Governor Jerry Brown recently signed a bill
that allows Californians to break into vehicles to rescue animals at risk of
suffocating in severely high temperatures.
With the recent heat waves, many animals have
suffered while being locked in sweltering cars. Any Good Samaritan would be
willing to help, but might fear being convicted of vehicle damage. A new law,
called the California Right to Rescue Act, protects helpful citizens and saves
the lives of animals in peril.
After several incidents where dogs died of
heatstroke after being locked in cars on hot days, Assemblymembers Marc
Steinorth and Miguel Santiago, along with a few others, introduced AB 797 to
the California legislature.
The bill states that citizens must first
contact law enforcement if they believe an animal is in immediate danger.
However, if the car is locked, and law enforcement is not arriving soon enough,
the citizen is therefore immune to any liability for vehicle damage should they
decide to break in and rescue the animal.
“We’re very excited about the lives this new
law will save,” Steinorth wrote on Facebook. “Thank you to everyone who helped
us raise awareness of this serious issue and showed their support.”
The Humane Society of the United States and the Los Angeles district
attorney’s office both supported the new measure, which will hopefully save
many lives from inhumane suffering and inspire citizens to help an animal in
need.
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