Sound Bay Newfs
Active member
How incredibly sad. I am so sorry to hear this, Nikki.
Sedalia, Missouri...
- Thread starter Windancer
- Start date
Sun Valley
New member
Very sorry to hear this.
LA
LA
newfiemomof2
New member
Thank you all for your condolences. I have his ashes now with me coming home. He will join my other 3 fur kids and Jackie in the circle of trees in the front yard.
Ivoryudx
New member
Nikki I'm so sorry for your lose of Cody and I recognize that you and other owners are defending what happened, as an accident.
***********
However.....
I personally can not accept how casually this seems to have been accepted. It is just unacceptable to me that an extra precaution was not in place. Every person knows there is danger of being inclosed in a vehicle in extreme temperatures. Dog or Human, it doesn't matter. If a vehicle is enclosed, with a life in it, there needs to be someone monitoring that accidents don't happen. Getting a false sense of security because its an 'accepted' way of doing things with a/c and a generator, is still not right. These dogs did not deserve to die, and how many of the others will suffer lasting medical issues because of this?
This is extremely sad, and I do hope there are neglect/abuse charges. It doesn't matter what the circumstances, this handler was being paid to be responsible for these dogs lives. Thats his job, and I'd be fired for less at my job.
JMO,
RIP to those that died....
***********
However.....
I personally can not accept how casually this seems to have been accepted. It is just unacceptable to me that an extra precaution was not in place. Every person knows there is danger of being inclosed in a vehicle in extreme temperatures. Dog or Human, it doesn't matter. If a vehicle is enclosed, with a life in it, there needs to be someone monitoring that accidents don't happen. Getting a false sense of security because its an 'accepted' way of doing things with a/c and a generator, is still not right. These dogs did not deserve to die, and how many of the others will suffer lasting medical issues because of this?
This is extremely sad, and I do hope there are neglect/abuse charges. It doesn't matter what the circumstances, this handler was being paid to be responsible for these dogs lives. Thats his job, and I'd be fired for less at my job.
JMO,
RIP to those that died....
Sound Bay Newfs
Active member
It took me several days to post to this thread, because I could not say what you just did, Susan, so I just offered my condolences. I have lost sleep over this, and they weren't even my dogs and I don't even know who the handler is. It is such a shame since it was preventable.
Angela
Super Moderator
I too have worried about this all weekend. It angers me that it was preventable, dogs do NOT have to go out in that heat, let alone to dog shows.
When I think of all the beloved dogs and cats that have gone to Rainbow Bridge from here in the last couple of months that were sick and their owners are so distraught I am so upset that something like this happens to healthy dogs.
I don't write this as well as Susan did, but it sickens me.
When I think of all the beloved dogs and cats that have gone to Rainbow Bridge from here in the last couple of months that were sick and their owners are so distraught I am so upset that something like this happens to healthy dogs.
I don't write this as well as Susan did, but it sickens me.
Leonard and his bud Snuffles
Active member
Well said!
nowhavethreebears
New member
Same thought here......I would be BEYOND livid....
Ginny
New member
Awful, awful tragedy.
Nikki, I'm so sorry for your loss.
Despite the owners' support, I'm sure this handler is beating himself up quite a bit over this. Neglect or abuse charges are, IMHO, more appropriate for intentional acts. Trying to figure out a way to keep this from ever happening again is appropriate.
A friend's car has an indicator on the remote that shows if the engine goes off. Does anyone know if these can be put on any vehicle or even a generator???...surely would have been a life saver in this situation.
Nikki, I'm so sorry for your loss.
Despite the owners' support, I'm sure this handler is beating himself up quite a bit over this. Neglect or abuse charges are, IMHO, more appropriate for intentional acts. Trying to figure out a way to keep this from ever happening again is appropriate.
A friend's car has an indicator on the remote that shows if the engine goes off. Does anyone know if these can be put on any vehicle or even a generator???...surely would have been a life saver in this situation.
Those are great ideas, but my understanding (could be wrong) was that he was gone for an extended period of time (hours). Bells and whistles are only good if someone is there to hear them.
And I'm curious why he wouldn't immediately call or contact the owners. If he parked somewhere other than the show, he should have had plenty of time.
Again, all I have is second or third hand information.
My understanding of heatstroke is that it can manifest itself later, so I am praying for all the other dogs who were in that vehicle.
And I'm curious why he wouldn't immediately call or contact the owners. If he parked somewhere other than the show, he should have had plenty of time.
Again, all I have is second or third hand information.
My understanding of heatstroke is that it can manifest itself later, so I am praying for all the other dogs who were in that vehicle.
ardeagold
New member
I'm so sorry, Niki, for the loss of sweet Cody (Frankie's friend and playmate) and the other dogs who lost their lives.
I've been thinking about this for a couple of days, and I'm sure it was an accident, but I also feel there is a level of negligence involved.
This happens far too often, which handlers know as well as we do. People place their dogs into the care of the handlers...and pay them to travel with the dogs and to "board" the dogs during and between shows. The handlers are trusted by the owners that they will insure the health and safety of the dogs while in their care.
All vehicles have safety backup features that can be installed. Alarms on the vehicle, alarms on remotes, some handlers use electric lines and then the generator is the backup if the power goes out, etc. But on hot summer days (and nights), the safest is to have someone sit there with the vehicle and the dogs and make sure that they can immediately get the animals to safety if something like this happens. If that isn't possible (like when the vehicle is parked outside of a hotel or in the show site - in the lot while the handlers are sleeping or are away from the vehicle even for a few minutes), a loud alarm system IS possible. If the handler isn't where he/she can hear the alarm, plenty of other people can. Hotel staff and other "dog show" people...or a business where the vehicle is parked for a few minutes, can be notified how to contact the handler if an alarm goes off.
Signs can put put on the vehicle telling anyone to alert the handler (put a phone number on the sign) or the police immediately if the alarm is going off. The louder and more annoying it is assures that somebody will do just that. The signs are the large, rubberized ones that stick to the sides of the vehicle and can be removed when they're not needed. (They're magnetized...not permanent).
Handlers can use all of the above in combination, to be assured that they've done the best they can.
Granted, nothing is fail safe, but the more contingency plans placed into a situation like this, the more likely the animals will be saved.
I've been thinking about this for a couple of days, and I'm sure it was an accident, but I also feel there is a level of negligence involved.
This happens far too often, which handlers know as well as we do. People place their dogs into the care of the handlers...and pay them to travel with the dogs and to "board" the dogs during and between shows. The handlers are trusted by the owners that they will insure the health and safety of the dogs while in their care.
All vehicles have safety backup features that can be installed. Alarms on the vehicle, alarms on remotes, some handlers use electric lines and then the generator is the backup if the power goes out, etc. But on hot summer days (and nights), the safest is to have someone sit there with the vehicle and the dogs and make sure that they can immediately get the animals to safety if something like this happens. If that isn't possible (like when the vehicle is parked outside of a hotel or in the show site - in the lot while the handlers are sleeping or are away from the vehicle even for a few minutes), a loud alarm system IS possible. If the handler isn't where he/she can hear the alarm, plenty of other people can. Hotel staff and other "dog show" people...or a business where the vehicle is parked for a few minutes, can be notified how to contact the handler if an alarm goes off.
Signs can put put on the vehicle telling anyone to alert the handler (put a phone number on the sign) or the police immediately if the alarm is going off. The louder and more annoying it is assures that somebody will do just that. The signs are the large, rubberized ones that stick to the sides of the vehicle and can be removed when they're not needed. (They're magnetized...not permanent).
Handlers can use all of the above in combination, to be assured that they've done the best they can.
Granted, nothing is fail safe, but the more contingency plans placed into a situation like this, the more likely the animals will be saved.
Sound Bay Newfs
Active member
Bells and whistles can be helpful, but there is no replacement for checking on the dogs periodically.
ardeagold
New member
True, but how periodically? A dog can die in a hot car in 15 minutes or less. So...every 5 minutes? 10? 15? Wouldn't it be better to just have someone there at all times or alarms to alert people the instant the generators or the power goes out? I honestly think all of the above are necessary.
It seems that not all the facts are concrete in the postings regarding this incident, in the original post it was stated that all the dogs died, then amended by Nikki (who would be the most reliable source) that it was some of the dogs.
I think this thread needs to stay with the topic of "prevention" and not on the track of this particular handler and incident, as all the facts and complete story have not been brought to light. The owners (as previously stated) are rallying behind the handler, so makes me wonder if there is more to the story?
Nikki- please accept my sympathies as you deal with your loss, its never easy.
I think this thread needs to stay with the topic of "prevention" and not on the track of this particular handler and incident, as all the facts and complete story have not been brought to light. The owners (as previously stated) are rallying behind the handler, so makes me wonder if there is more to the story?
Nikki- please accept my sympathies as you deal with your loss, its never easy.