It all started with this video depicting a baby in a car and an idiot mom on the phone who goes shopping, gets caught up in idiocy, and the baby, from the looks of it, gets cooked in the car.
It got me upset for several reasons and it makes me shake my head that this happens every day for more times than I’d like. WHO are these people?! I heard myself scream in my head. How can they just walk past a baby in the car and go on their merry way?!
And then I realise… those people are the same people you and I both know. They’re everyday folks who think it’s “none of their business” or “I don’t want to get involved.” or “I don’t want to get in trouble.”
So. You rather have a life die than god forbid, DO something because you fear something?!?!
That’s just not right. The video depicts a man crashing the window open to get the baby out and what does my friend say? “OMG I wouldn’t do that! That driver will sue me and I might go to jail.”
So there you go folks… people we know and some we even love…that was the primal fear. The law. Retaliation. And as MUCH as I would love to have said no, they’d be grateful you saved their baby, the answer is a clear you’re probably right. The question then becomes, would you risk it?! And sadly, for many people, the answer is a hell no.
What kind of a society are we living in that people sue each other at a drop of a hat? That we care more about PROPERTY than life?! What kind of a life is this? I don’t want to live in a place like this. I don’t want to be one of those people.
Is it because I’m a mother or a woman? Or is it because I am HUMAN? I think it’s the latter. I could not and have not passed by a baby in the car and kept going. If the baby was crying, I would call the police at the very least!
Now here is where the world, in my eyes, gets fuzzy. If it was a dog in the car? I’ll crash the friggin window no questions asked!! And I would gladly go to jail for vandalism. Yes, you heard me correctly. If it was a baby, I’d call the cops. If it was a dog, I’d crash the window. And I still call myself human. But you might wonder where my loyalty lies as I did. Why on earth would I not hesitate for a dog but would for a baby?
Is it because we’re overpopulated? Because there are far too many babies out there? Because I don’t like babies or kids in general? Because I hate humans? Not exactly. While the above things have crossed my mind in the past, it’s not the reason. I don’t hate all humans, only some of them. I like babies and kids just fine as long as they’re quiet and/or away from me…but I can say the same thing about horses and wild animals…at least the “away from me” part. Kids just happen to be noisy, smelly, kinda selfish, creatures and well, they’re everywhere! But as long as I can give a kid back to whomever, I’m good to go!
We are overpopulated and there are far too many babies out there but so what? Does that justify the ending of a life? Not to me. I am sad for every life that ends, be it human, animal, plant life, or anything else that is living that doesn’t fit these categories. Life, to me, is precious and sacred, regardless of what form it is in.
So why the dog and not the kid? Dogs are very loyal, giving, and they give unconditional love. They show it every day. You go to the bathroom and come out and you’d think you’d been gone for a decade they’re so dang happy to see you! What other animal out there does the same thing? None others that I know of but well I’ve not owned too many species of pets so I could be wrong. I’m told rats are super affectionate but the ones I’ve had were more interested in food than cuddles. Which isn’t to say that dogs don’t all want food too, they do! But goodness do they like to stick by you! Some are more glued to your hip than others but they’re all very loving.
I always thought I was a cat person…cat lover… I even changed my name to an all cat name for that very purpose. There were other reasons, but that was one of them. But cats tend to be more independent and solitary. They love you from afar. They care but don’t always show it. They’re the divas of the world. See me when I want you to see me and hug me only if I’m allowing you, otherwise, just leave me alone! Gotta love the cats, they make you love them more by being so aloof and conceited. But cats don’t, in general, like road trips. And it’s their very nature that keeps them at home, safe and sound.
Dogs, not so much. Their constant want to be with you attitude makes owners make bad decisions. It’s a hot day but Fido wants to come out with you. He gets so sad when you leave him/her at home! So, Fido goes with you and s/he’s so happy go lucky, you take him/her everywhere. And then you have to go shopping. It will only take five minutes you think… but we know that’s never true. The lines get too long, the produce isn’t right, the brands are hard to pick through because they don’t have yours… whatever the reason.. it’s hardly EVER five minutes! Meanwhile, Fido cooks in your car…
Their core temperature is about 102.3 so it doesn’t take long to start cooking… On top of that, dogs get anxious when stressed and start bouncing around more… that raises temperatures too. You know how it feels when you’re stressed out…suddenly the room’s a sauna even with the air conditioner on. Dogs are no different and in fact get worse because they CANNOT take their fur coat off.
I worked at veterinary practices as a registered/licensed veterinary technician and I saw far too many cooked dogs come through. Owners swearing they were only there for three minutes but now Fido is dead on my table… been in the freezer for an hour and still has a core temperature of 300 degrees. That’s more than heart breaking, it’s down right infuriating. How can you let this happen?!?
Maybe if I had seen more cooked babies, my POV would be different, but I haven’t. I’ve seen a lot of cooked dogs and THAT is why I would crash the window on a dog. Dogs are so innocent and all they want to do is love! Babies/kids? I don’t know… they always seem to want something and the rewards are usually far and few in between…often making people question WHAT were they thinking?! Then again, I suppose people who don’t understand what it means to own a dog might just ask the same question so I guess I’m just biased.
In the end though, I believe BOTH babies/kids and dogs deserve to live. They deserve to be protected not forgotten or neglected!!
I had a friend on facebook make a post that said she jimmied a car door once and got a dog out and waited for the owner who started cussing and hollering at her for taking the dog out. The “five minutes” man had been gone for 18 minutes from the time she found the dog, so who knows how long the dog had ALREADY been in there! She had a timer and that’s how she knew how long he’d been gone. She offered this angry man this gem: “If you can sit in the car with the window as you had it for your dog for 18 minutes, I will give you 20 dollars.” The man thought she was joking but she showed him the money and he was like OK whatever. He lasted 3 minutes! It was then that he realised what he had done and started thanking her profusely!
I will NEVER pass by a crying baby or an agitated animal in the car and just walk on because I fear the law or retaliation. I will, most likely, crash the window and await to get arrested. But maybe, just MAYBE, that baby/pet owner will thank me. I can’t risk any other outcome though, no baby or dog is staying in the car without me caring! I will carry around dog money from now on and do as my friend did. That right there was genius. If you can stand your “five minutes” in the car, I can give you money, but I can assure you that you will have a different perspective than you had before you just left for them “five minutes.”
And for those of you that don’t do this or don’t have kids or pets? Try it. Go sit in your car for as long as you can with the windows up. Then try it with the windows “cracked” and see what happens. Hint: It doesn’t get any cooler and sometimes it gets even HOTTER.
Now do the same thing but with a fur coat on… See for yourself what Fido feels… Then come talk to me and let’s go save more lives!!
Cnith's Thoughts... 