All responsible dog owners know to never leave a dog inside a locked car, especially during hot days. The temperature inside the car can rise up to 114-119 Fahrenheit in just a few minutes.
If you’re in Florida and you happen to see a dog locked inside a hot car, it is now legal for you to smash that car’s window to help get the dog out! Yup, thanks to the “Unattended Persons and Animals in Motor Vehicles” House Bill 131!
The bill states that good samaritans are now immune to the civil liability for the damage done to the vehicle because of the rescue.
But before you go smashing that window, here’s what you should do:
1. Determine if the vehicle is locked, or see if there’s any way that the dog can exit the car without assistance
2. Call 911 or notify law enforcement before entering the vehicle or immediately after
3. Use no more force than what is necessary to get the animal out of the vehicle
4. Stay with the rescued animal until law enforcers arrive
For more details, here’s the link for the PDF of the House Bill 131.
You can also read more about this story at Bored Panda and at BarkPost.
If you’re living in another state and you’re not sure what to do, read this POST.
