I encountered this shy dog while walking with Maria this morning outside of the Round House Cafe. When I got close with the camera, she slid down on the sit, kind of vanished. Then popped up in a minute or two. We did this a few times, and then she decided to pose.

Many people in America are afraid now – even in cold weather – to take their dogs for a ride or leave them alone in a car, even for a few minutes.  I am always happy to see it. The animal police and the regular police are quick see abuse and people are frightened their dogs will be seized. In some towns, the police are now required to handcuff and jail people whose dogs are in cars some people think might get to be too warm.

At such times, I have to say I empathize with the angry people who think government is too big and intrusive, and the animal rights informers have gone way too far.  Dogs need to be socialized, they love being part of our lives, they have always ridden along with people in cars and trucks. There are too many stories of people’s windows being broken when they run into the convenience store or come out of the supermarket to find the sheriff standing by their car, apologizing because they have no choice but to come.

Nobody keeps anything like an exact count on how many dogs actually perish in overheated cars, but the fear about it has certainly escalated beyond reason. We do live in the Fear Nation. Social media and the animal rights movement have promoted a whole culture of spies and vigilantes and  busybodies, eager to spread fear and warnings and alarm. Dogs, like horses, belong with us, as often and safe as is possible. Riding around with dogs on sunny says is a cherished tradition. I will never stop doing it when it is reasonable and appropriate.

And I value the right to live with my animals in peace and freedom. It is not really the business of government or anyone else as long as I do not deliberately kill or grievously harm them. If we take our heads out of butts, we can see that in this world, the moral course is to make it easier to acquire animals, not more difficult. Just ask any renter or poor or elderly person how difficult it has become to adopt even one of the many millions of dogs and cats languishing in barbaric no-kill shelters where they spent years or even lifetimes in crates.

I expect now that whenever I put up a photo of a dog in a car window, the warnings and alarms will be arriving shortly. I used to try and head this off by reassuring people that the weather was cool and the dog was fine. But that is just enabling ready. Now I just delete those messages if I see them and ban the people who sent them. I am joining a new church: The Holy Spirit Of Those Who Still Mind Their Own Business.