A new law in Indiana will provide protection to anyone who rescues a pet trapped in a hot car. But good Samaritans may have to pay a fee for their assistance.
The law, set to take effect July 1, says a person who forcibly enters a vehicle to remove an animal will only be responsible for half the cost of damages unless the vehicle owner agrees to pay all of it.Governor Holcomb signed House Enrolled Act 1085 into law on Monday. This means that anyone who breaks into a hot car to rescue a domestic animal will have criminal immunity.
However, several conditions must met before breaking into the car. You must reasonably believe the animal is in immediate danger. You are required to notify law enforcement before breaking into the car. You can only use a reasonable amount of force to remove the animal, and you must stay with the animal at the scene until police arrive.
Doctor veterinary medicine Deborah Mitchell talks about how the heat affects an animal trapped in a vehicle.
"An animal very very quickly will get to the point where because they are solid body animals they just get too hot to do anything other than pant. They can't sweat like we do so they pant but panting is only going to be effective if the air outside is drier than the dogs tongue. And when the weather gets hot and in a closed vehicle it also gets humid so their only fails safe to pant fails them to and then they just heat up more and more."
It’s important that Hoosiers react quickly, According to People for the ethical treatment of animals. On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes.