Sizzling Brain: Animal Cruelty on Corn Hill

Yesterday marked the final day of the Corn Hill Arts Festival in Rochester. This mid-July festival draws thousands to explore the artistic wares, funky food and thirst quenching drinks largely produced by locals artisans and small businesses. This festival often takes place in some of the hottest weather experienced in Upstate New York, and this year was no exception. Sunday produced temperatures in the mid-nineties. One-dollar bottles of water flew off the tables at church fundraisers and lemonade stands. Grey-bearded biker dudes donning black t-shirts quietly praised their death metal gods for their outfit choices which shielded their grotesquely sweaty shirts clinging to round beer bellies protruding from fitted leather vests (sorry I couldn't snag a picture of THAT).

My grandma worked at the festival this year. More than trying to persuade passersby to sign up for free home energy audits, she encouraged them to enjoy the sprinkler system set up in the tent next door to us. I watched miserable, red-faced children as their eyes lit up after passing through the sprinklers. It's amazing how a little water can create a huge attitude adjustment on such a hot, sticky day.

I also had the misfortune to watch festival goers drag their over-heated, dehydrated dogs through the screaming hot paved streets. My jaw hung to the ground as a small chihuahua mix frantically danced from foot to foot to keep his feet from burning as his oblivious owner chatted casually with friends. An Irish Wolfhound walked by our tent and I was so happy to see his owner lead him beneath the sprinklers to help him cool down. As soon as they returned to the dry pavement, however, the owner stopped to make small-talk with strangers and the wolfhound methodically shifted his weight off each of his feet to give them each a chance to cool. The icing on the cake had to be the labrador mix who limped beneath the sprinklers and immediately collapsed to the cool, wet ground and rolled around to coat his fur. After a few minutes of relaxation the owner tried to coax the dog from beneath the tent, but the dog wouldn't budge.

There are plenty of compassionate and well-meaning dog owners who sometimes overlook the fact that dogs don't wear shoes. Humans have protection from the hot summer sidewalks because we wear protective footwear. When I say it like that it seems like a no-brainer, yet I watched countless dog owners ignore that simple fact. So here is a simple message to all of you who love your dogs and want to keep their interests at heart. Leave them at home when the weather is too hot for you to walk down a paved road without shoes. That way your dogs won't have to suffer.