West Virginia’s House of Delegates has passed a new bill that allows key individuals to break into a locked vehicle to rescue an animal trapped inside.
Firefighters, police officers, humane officers, and EMS personnel are among those permitted to intervene in cases where an animal is distressed or in danger.
It is illegal in the state to leave an animal unattended in a vehicle for long periods, and people who violate this law will be charged with a misdemeanor and receive a fine of between $300 and $2000, as well as the possibility of jail time.
“What we are doing with this bill is providing that certain individuals have the ability lawfully to enter into a vehicle where an unattended animal is in danger,” said Judiciary Vice-chair Moore Capito.
It’s incredibly dangerous to leave your animal in a vehicle even for a short time. Although you may think it’s not dangerously hot, the American Veterinary Medical Association warns that temperatures inside a car can increase much more rapidly than you realize; in only 10 minutes, the temperatures can shoot up by 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
When it’s 80 degrees outside, your dog could be suffering inside a 100 degree environment in your car within 10 minutes. Research shows that even cracking a window doesn’t make a noticeable difference.
Because dogs can’t sweat to release heat and only cool themselves down by panting, heatstroke can impact them in as little as 15 minutes, causing weakness, convulsions, vomiting, collapse, brain damage or death.
Around 28 states in the US have laws relating to animals left in vehicles. Many of these laws are similar to the new West Virginia bill, while about a dozen others grant civil immunity to any individual who rescues an at-risk animal from a vehicle.
If you come across an animal in distress locked in a vehicle, note down the license plate, make, and model of the car and try to get nearby stores to page the owner. If that fails, call 911 immediately and stay by the vehicle until help arrives.
I dont know ifot is legal, but I see a pet or child left in a hot car, I am going in there, and if a window breaks,so be it.
This law needs to be a world-wide law. Hefty fines to the jerks who let pets stay in cars while they are out & about.
ALRIGHT WAY TO GO WEST VIRGINIA
Wstyd
Wstyd
GREAT!!,👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏THAT WILL MAKE THE OWNER TO THINK TWICE BCZ SOME DO IT ON PURPOSE!!!!
Yes; animals should always be safe.
THANK YOU WEST VIRGINIA FOR TAKING THIS VERY IMPORTANT DECISION OF GIVING THE PERMISSION TO CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS TO INTERVENE AND RESCUE THE POOR ANIMALS TRAPPED IN HOT VEHICLES…MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
There are too many dumb & dumber animal owners are everywhere. Some have the animals because they truly purely LOVE them. Some others keep the pooches simply as Ornaments and to show off their fancy possession. Others simply their guard dogs. no care for their well being or anything else other than thinking of asking the pooches to serve them as SLAVES. All in all it is time to PROTECT & SERVE THESE POOR ANIMALS WHO HAVE NO VOICE OF THEIR OWN. Thank you for being their VOICE.
All countries should be doing this before more animals suffer in hot cars.
Why do we need a law to break into a hot vehicle to rescue an animal. If I see an animal in distress, law or no law, I’m going to rescue that animal.
That tied up and abandoned baby elephant is the saddest and most inhuman thing I have seen. A human monster did this!
Make it illegal to leave animals in locked cars.
This law should be all around the world. No animal shouls be left in a car in the heat time.
Thank you, West Virginia. This needs to be adopted by every state in our union.
Until it is, if I see a dog, or cat, or any animal in a hot car and know it’s in distress, I’ll break into the vehicle.
I don’t care. It’s morally right. I’ve already did this – once for a dog, and once for a kitten.
I’m so happy for that gorgeous puppy! I’m happy about all the good news stories and sad about the abusive ones! Man destroys all the beautiful animals and land in this world! Such evilness!
Excellent!
First of all, THANK YOU TO THE “WEST VIRGINIA’S HOUSE OF DELEGATES, for taking the crucial & very Important Decision of allowing the key individuals to break into a locked vehicle to rescue an innocent animal who’s helplessly trapped inside.
Also you have very wisely taken the decision to fine the people who are so negligent and careless allowing the pooches in hot vehicles be left alone to suffer. Hefty fines and he jail time will ease this nightmare eric incidents which are happening over & over within the country. SO FOR TAKING THIS NECESSARY STEPS TO STOP THIS VIOLENCE AGAINST THE INNOCENT ANIMALS….I SAY THANK YOU…THANK YOU THANK YOU…
That is great to hear let’s hope other states put this in motion. Personaly I think anyone should be allowed to break a car window if they see a animal in distress.
Glad you’ve finally come to your senses, West Virginia, I hope you set a precedent for other states to follow. Good work to those who rallied in dense of these animals.
Good for you West Virginia!
‘Bout time!
I understand that these *key* people can break into a vehicle to save an animal in distress or danger however if a *civilian* comes up on a similar situation and the animal is already in dire danger one shouldn’t have to wait to call 911 and wait for personnel to get there. It could be too late then. No one would wait or be expected to if it were a child. No difference here. A life is a life…….SAVE IT! I would……if the situation were really bad or it was taking forever for emergency personnel to show, I’d take my chances on going to jail. Never been before and can’t think of a better reason.
Hi Aprilm I am 100% behind you on this as a matter of fact I even wrote a comment regarding it.
Brilliant news. About time.
Go ideal !
Yay about time!
Thanku Virginia but you need to go one step further and make it legal for citizens to braek into cars to rescue animals trapped inside.
That is excellent news. At last something positive to lift our hearts!
That is excellent news!
The question remains, will there be a bill passed to allow citizens to break into police cars when the K9’s are left to bake inside?
Police Killing Their Own K9’s At An Alarming Rate | From …
http://www.fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/police-killing-their-own-k9s-at...
And then, there is the behind the scenes hanging, helicoptering, kicking, etc.
No one should be above the law, although we know that many are.
Namaste🍀 Virginia
OF COURSE — this is a no-brainer — THANK YOU WEST VIRGINIA — for your clear-thinking, your rationality, your compassion, your morality.
This should be the law in all 50 states. When will animal cruelty end? The pain and suffering inflicted on helpless animals is repulsive. Please hear their cries.
Good to hear this encouraging news. I hope it covers dogs left in over heated cars. Well done West Virginia.
How flipping stupid is this??? People who save animals deserve accolades, rewards & public recognition. Another insane example of no common sense
I am glad they are taking up for the animal that is kept in a car too hot.
Congratulations West Virginia ❗️This should be a federal law.
That should be mandatory world wide as a no brainer!!