Leaving a pet inside a hot car as I saw earlier this year when I snapped this photo, may soon be a summary offense in the state of Pennsylvania!
On Tuesday, August 25th, State Sen. Rob Teplitz and state Reps. Frank Farry and Kevin Schreiber unveiled legislation that would protect pets that are left unattended in a car. (pictured)
The Motor Vehicle Extreme Heat Protection Act was announced during a news conference this Past Tuesday. It would prohibit the confinement of a dog or cat in an unattended motor vehicle in a manner that would endanger the health and well being of the animal. This violation would be a summary offense.
If found putting their animals in danger, pet owners could be charged with a summary offense and fined a maximum of $300. A summary offense — which includes things like traffic citations, disorderly conduct and low-level retail thefts — is the most minor type of criminal offense.
“We’re not looking to go overboard,” said Sen. Rob Teplitz, D-Dauphin County. “We’re not looking to punish people unnecessarily but it would be a summary offense.”
If passed, the legislation would allow certain qualified people to remove the pets from unattended vehicles without being financially liable for damage to the vehicle. That means if a window has to be broken to get the pet out safely, certain law enforcement and animal control experts would not have to pay for it. It doesn’t mean anyone is allowed to remove the pet from the vehicle.
A police officer, public safety professional, or humane officer would have the authority to remove the dog or cat from the unattended motor vehicle if the officer believes the dog or cat is suffering and is endangered after a reasonable search for the owner or operator of the vehicle. The officer who removes a cat or dog from an unattended vehicle would not be held liable for any damages.
If an officer removes a dog or cat from an unattended motor vehicle, the officer would be required to take it to a veterinary hospital or animal care clinic for a health screening and treatment. The officer who removed the dog or cat must also leave a note stating the officer’s information and the information for where to pick up the pet.
It is best to call 911 or animal control if you see a pet in distress inside a hot car. This piece of legislation is not to create vigilantes out of anyone.
Currently, 17 states outlaw leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle if the health of well-being are at risk with Tennessee’s law going into effect July 1st of this year.. States and local ordinances who don’t have laws prohibiting leaving pets in hot cars can still be charged with animal cruelty.
Bills will be introduced in both the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate. Teplitz plans to introduce the bill in the Senate while Rep. Kevin Schreiber, D-York, and Rep. Frank Farry, R-Bucks will introduce it in the House. The Senate version of the bill, Senate Bill 977, has nine co-sponsors. The House version, House Bill 1516, has 25 co-sponsors. Both bills have bipartisan support.
“Too many times we see pets left in hot cars as their owner runs an errand,” said Schreiber (D-York). “You may think you are being quick but it doesn’t take long for the inside of the car to reach over 100 degrees, even with the windows cracked. This legislation is aimed at protecting pets and preventing a tragedy.”
“The Motor Vehicle Extreme Heat Protection Act protects animals,” said Kristen Tullo, (pictured) Pennsylvania state director, the Humane Society of the United States. “Pennsylvanians value their pets as family members, yet some mistakenly believe an animal can be comfortable or safe left unattended in a vehicle. This act will raise awareness of the dangers of leaving pets in parked cars and prevent needless suffering.”
“The heat of summer can be dangerous for animals, especially those left inside hot cars. Every year, countless animals die after being left behind while their owners work, visit, shop or run other errands,” said Farry (R-Bucks). “These deaths are tragic and entirely preventable.”
“It may seem convenient to leave our pet in the car to run errands, but it’s extremely irresponsible and it endangers the life of our beloved dog or cat,” said Teplitz (D-Dauphin/Perry). “Pets are not just domestic animals; they are members of our family. It’s against the law to leave a child in a hot car, so it should also be illegal to confine a dog or cat in a hot car.”
While I think this is certainly great news for pets, why haven’t our legislators tackled tethered dogs who are forced to live outside 24/7 in extreme heat and cold weather? Bills have been before them without going anywhere. It’s time for an anti-tethering law as well.
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Both issues should be combined in one bill. Making it illegal to keep a pet in a hot car and not making it illegal to keep a pet outside in extreme hot weather is confusing and Illogical. I will still take matters into my own hands if need be.
Now this makes me angry! Leaving a pet in a car will be a crime if this passes into law but leaving a pet outside every day, all day, 24/7 during heat waves like we have now is just dandy! Explain the rationale, Senators! Make it illegal to tether a dog around the clock. Why is this so difficult to comprehend????? Dogs die in this heat. Dogs and puppies in puppy mills also suffer just as much when it’s hot or very cold. They’re not protected no matter what the law says. Do you really think the puppy millers care about their welfare? Of course not!! Let’s get real. Stop tip toeing around and get down to the real facts to make some real change for animals!! Those who love animals will still help an animal in distress in a vehicle, law or not! Let’s take care of these other issues!
What will a summary offense do to stop an offender from repeating his or her mistake? That seems silly to do that. It’s not going to deter people.
A summary offense is a bit of a joke. It’s a slap on the wrist. What’s that going to do? I agree. It won’t deter people. The legislators need to deal with anti-tethering at the same time as this bill. Combining both of them makes much more sense to me and can end the suffering of dogs tied up outside. It’s so hot outside right now. How many dogs are unable to handle the heat? They can’t escape it! Our lawmakers are disappointing to me.
I just called the police as I stood outside a grocery store beside a car with a dog locked inside! The temperature reading was 85 degrees outside. Another bystander went into the store to locate the owner.
While waiting for police the owner of the car comes out yelling at me that the dog is fine. She barks like that all the time! I stated that I, nor was anyone else concerned that she was barking but that it’s the fact that the dog was locked in a hot car! He stood there arguing with me telling me she was fine and that he does this all the time! He also told me he has other dogs! Finially someone got him to open the door minutes before the police arrived.
I told police what I saw, went in the store to grab a few things and left!
The policeman was still there with the man and now his wife! Needless to say I am feeling pretty sure he will not be leaving any pets in hot cars anymore! Not worth the fine! 🙂
There are a number of databases, together with the
FBI Identification File , the National Prompt Prison Background Examine for gun purchases, the Interstate Identification Index
System , and extra.