It was Christmas Eve day, and due to a heavy holiday workload, I still had many Christmas gifts to
purchase before the evenings family gathering. One of my pets, Emily, a standard poodle loves to
ride in the car, and she
desperately wanted to come with me. I enjoy her company and was seriously
considering taking her.
Back to that decision in a moment ... everyone knows that shopping at Christmas time can be a little riskier than the rest of the year
when it comes to crime. Shoppers with bags in their hands and money in their pockets
are often
a target for robbers, ill doers and purse snatchers. I myself was a victim of crime last Christmas
eve when I was car jacked at gun point as I loaded packages into my car. The thing is that I'm
known for being extra cautious and savvy to the ways of the world so everyone was very shocked when
it happened to me of all people. In my defense, I must say that I had chosen what I thought would
be a safe store, in a good neighborhood, away from the mall and with a small high traffic parking lot right there in front
of the store. I'd also surveyed the parking lot too.
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In retrospect, the street was very close to my location, and the
evil doer probably jumped out of a car that had been casing the area.
Even though I surveyed the area first, before turning my back to it, the criminal was able to appear and reach
me in such a short time that my surveying the area first was a mute point in this case.
The whole experience had me pretty shook up but what really got me was when my best friend made
the comment "What if Emily had been in the car?". My heart sank, how close I'd come to taking Emily
with me that day. The stores I had planned to go to were
supposed to be quick, safe stops.
Fortunately for both of us, I had decided to leave her at home that day.
Even though she was a large dog, the car jacker would not have seen her in time to be intimidated
by her, and if he had left with her, I seriously doubt that she would have known what to do, my
beloved Emily would have been taken too.
The moral of the story is ... no matter how safe you try to play it, there is still a chance you
could be a victim of a Christmas shopping crime, especially during the height of the season.
If one of your pets is in the car when it is stolen, chances are your pet will be stolen too.
So, even if you enjoy taking your pet along for the ride, think twice about when and where you
will be going and just how safe they will be when you get there.
Pets Journal Archive
