Simon says don’t leave dogs in parked cars
It’s strictly coincidental that — at the same time a dog perished in a parked car during “American Idol” auditions — PETA was putting the finishing touches on a public service announcement by Simon Cowell about the dangers of leaving dogs in parked cars.
Now, though, PETA is rushing the “Idol” judge’s PSA to television stations across the country.
“Far be it from me to be critical, but I find it really appalling that, this year, thousands of dogs will die of heatstroke inside parked cars,” Cowell says in the spot, in which he appears with his canine pal, Claude. “Never ever leave your dog inside a parked car. Your dog idolizes you. In warm weather, keep him safe at home.”
PETA hopes the PSA might deter further deaths as summertime temperatures rise.
Quincy Vanderbilt, a 24-year-old from North Dakota, left his small terrier in his vehicle while he and his girlfriend lined up for Denver auditions for the show.
When he returned — nine hours later — the dog was dead. Vanderbilt was cited on a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty.
“Simon would be shocked to know that this incident happened during auditions for his own show,” PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch, said in a press release. “Even on merely warm days, it’s better to be safe than sorry and plan to leave your animal companions comfortably at home.”
Posted by jwoestendiek July 21st, 2009 under Muttsblog, videos.
Tags: american idol, auditions, canine, car, cars, contestant, cruelty, death, denver, dies, dog, heat, idol, judge, neglect, news, parked, peta, public service announcement, simon, simon cowell, summer, television, tv, warning
Comment from Miss Jan
Time July 21, 2009 at 11:22 am
It is unbelievably cruel and deeply shocking that even police are leaving their K9 law enforcement companions to die in parked cars in the sun. What may be even worse is that big businesses such as PetSmart won’t post big signs on their store doors warning patrons of the dangers of leaving dogs in cars – not every customer brings the dog into the store. Just last weekend had an incident in Oregon, cocker spaniel almost died while the store manager at least stepped up to page over the store’s PA system. The owner of the dog was COMPLETELY DISBELIEVING claiming that an inch of window for air was “plenty.”
I have begged local TV station weather persons who supposedly are dog lovers to PLEASE daily announce the danger of this not only for dogs but for kids too. Not one of them would agree to make a daily announcement to warn people about this terrible danger.