I was going to Old Navy at Coastal Grand Mall yesterday morning when I saw a Myrtle Beach Police car parked, facing Books-A-Million. It seemed odd to me. Typically when the police are on the scene, it’s pretty rare they’re perfectly situated in a parking spot.
As I walked by, I did a double take. There was a dog in the car! What the heck?! Do we not hear about pets dying due to heat exposure in cars every year. I had this moment of, “Should I call the police on the police?” That’s when I realized that the dog in the driver’s seat was a big, stuffed German Shepherd. From the rearview mirror was a thermometer, displaying the internal temperature of the car.
It was 10:18 a.m. The outdoor temperature was 86 degrees. Inside the car it was 108 degrees. While it’s hard to see, the sign says, “Warning, heat kills pets. Fines up to $1092 and/or 30 days imprisonment”
I was totally duped. The dog trapped in the car was a decoy – and I was relieved! I know this isn’t a true “for families” post, but, in my opinion, when you take on the responsibility of a pet, they should be part of your family. I’m hopeful that passing on this clever awareness campaign from the Myrtle Beach Police Department will help keep pets just a little safer during warm weather days.
From the rear-view reflection was a heat range gauge, showing the inner heat range of the car.