Maggie and the firetruck

[avalen]

the morning started off just fine as I get my little Pixie to the vet and she checks out ok, picking up weight getting
fed 3 times a day for now. So, run her home and grab Maggie to run with me to work. Stopped at the post office to
pick up my mail and decided to leave the car running so the ac could keep Maggie cool for the two minutes I was
in there......this is where the nightmare began. I come back out my key fob would not unlock the car! Took me a
few minutes of cussing and collecting my thoughts about what to do and then went inside and borrowed a cellphone
(mine in the car) to call my work since I was only two blocks away. It did this a couple years ago and it was the battery
in the key fob. So the dispatcher has one of our drivers stop by and I gave her the old battery and # off of it and she
went to the Ace hardware a block away for a new battery. By this time the sun is starting to shine on the side window
and I see Maggie starting to pant. Mind you I left the ac on. When they finally got back, put in the new battery and
STILL NOTHING!! By this time I'm in tears and worried about Maggie getting overheated in the car. I have noticed in
the past if I idle the car about a half hour the compressor kicks off and the ac no longer blows cold. I wanted a hammer
so I could break the window but Anya (the driver) call 911 and we got the fire dept there. My drivers window was
cracked about a half inch and the fireman had this aluminum rod they bent to fit and reach the door lock and popped
it open. Grabbed Maggie out of there and felt the ac WAS blowing hot air. I'm just crying and get Maggie on the shade
of the sidewalk and the fireman give her water. She wouldn't drink it, I even got her bowl out of the car but she still
wouldn't drink it. After awhile I see she's ok and she stopped panting. We went on to work and when we stopped at
the redlight she took time to get a drink. Never was I so afraid to sit there and watch my dog cook in a hot car. She
is fine and thank you to SFD609 for getting my car open. The ac kicked in as soon as the car was moving down the
road. We stayed at work for awhile visiting and waiting for the car to cool off parked in the shade of the parking
garage. And thats my story and I still feel sick about it.

[Liz]

Glad you were able to get help quickly. I cannot open my car with the fob if the key is in the ignition. When I'm towing it, I have to lock and unlock it with the spare key.

[Bethers]

After my nephew as a youngster locked my Mom out of her car with it running - I've learned if Peaches is in and the ac is on, I always leave the window still open enough that I can get to the lock. But thank goodness for the Fire dept and that you were able to get her out in time. And, yes, I probably would have been breaking the window, also. You know you would have had they not arrived on time. You would have saved her one way or another.

[avalen]

Glad you were able to get help quickly. I cannot open my car with the fob if the key is in the ignition. When I'm towing it, I have to lock and unlock it with the spare key.

ohhhhh, maybe thats why it wouldn't work, it worked fine in the morning when I first left the house. Will have to go check
it again.

I just went out and tried it...its working now, so guess mine is like yours Liz, it won't work if the key is in the ignition.
go figure.

[Redwahine]

so glad it all worked out Ok!!

[retiredhappy]

I carry an extra key in my wallet since I went thru a period of locking my keys in the car.

[WickedLady]

I keep an extra key to the tt in the van and an extra key to the van in my wallet; just in case.

[Bethers]

I have a hidden key for the rv. Never did it with the car ... going to have to do that. Thanks for reminding me.

[VickieP]

Awww, poor Maggie & Mommy. I'm glad it all worked out okay. When I saw the headline I thought it was going to be a cute story, like she got to ride on a fire truck or something like that.

[BirdbyBird]

So glad that it ended well and neither of you had heart attacks......it serves as a reminder to any of us....how many ways what should go right can go wrong......

[BarbaraRose]

SO glad to hear that Maggie didn't have heat stroke and you didn't have a heart attack! That is scary!

When I first bought me Jeep, I stopped to get gas for the first time. I had my cat in the Jeep in a carrier. I left the keys in the ignition (turned off) while I filled up. All of a sudden I heard the doors lock! I didn't know that they automatically lock after a minute or so with the keys in the ignition (on or off). I had to call AAA for a locksmith to open the door. Luckily, the weather wasn't too cold (November) so the cat was OK. While I waited for the locksmith to get there, I walked over to the NAPA store across the street and bought a metal key box to hide a spare for next time. I have two spare keys now in separate places. I am very careful about not leaving the keys in the ignition now when I get gas.

[snowball]

what a scary set of events...and so glad that all worked out for you and Maggie...Lesson learned for all of us
I know if it's still there there is a key hidden but would I be able to find it? hasn't been used for years...my grandson
as the spare key and Larry's old ring of keys is on the key hook it has the keys that lock the bays..at least I can find it
on that one on mine even the extra set don't know which one it is and they won't fit when I try stupid right??? so I use
his...
take care Ava
sheila

[havingfunnow]

Frightening! So glad it ended with both of you doing fine. I did that with William once, too -- but luckily the weather was cool. It taught me to carry spares!

[mitch5252]

..
I am so glad it all worked out and everyone is okay.
Whew...
..

[ellenw]

This reminds me of all the colonoscopy warnings. I'm good there, but top of my list NOW is to buy the magnetic key holder and hide the spare I bought last September.