Even though this topic is discussed every year, we still have a problem.
Many pet owners know this, but it is extremely dangerous to leave your dog in the car. especially when it’s hot outside and even when it’s NOT that hot outside.
Did you know that if it’s 75 degrees outside, the inside of a car can heat up to 94 degrees in just 10 minutes?
There have also been dogs that died even when the car’s air conditioner was on because the area was not properly ventilated.
Dangerous numbers… and yet…
According to NJ.com, “Hundreds of dogs die each year from heat exhaustion because they are left in hot vehicles.” This is according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
So what do you do if you come across a dog trapped in a car? Me tooIs it legal to get into a car to save a dog?
The answer is infuriating and needs to be changed in New Jersey.
If you were planning to break the car window to rescue the dog, know that this leads to some serious consequences.
According to NJ.com“There is no ‘hot car’ law in New Jersey. [and] no one has the authority to break into a vehicle to save the pet, not even law enforcement.”
Wait, it gets even more confusing.
According to NJ.com“The police can still seize the animal and arrest the owner, because it is illegal.”
So the police can make an arrest but not rescue a living thing that desperately needs to be rescued? How?
If you DO break the window anyway, “you could face a criminal mischief charge that carries a sentence of up to 18 months in prison.”
Additionally, animals are considered property, so charges for theft, trespassing, and trespassing may be included. The pet owner could also sue for any damage caused to the vehicle.
Trunk Fights Animal Cruelty NJ Law
You BETTER think I’d still be breaking that window. It saddens me that there are no laws in place to protect the defenseless animal.
What you CAN legally do is ask nearby businesses to call the pet owner and if the dog is in distress, call the police or animal control.
nineteen other states in this country they have good samaritan laws and new jersey should be added to this list.
A human being can be legally rescued, and so can our pets.
If you agree, please contact your legislature because that is the first step in changing this rule.
For fur babies!
10 Exotic Animals That Are Legal to Own in New Jersey
LOOK: These are the pets prohibited in each state
Because regulation of exotic animals is left up to the states, some organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States, advocate for standardized federal legislation banning the keeping of large cats, bears, primates, and large venomous snakes as pets.
Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the country.