"We are alone, absolutely alone on this chance planet: and, amid all the forms of life that surround us, not one, excepting the dog, has made an alliance with us."
~Maurice Maeterlinck
I'm on the job today and as i arrive at my next stop i notice a dog just running around the neighborhood. Its about 9:00 and he came from the area of the customer i had to go and do work. No big deal he runs up to my van and proceeds to do friendly dog stuff. I discover after i make contact with the customer that the dog belongs to the neighbor and "got out again". The customer proceeds to tell me that he has knocked on the door several times and got no answer. He even calls the dog by name and makes a statement that the neighbor may lose their dog. I'm not putting much concern into it at the moment other than to notice the dog is always near me while im working outside.
About an hour later I notice the dog has lost most of his energy and taken up shade where he can find it. I grab my iphone and pull up the weather and find that current temp is about 105 degrees. At this point i start to keep a little closer eye on the dog as i work. 30 more minutes go by its around 10:30 now and temperature is closing in on 110. The customer opens his gate and the dog ventures in his back yard going toward the water dish he has outside for his own dog. The customer calls the dog and directs him out of the gate. The lack of excitement from either of them suggests this occurance is common. So I think to myself. I got here at 9 and this dog was already outside. Im sweating my ass off and have already made a few trips to my water cooler and here this dog was just rejected a drink from the neighbor that clearly knows this dog. Now i dont know about anyone else but this small act just sent me through the roof. I call the dog over to me once the customer went back inside. His tongue was completely dry. For those of us who have had dogs we know this is bad. As i walked to my van drinking from my bottle he was following me licking the hot cement whenever my bottle dripped just trying to get some kind of drink. I didnt have a bowl but kind of got him to drink from the spout of my jug. Once he was satisfied he took position in the shade again. I finished up at about 11:30 with the temp at 110. The customer was still just driving the dog away.
Now the customer had a dog of his own. Wouldnt that incline him to maybe at least put a bowl of water out? OK fine the neighbors neglected the dog by not being able to keep him in, but does that mean the dog has to dehydrate and die when there is someone there that can prevent it? What lesson is that going to teach the dog? He could have called animal control maybe, at least then they would have takin the dog and given him some care. I can handle cruelty to humans, sometimes they deserve it. Not to a good friendly dog suffering in the heat. I can just imagine the heat index to furry dog. Pisses me off. Both the neighbor and the customer. Let the dog have a drink asshole!
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