The following was written by Dave Fritsche, a fellow GSD enthusiast and GSDCA Board member. It is reprinted here with permission.

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I AM SO MAD.......

I am so hot I could spit quarters and have the make change before they hit the ground.

I am so hot I could fry eggs on my forehead...

I am so mad even my mother doesn't love me right now!

I just got back from Walmart, you know the big box store with all the little smiley faces slashing prices, while the store manager is running around putting them back up where they belong.

Well, we decided to go get some irrigation hose splices at Home Depot, then over to Walmart to get some ice cream, and grandson David was with us. When we finished our shopping we went tot he parking lot to hear a dog barking in a car somewhere near, and that is one thing that I cannot stand and will not stand. So, I left Linda and David in our car, with the motor running and A/C on high and went off to rescue the little dog.

First step was to give the crazy idiots (Is that cursing? I try not to use profanity, except possibly in cases like this) a chance to come rescue their own dog, so I got the license number, description of the car and the dog and went into Walmart. The guy straightening the baskets didn't seem to want to get involved, so I grabbed the first employee I found with a radio on her waste and let her know about the dog. The temperature on our in car thermometer was at 110 degrees, meaning the parking lot outside was really hot. The air temperature was supposed to be in the mid to high 90's so I was thinking the little doggy was getting roasted slowly and would soon be ready for thanksgiving dinner - except this is August and all I wanted was ice cream.

Well, Walmart, bless their little hearts, announced the dilemma several times and called animal control. Finally I announced to them that I was going back out and break into the car and get the dog out.

I went back to the car and Linda and little David to find three Walmart employees on their break at the car, each with their phone open calling animal control, the sheriff, and God knows who else.

Another employee came out ta say they had five people report the situation and that animal control was on the way. Then another passed by (A crowd of 8 or 10 people now gathered) with a phone to her ear, and then let us know that the Sheriff had received 7 calls already and that animal control was almost there.

In the mean time, people were giving me ice and water to give to the dog through the little slit in the window. And I was throwing it into the back seat for the dog. I'm really sorry for any damage that might have occurred to the car or its upholstery in this cause. Finally I went back to the car and decided that an hour had passed, animal control was not there and the little dog was now down on the floor board panting feverishly. So I got my fingers through the window and was ready to pull the window out, when one of the nice concerned ladies shouted, "There they are. They are here!"

Looking up I saw the animal control van and we all waved for them to come our way. The nice lady officer stuck a digital thermometer into the window crack and said, "110 degrees. Were entering it!" Over an hour had passed and It was indeed time. The officer, bless her heart, started trying to enter the doors, but finding them locked, reached for her little spring pop devise that breaks windows. I wish now, I had just let her do it, but I got my hands inside and on top of the window and was able to force it down enough to get my arm in and unlock the door.

The officer got the dog out and started pouring water over it and everyone was cheering. Then the owners arrived. I am not sure what happened then, but some of the crowd were asking me to back off and the animal control lady said that I had helped enough and that possible I should go now. The owners were hiding behind the animal control van and the officer was explaining that they could not have their dog back until she got it cooled doan and evaluated by a vet. They could check in with the office on Monday.

All in all, I was delighted with the response of the passers by and their concern and with Walmart and their actions and with the nice animal control officer. I also know why I should not have a CCW permit.

I'm drinking a soda on ice, and I'll probably cool down before evening. Did I ever tell anyone why I love dogs and not always people.

Dave