“A living animal or
creature [cannot be] unattended in a vehicle under inhumane conditions
adverse to the health or welfare of the living animal or creature.” (N.J.S.A. 4:22-26c)
adverse to the health or welfare of the living animal or creature.” (N.J.S.A. 4:22-26c)
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| Sunscreen available from ALDF.org/hotcars |
“Kids locked in hot cars can die
in minutes,” the headline read. And they do – 12 have died this year alone, and
since 1990, there have been 793 documented vehicular heat stroke deaths in the
US (many of them accidental), according to the Miami Herald. “The interior of cars left in the hot sun can reach 125
degrees in just minutes, even if the windows are cracked (which has no effect
on the heating process),” the paper continued.
Hot cars hold the same hazard for
animals, especially dogs, as they do for kids.
It hasn’t happened yet this summer, but you can be sure it will, as it
does every year: the media will report the death of a police dog in an overheated car.
Of course the dead dog’s human
partner will reportedly be sad and sorry. And of course s/he will also be
derelict, irresponsible, shamefully cruel. Of all people to let this happen –
the very ones who should model correct behavior toward dogs in hot cars are too
often the killers.
Beyond police officers come the countless, clueless others
who leave their pets in cars “just for a minute,” that grows ever longer until
. . . the worst.
“The law protects Good Samaritans from civil liability,” the
Miami Herald story said, of people
who saved a child from a hot car,
breaking a window if necessary after calling 911. But what about those who save
animals from the same death
trap? What are the legalities of helping
an animal in jeopardy in a hot car?
Providing a run-down
on “hot car” laws across the country, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) indicates that some state laws are
limited to specified animals and some laws allow only specified public
officials to break into the vehicle to rescue the animal. Still other states
have “Good Samaritan” hot car laws allowing private citizens to take matters
into their own hands.
In just two states – New
Jersey and West Virginia – “although it’s illegal to leave an animal
trapped in a hot car, no one is
granted authority to break into the vehicle to save the animal, not even law
enforcement.”
You read it right. New Jersey brings up the rear in supporting would-be
rescuers of animals trapped in hot cars. That hurts, even though ALDF points
out that “prosecutors may be reluctant to bring charges against rescuers, given
the public relations nightmare and scant chance of a conviction.”
1 – Be sure the vehicle is locked and forcible entry is the only way to
free the animal.
2 – Try to locate the pet parent and politely inform him/her
of the danger. (I think this step wastes valuable time.)
3 – Call 911 or local enforcement.
4 – If necessary, take action yourself to free the animal.
Thank you for caring!
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It's amazing that people still need to be reminded that children and pets can die if they are left in cars in the heat. I guess they don't watch the news. Thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteI saw a man and his kid leave a dog tied in a car at a Petsmart as I was loading my car. I went into the store after about 10 minutes and asked them to announce on the loudspeaker. Then again at 20 minutes I was desperate to help, but no one seemed concerned since it was only 76 degrees outside. This was at Petsmart for goodness sakes, where the people were allowed to take the animal in the store with them! At the 25 minute mark the father sent the boy out to start the car, then when he walked out I said a few choice words to the man and left fuming.
ReplyDeleteGreat information! I came upon this video recently and thought how smart and caring. Send this child to MIT!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/CBSNews/videos/10154790043595950/
If this doesn't come up just cut and paste into your browser. Joyce Allington
These comments are welcome. (Since publishing this post, I read about one more child dying in a hot car.) The PetSmart reaction is right on -- geez! TIED and trapped in a car! -- and the video is terrific. Thanks!
ReplyDelete