By: H. Davis

We’ve all witnessed it before: There’s a dog sitting in a Vehicle on a hot summer day with no air conditioning, no breeze, and no owner in sight. Maybe their owner is in the process of relocating and ran in the house to make sure they got everything off their moving checklist, or maybe they’re gone longer than expected. Whatever the case may be, the Animal trapped in the vehicle could be in serious trouble if their body starts to overheat.

What if it’s cooler outside — it shouldn’t be a problem then, right? Wrong. It’s important to remember that even when it feels relatively cool outside, the temperature inside the car can still heat up to dangerous conditions. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, within the first 10 minutes, the temperature inside a vehicle can rise 20 F, despite the window being cracked open. That means after one hour of sitting in the sun, the temperature inside the car can easily range anywhere from 140 to 180 F. Seeing this can be hard, especially if you love pampering your dog or puppy.

So, what you can do to help? Well, it all depends on where you live.

The very first thing you’ll want to do, however, is call animal control so they can rescue the animal. If you can’t get in contact with anyone, then try calling 911. There are a number of states that allow emergency responders to break into locked vehicles to save an animal’s life.

Get Familiar With State Laws: Michigan State University’s Animal Legal and Historical Center reports that there are currently over 10 states that have laws in place that make it illegal to leave animals unattended in dangerous conditions. Although there are laws in place to protect animals from suffocating inside vehicles, the laws vary depending on the state. So, what might be legal in New Hampshire, might not be legal in Florida, which could result in a default lawsuit, despite the animal being in danger. With that in mind, here’s a look at how things currently stand at the moment:

As of right now, there are only 14 states that make it legal for emergency personnel (like law enforcement and animal control) to break into locked vehicles to rescue dogs. They are:

• Delaware
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Rhode Island
• Virginia
• Washington

If you live in one of the above states and you’re concerned, don’t be. Why? Well, because there are states that have what’s called “Good Samaritan laws” in place so community members can help when law enforcement or paramedics can’t. This means everyday dog walkers can give reasonable assistance to people and animals in trouble without needing to dial 911 first. The law, however, does require that the person helping try and find the owner first before taking matters into their own hands. In most states the law exists, the Good Samaritan (or rescuer) isn’t responsible for the damages done to their property. In Indiana, however, the rescuers are responsible for one-half of the repairs. So, here are the 11 states that have “Good Samaritan Laws” in place:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Indiana
• Massachusetts
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Wisconsin

Although it’s illegal to leave your dog in the car in states like West Virginia and New Jersey, there aren’t any laws in place that protect Samaritans from rescuing them. Not even law enforcement can break in and rescue them without consequences. Other states like Alabama and Kentucky currently have laws pending for approval, but nothing has been finalized in either state. What are some things you can do to protect your four-legged friend moving forward? The answers simple, obey the law of where you stay. That’s just one of 10 things you need to know when it comes to protecting your animal.  Fortunately, with animal abuse and neglect laws now becoming more common, owners are more likely to face criminal charges if they leave their beloved pets in hot vehicles.

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Thanks for the read. I’m curious to know, what are some other ways pet-owners can protect their pets from overheating inside vehicles? Feel free to leave comments below. Thanks!

• Davis is a freelance writer, who enjoys exploring the outdoors and watching baseball. If you can’t find him online, you might be able to catch him cheering on the Dodgers. Follow him on Twitter @Davis241. Thanks!