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Bill Would Give OK To Save Dogs, Cats From Hot Cars
September 1, 2015
People would be able to smash the windows of hot cars and remove unattended dogs or cats if they get law enforcement approval, under a bill proposed Monday.
Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, filed a proposal that would allow individuals — first responders, animal-control officers and people instructed by such agencies — to gain access to vehicles and remove unattended animals when the animals’ health is endangered and the owners “after a reasonable effort” can’t be found.
“Pets are extremely vulnerable to heat-related injury or death if left in a vehicle, especially on a hot day,” Hukill said in a prepared statement. “Individuals who risk their pets’ lives by leaving them in hot cars need to be held accountable.”
Hukill called the proposal the “Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety Act,” or “P.A.W.S. Act.” Hukill’s release noted that “just last week two women in the Daytona area left their dogs in the car while they went shopping at a mall. The dogs were so thirsty they were licking the condensation off a soda can in the car and when let out of the vehicle by police they found the closest puddle of water and began drinking it.
The bill would make such circumstances a first-degree misdemeanor for the owners of pets or vehicles involved. The measure would allow the people who enter the vehicles to avoid criminal or civil liability.
Hukill’s proposal, which doesn’t have a House companion, also notes the well-being of an animal could be threatened due to cold, lack of adequate ventilation, lack of food or water. The act includes an agricultural provision that carves out an exemption for agriculture animals — horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry, or other agricultural animals — being transported for ag purposes.
by The News Service of Florida
Comments
8 Responses to “Bill Would Give OK To Save Dogs, Cats From Hot Cars”
Susan, if you were in Mall, how do you know the lady didn’t check on her dog? You called the police, it was obvious that the dog was ok, I don’t mean to be ugly, but can’t you mind your own business? To Christian, I know what you mean, if people kept their own front door clean, there wouldn’t be so many busybodies.
This actually makes me laugh, we are such a society we need laws for every little thing in our lives to regulate what is right or wrong. Why not just make it illegal to have an animal in your car period?
This nation is totally turning into George Orwell’s 1984, the more laws we allow our Government to use to regulate our lives the closer to totalitarianism we become. Anyone who busts my windows regardless of who told them to is gonna have a bad day, they better just call the law and make sure they are on scene first.
It would be nice if all judges were righteous judges and could judge without legislation when common sense should rule. How many animals/people have to suffer or die before a “common sense” law can be passed? We have a Constitution that is pretty much ignored or perverted now, and the laws that once protected the good, now protects the bad in many cases. Makes me feel sad.
I was at the mall yesterday and a lady had left her dog in the car. She left the windows open a bit but it was 98. I waited in my car until she arrived. She wasn’t gone very long but don’t take your pet if you can’t take them EVERYWHERE with you. It’s not fair to the animal.
I had my car running with ac on at bayview, left dog in car so i could take nephew to the restroom. Not even 6 minures and a lady called the cops.
Hey, if you don’t support this maybe just try sitting in your vehicle with the air off and the Windows “cracked” and time yourself to see just how long you could stand it! Oh, I forgot, you are able to open the door and escape! Never mind!
Should be a law in every state.
Hope this bill goes through. I happened upon a dog inside a car at Cordova Mall. I called the police and when one came out, he said that he could’t do anything unless the dog was obviously in stress. I was in the mall for over an hour and the woman didn’t come out to her vehicle. The mall security claimed that they couldn’t do anything either. This is inhumane and needs to be stopped. I left , called the shelter and drove back a half hour later and the shelter truck was there. The woman came out and looked indignant that someone would call on her. There was a number of people there looking on by then. THe police should have the means to pop the lock or let me break the window.