I have usually had a pleasant experience shopping for a quick snack, drink, and of course gas when I am in the area. I have been to this She'll Gas Station at 10300 Harlem Ave, Palos Hills IL 60465 many times to fill up my tank.
However this evening I was driving down Harlem with my dog in the car and I had to use the bathroom rather urgently. So I stopped at this Shell gas station to use their facilities. Like I said I had my dog in the car with me so I, of course, had to leave the dog in the car while I ran inside. I went inside and asked the clerk where the washroom was as more of a courtesy/ to ask permission, as it was obvious where the bathrooms were. I was in the store/bathroom for 5-10 minutes. While exiting the store I heard my car alarm going off. The clerk was standing at the door halfway in and halfway out. I said to him "oh my dog must have set off the alarm" the clerk said "oh that your car, well I already called the cops". I continued to walk to the car as the clerk is verbally insulting me for leaving my dog in the car for what he claims was "at least a half hour". I don't know where this guy gets off talking to me in this manner. He had to realize that it was not anywhere near a half hour as I asked him personally just minutes before where the bathroom was. Instead of engaging in negative conversation or a verbal argument with this man I got in my car and drove away. After I pulled out and was driving away I was getting more and more upset. I decided to call the store and speak with the clerk.
When I called I said "This is the guy that was at your store with my dog in the car" and proceeded to politely ask why he felt it necessary to call the cops and to then speak to me so rudely. He said "I called the cops because it is animal cruelty to leave your dog in the car" and he said again that "he was alone in the car for at least a half hour" (again I walked into the store and immediate asked where the washroom was, I used the washroom and immediately returned to my car. The whole thing was sunder ten minutes.) I pointed this out to him and he continued to insult me and said "thanks for calling here now I have your number" and then hung up on me.
I called back one more time and said "this is the guy that was just on the phone with you before you hung up." I continued to say " can I have your name so I can reference you when I file/make a complaint. He said " I am not giving you my name and if you call here again you will be charged with harassment."
I am just kind of shocked about the whole unnecessary and unpleasant incident. There is no reason that an employee should speak to a customer/guest like that. Not right to insult someone who is speaking calmly and politely with you.
Now, I appreciate people who have concern for animals as I am a huge lover of animals of all sorts but especially my dog and my previous pets. I have had a dog since I was a small child and have always taken very good care of my pets. I have never once put a pet at risk intentionally or even by accident.
My dog was in no danger. He was in a locked car, the back windows were cracked slightly to allow fresh air in the car, and I left him alone for a period not longer that ten minutes or so. The outside temp was just under 40 degrees. This was at roughly 10:45 on a Sunday evening. 2/8/16
The employee seemed to be the only person on duty at this time. He was a young, Hispanic (I think) male with black or very dark brown hair. read more
