Hello Common Sense Crusaders! This post deals with the reality that sometimes dogs get left in cars in extreme weather conditions. With summer in full swing now, the temperatures are starting to soar and inevitably we hear about people leaving their dogs in cars. In fact I saw an article about this the other day. Leaving a dog or pet in a car on a very cold day can be just as dangerous as a very hot day.
I am a cat owner (see my two precious felines on my security cats page!) but I love all animals and feel they should all be treated humanely. I cringe when I see or hear about any type of animal being abused. I’m sure we have all heard the excuses from people who have left their dog in a car. For example; they were only going to be a few minutes, or they didn’t think it was that hot out. A quick Google search netted me a lot of information on just how quickly and how hot a vehicle can get in a very short period of time. On a 70 degree day – that’s not a really hot temperature – the inside of a vehicle can rise to well over 100 in a half an hour parked in the sun. As the air temperature rises, so does the temperature in the car. I don’t know about you, but I have started sweating sitting in the car with the windows rolled up in just the few minutes it takes for the air conditioning to kick in. Just imagine that few minutes wearing a head to foot fur coat! (Dang, I’m sweating just thinking about it!)
I was a dog owner a number of years ago, and I generally did not take my dog with me when I was out running errands. I didn’t want to leave her unattended in my car in any weather. I understand and think it is so stinking cute to see a happy dog with their head sticking out the window enjoying the wind, but unless you are going somewhere you can take your four footed friend in with you, then they should probably stay home. Let just say for giggles that you truly are going to be just a few minutes, a passerby doesn’t know how long you have been gone nor when you will be back. They will more than likely assume the worse and that could end badly.
Which brings me to my reason for writing this post. I have seen memes on social media that says if you see an animal in a vehicle you cannot be sued or ticketed for breaking the window of the vehicle to save the trapped pet as long as you take a picture of the temperature along with the animal. That is NOT the case in many states. Most of the laws that pertain to animals that have been left in cars have provisions that say that animal control or other law enforcement and/or first responders can rescue the animal, not the well meaning good Samaritan. There are about a dozen states that do allow anyone to rescue a trapped animal with limited liability criminally and civilly.
So, what should you do if you find a dog in a car on a hot (or very cold) day? My first action would be to get the license plate number and vehicle information and go into the business that the vehicle is parked by and alert security or employees there and have them page the owner of the vehicle. If the animal was in visible distress, I would call 911 first and then alert the nearby business. I live in New York where the law states that law enforcement officers, peace officers and peace officers acting as the agents of a humane society can remove the animals from a vehicle. It does not however, or at least as I interpret it, give civilians the right to forcibly remove an animal. The appropriate officers will not be held liable for any actions they take, but a civilian could be. I wouldn’t take the chance, I would let law enforcement handle it.
I will be providing a link to a table with state laws regarding animals left in vehicles in extreme weather conditions, which does include very cold weather too. The table lists what, if any laws the state has in place as well what the law has to say about rescuing the animal. The site also provides some links to the actual state law so you can get an even better idea about what you are allow to do should you see a trapped animal.
PLEASE NOTE: I make no claims of the accuracy of the information in the link I provided. It is just a source that I found that I thought would provide valuable information.
This will also provide very important information to pet owners who take their pets with them every where they go. The link also provides information for what could happen to you if law enforcement shows up and deems your animal unsafe in your vehicle. One state makes it a felony on a second violation of leaving your pet in the vehicle. Please take a few seconds to check out your local laws.
Just a quick anecdote from my Clark Kent day job. The first summer I worked at the family friendly venue, I responded to the parking lot on a 90+ degree day on the report of a dog outside a vehicle. Yes, someone visiting from a different state had come to the venue and tied their little dog up to the outside of their vehicle. Now come on folks, if it is too hot to leave a dog in the vehicle, then chances are it’s to hot for them outside too, not to mention unsafe in between cars. The owner did leave a bowl of water for the poor pooch, but 911 was still called and animal control showed up and gave a ticket to the owner with a hefty fine. The owners excuse for leaving the dog tied up outside the SUV – it was too hot to leave the dog in the vehicle. Leaving him outside with the heat index over 100 degrees was not a very good alternative.
Oh just one more quick anecdote – this one is better. I again responded to the parking lot for a report of a dog in a mini van. This time the owner had left the van running and the air conditioning running. I do not recommend you leave your car running, but if you have to leave your pet in the car that may be an option. I radioed into the office that the dog was not in any distress and that he should be fine. I could actually see the dog’s ears flapping in the breeze from the air vent, he was just chilling in the front passenger seat.
To wrap this edition up – if you have to run some errands; don’t take your pet with you unless they can go in with you. Don’t risk your pets life nor risk someone seeing your pet and reporting you. You could come out to find your vehicle open, your pet gone and a ticket with a nice fine attached to it.
If you come across an animal in a vehicle, first make sure the animal is in distress, then either contact 911 or the nearest business or both. The dog in my second anecdote was not in any distress, therefore nothing needed to be done. I also definitely do not recommend you confront the owner of the vehicle. That could end badly for you and the owner. Let law enforcement handle it.
Check either the link I provided or with your local or state law enforcement on what are you are legally able to do and what the possible liabilities are.
