Kisses Don't Lie

Good With His Hands

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What in my world is going on…

Summer is just around the corner and that means….

Hot, sultry nights, and sun-drenched days.  Yes, I’ll finally be able to venture out of my cave and get back to gardening, beachcombing, and hiking with my two yellow Labrador retrievers.  My dogs love the sun as much as I do, but, alas, they have little pea brains when it comes to the heat.  They’ll lie out on the lounge chairs with their tongues hanging out of their mouths and I, unable to watch them suffer, will have to go out and make them move into the shade.  I love them, after all.  And because they are so precious to me, I never!!! leave them in my car when the sun is shining.  Not for a minute…not in the shade…not with the windows cracked…never!

I know, I know, there are days when the sun is out, but it’s not that warm—perhaps a mere 50 degrees (according to your car’s nifty temperature thingy), barely warm enough to wear short sleeves.  But consider this…you’re sitting in the car/truck/SUV, waiting for your lover/husband/significant other, while he’s in Home Depot buying a hose connector that he swears will make your life so much easier (i.e., you won’t have to struggle with screwing and unscrewing the damn hose from the sprinkler anymore).

After one minute, you begin to feel like your car’s nifty temperature thingy isn’t so accurate; it’s got to be at least ten degrees warmer.  After three minutes, you begin to daydream about how good an ice cold, tropical drink would taste.  After five, you decide even short sleeves are too warm for such a balmy day.  Seven minutes? You begin to wonder if your lover/husband/idiot-who-left-you-sitting-in-the-car is ever coming back. FYI, he hasn’t even gotten to the hose connector aisle yet—because he’s too busy ogling all the awesome new riding lawn mowers.  He can’t believe the horse power those babies have.  Jeez, think of the money he could save if he rode one of those to work, instead of driving his pick-up truck that gets a measly 12 miles to the gallon.  But I digress…and I’m really sorry, because I’ve left you sitting in the car, waiting for him.  It’s been ten minutes now, and you, my dear, are down to your bra and panties—while he’s just approaching the hose connector aisle.

Gee, there are so many things to look at besides connectors.  It’s a freakin’ smorgasbord of gadgets and doohickeys, so, of course, he’s got to take a few seconds—minutes, really—to peruse every bin and shelf for something he might eventually need…if he ever decides to get started on that deck project.  But what the heck? He’s comfortable in the temperature-controlled store.  He has no idea you’ve stripped down to your undies, or that you’re seriously considering taking that hammer he keeps under the driver’s seat to the windows—because, after all, he’s taken the keys, so you can’t even get some air.  Oh, well, you could open the car door a little.  Only you can’t open the door…because you’ve got no hands.  That’s right, you’re all paws.  Jeez, I hate it when that happens.

Which brings me to my point.  If it’s too warm for you to sit comfortably in your car/truck/SUV, then just imagine how uncomfortable it is for your pooch.  You’ll just be a minute?  You just want to pop into Starbucks for a frappaccino?  No big deal, right?  Oh, but wait, there are three people in line ahead of you.  Oh, well, what’s another minute or two?  Sometimes, another minute or two means death.

Consider this: Your dog’s fur is designed to retain heat; he doesn’t sweat.  Which means his body temperature can rise dramatically in a very short time.  In just 6 minutes, your dog can die in your car.  If you come back to your car and your pooch is panting or barking, he’s too hot.  If he’s drooling, he’s really too hot.  Are his gums and tongue dark pink?  His eyes glassy?  Congratulations!  Your dog is cooking in his own skin and he may already be losing brain cells.

Strike what I said before about if it’s too warm for you to sit comfortably in your car. Imagine, instead, sitting in your car, with a fur coat on.  Can’t imagine it?  Then don’t imagine your dog can do it, either.

Please…if your dog ever gets overheated, immediately bring him to a shady spot. Slowly cool him by placing him in cool—NOT COLD—water.  Apply ice packs to his head and neck and, if necessary, take him to the nearest veterinarian.

One final note:  if you need water while you’re out walking, your dog needs water, too.

 Happy reading…until next time,