Jun 3, 2015 2 min read

My daughter, grandson and the family dog had the occasion to travel through Washington last week en route to a new home. My daughter’s husband is serving in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army. Since he is clearly not available, my daughter had to move the household to his new assignment in advance of his return in July. Shortly after her departure, she became ill and had to stop for urgent medical treatment. Once she received her diagnosis and prescriptions, she proceeded to a Washington pharmacy. She could not leave her son in the car, nor take the dog into the pharmacy.

Upon returning to her car with her prescriptions, she was accosted by a waiting Washington citizen who proceeded to berate her for leaving the dog in the car. My review of the weather data indicates the temperature at that time did not make it a problem for the dog to remain in the car for 15 minutes. It apparently was not enough that the citizen had to point out a possible problem, but she had to persist in her hateful tutorial, which was nothing but a verbal assault.

If you would, please remind your fellow citizens, if they would like to help the poor, the sick, the afflicted and strangers, like our soldiers and their families, to dial back the self-righteousness, the rhetoric and the dogma. I realize not all folks there are overwrought veterinarians, but it might be time for some of your readers to refocus on their own dogs and not worry about mine.

Thomas D. Mansur

Tulsa, Okla.