What would you do if you saw a child or a dog sitting in a car during the summer heat? It’s a question that many Coloradoans have faced, and they usually call the authorities. However, what do you do when the person or pet in the car is obviously in distress? A new Colorado law has an answer for your concerns.
If You Rescue a Pet in a Hot Car, You Need to Know the Law
Every summer, hundreds of pets are rescued from hot cars in Colorado. By the end of June, the Humane Society had already taken over 100 of these calls, and the numbers just keep climbing. That’s because temperatures in cars can rise to 120 degrees in less than 10 minutes in 90-degree weather. This means cars often heat up much faster than many pet owners realize, and that can be deadly for the family pooch.
To combat this problem, Governor Hickenlooper signed a bill into law that allows forcible entry into a vehicle to rescue at risk children or animals. The law went into effect on August 9th, but before you go out on a crusade to rescue puppies locked in hot cars, there are some things you need to know.
- You must have reason to believe the pet or person may die or suffer serious medical complications if left in the hot car.
- You can only use necessary force to enter the vehicle, so if there’s an unlocked door—use it rather than breaking a window.
- You must also make a reasonable attempt to find the parent or pet owner.
- You still need to call the authorities.
- And you must stay on the scene until those authorities arrive.
If you ignore these requirements, then you could be charged with criminal mischief, theft or property damage no matter what your intent. This will keep people from taking advantage of the law simply to break car windows and cause harm.
A message brought to you by the personal injury lawyers at the Metier Law Firm—looking out for every part of your family.