From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

Avoid leaving dogs tied up  outside businesses and in parked cars. (Luis Gomez Photos)

During these dog days of summer, we all must remember to keep our four-legged family members safe. This past week, a 17 year-old dog, Snoopy, went missing while tied up outside of the Whole Foods on P Street.

Unfortunately, this week’s case is not the first in the neighborhood, and the recent incidents have even prompted PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to intervene and urge residents to never leave animals outside shops and restaurants.

“Dog theft and other dangers should be taken very seriously,” says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “It only takes a second for a dog tied up outside a store — out of your sight—to be abducted. Please never leave your animal companions alone outside stores, restaurants or anywhere else.”

Tied up dogs are subject to theft and random acts of cruelty from passing people and animals. Additionally, a bound animal can panic and slip out of its leash and run away or get hit by a car.

If you are out running errands with your pooch and need to stop somewhere, take your dog home first, to avoid leaving your dog outside. Also, make sure to never leave your dog in a parked car during the warm summer months – Even with the windows open, parked cars can reach deadly temperatures quickly.

If you have seen Snoopy, please respond to the lost ad.

Get an RSS Feed for all Borderstan stories.