate # and asked them to overhead page. I headed back out to the car and waited for about 10 minutes. When they didn't come, I called the police. The dispatcher said it would be a while before police would arrive but that she would send them out. I was so angry by this time, I went around and tried all the doors. They were all locked up of course.

I waited another 10 minutes and no police or person claiming the animal. By now the dog was crouched down on the floor boards in the back seat and other people had started to crowd around the car...all about as pissed as I was. I was crying. Because I drive near and over rivers, I carry a car hammer with me in my car so that in the event of a water landing, I can bust a window and get out. I snapped....got my car hammer, busted out the drivers side front window and unlocked the car and let the dog out. Someone there had a gallon of water and there was a bowl that came from someone else. We gave the dog water and the poor thing drank almost the entire gallon.

Police finally arrived after about 35 minutes. I told them what had taken place and the witnesses told them too. Eventually, the driver of the vehicle came out and was pissed about what was going on. Tried to have me arrested for breaking and entering and the cops said that if they wanted to press charges on me and have me arrested that that was fine, but they would also arrest them for cruelty to animals...otherwise they could just go about their day and take the sitation.

Needless to say, I didn't get arrested. Would I do it again? Yup.....but only if I felt the animal was in urgent danger and I wasn't able to get a response from the owners!!

[(JD)]

Wow. In Florida it's against the law to leave animals unattended in a car, windows open or not!

[Elysium]

Yeah...

I'm not sure if it's illegal here in Oregon....but it should be!!

[Maven]

Thanks for all your replies. We'll be letting the bird store in the area know when we next visit, since it's highly likely the birds came from them. I'll also ask my boyfriend what details he remembers, since his memory is better than mine, and pass info the local SPCA; even if they can't do anything now, at least they'll have some information if the car matches a description to a future report.

The "car hammer" thing is a good idea; I hadn't thought of something like that. Even though you have it because you're often near water, it's a good idea also if I should ever need to break into a car to rescue an animal or child (yes, I'd have no qualms about doing so). When I was a kid, I was left in hot cars often, and when I was a teen, my mom told me I couldn't come into the unemployment office with her because they didn't allow kids in there. I thought that was odd, because I'd see kids coming and going from there. Outside, it would often be in the 90's. You can imagine the car had to be well over 100 degrees. One day, when my dad was sitting in the car with me, he said it was too hot to stay in the car, so we should go inside. I explained to him that kids aren't allowed in there, and he said that wasn't true, and took me inside. The air conditioning was such a relief, and other kids were in there, too. I still don't know why my mom did it.

[birdmom3]

I have three parakeets. Before I moved here we had 2 birds. We made sure to park the car out of the sun and when we made stops for food we parked away from the sun under a tree. We left the window open a crak to let air in. the birds were fine. Birdmom3

Originally Posted by Maven

What is wrong with some people? This past weekend, my boyfriend and I stopped at a Cracker Barrel to eat. We had just come from the local bird store in the area, where my bf and I like to visit the birds. The car right next to us had live birds in cages (I think there were three cages, but at least two that I could see for sure), with the windows most of the way up! It was freakin' HOT that day! No pet should be left inside a hot car like that; having the window cracked is NOT ENOUGH! My bf was ticked off about it, too.

On top of the heat and health issue, it's just stupid: These birds are exotics--one was an eclectus parrot, and I'm not sure what the other I saw was, but it was an exotic, too; there may have been more than two birds in there, but the other possible cage was covered partially--and worth hundreds, even thousands, of dollars! It wouldn't be hard for someone to break into the car to steal them.

I should have copied their license plate number and reported them to the local SPCA, but I didn't think of it until after we went into the restaurant, probably because I'd only had three hours of sleep that day and my brain wasn't fully functional. In any case, I told two girls at the counter, who looked at me like, "What do you want us to do about it?" and my boyfriend told the waitress to tell a manager. I don't know if anything was done, but the car was gone when we went back out. If it had still been there, I'd have gotten that license plate.

[Indie'sOK]

I hope the birds were ok. If there's anything I can't stand to see, it's neglectful owners. Not just by keeping pets locked inside a car, but owners that beat their animals, or don't feed them, or train their animals to fight. I know that I personally spoil my pets My lazy (but lovable) cats are my babys, and so are my guinea pigs. I don't understand why people even bother to have pets if they can't or don't want to take care of them

[AAAAA]

I agree with you entirely Indie, I'd add that I just want to go postal when people tie their dog up outside in the extreme heat with no shade or water all day. OR in the winter (it gets very cold here) with no shelter.

When my dad was alive he was the chief of police in my hometown and actually took these things seriously. There was some drama when he gave my cousin a ticket for animal cruelty. She had a little yorkie that she'd leave tied up outside without shelter for hours at a time at -20F.

Since his death that dog froze to death and just a couple of weeks ago another person in town had another dog die of heat stroke. The man that took over his job had decided that how owners treat their pets is their own business. It's still illegal but you have to get the county to come down.

[babydoll233]

Thank God you were there!!! Some people are complete idiots! that poor lil puppie!!! you saved him I hope he is with another owner....

[Maven]

Birdmom, these birds were not parked in the shade. And, as I said, these were very expensive birds, so the temptation for stealing is increased.

[(JD)]

Just a note about using a car hammer... be sure to think about where the glass is going when you break the window. Try breaking one on the opposite side and area (front/back) of the child...or animal.

[amandalouise]

You might want to check with your police department. I saw on the news the other night that some places are making it illegal for people to rescue animals from vehicles just because they think the animal is in danger. On the news this lady tried to rescue a pug (dog) and got arrested. and got jail time all for helping an animal. They said if we see an animal in a vehicle to call 911 and the police will come and rescue the animal, take it to their station and call the owners giving them so much time to come retrieve their pet. if no one comes to claim the pet it goes to the animal shelter for evaluation and adoption.

[Maven]

Thanks for that info, amanda, but I have to say: If an animal is so overheated its life is in danger, and minutes if not seconds will make all the difference, I don't see why it should be different to attempt to save it vs. a child.