There’s nothing more infuriating or heartbreaking than seeing a dog locked in a car on a hot day. Even on cool 70-degree days, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise to more than 100 degrees in a short time. On Saturday, September 24, Governor Jerry Brown signed the Right to Rescue Act into law, which allows Good Samaritans to break into cars to rescue animals without legal ramifications. However, Managing Editor Tami Roleff says there are five requirements bystanders must follow in order to legally break into a vehicle…
The California Right to Rescue Act grants immunity to bystanders who break into a locked vehicle to rescue an animal inside, but they must first follow these five requirements: Rescuers must have no other way to gain access to the animal, and they must believe the animal is in imminent danger. The Good Samaritan must contact law enforcement first before breaking in, they must not use more force than necessary, and they must remain at the scene until law enforcement arrives. The Right to Rescue Act goes into effect January 1. Under California law, it is already a crime to leave an animal unattended in a vehicle under dangerous conditions, such as excessive heat or cold.
NEW CALIFORNIA RIGHT TO RESCUE ACT EXPLAINED
