Bill would allow police to break into cars to save pets

[Paul E Ester]

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Police and emergency personnel would be allowed to break into vehicles to rescue animals in distress under legislation state Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, filed this week.

Police and other first responders can only look for the vehicle owner. The bill would allow them to break in after making a reasonable effort to locate the owner, the bill says.

House Bill 612 spells out misdemeanor charges for people who leave an animal in a hot or otherwise dangerous vehicle, clarifying the state's animal cruelty rules.

http://www.policeone.com/legal/articles/6193067-Bill-would-allow-police-to-break-into-cars-to-save-pets/

[dkf]

1. This seems like a no brainer.

What's the opposing view?

[dickthegrouch]

2. "What F'ing idiot left this dog?" at the top of my lungs is my definition of reasonable effort /nt

[MattBaggins]

4. Take it further. Run into nearby stores

And yell it as loud as possible.

Hey who ever owns a red Ford Explorer with license plate number 1234, you left your dog inside and they look like to be under severe distress.

[dickthegrouch]

13. That's exactly what I won't do

I'm no runner and if the idiot is too far away to hear me yelling, they deserve a $350 repair bill for their broken window.

[one_voice]

7. +10000

[MindPilot]

3. Wait, what? Police can forcibly enter your house on the flimsiness of pretenses.

But they are prohibited from busting a window to save a dog?

And it has to be a law to not leave an animal in a closed vehicle?! You can make all the laws you want, but you can't fix stupid.

[sorefeet]

5. I'll do it myself if it looks bad

and if the owner doesn't like it they can kiss my ass, because they ain't going to like what I got to say to them. I called authorities 3 times last year for dogs chained out in the 100 degree sun, no shade and a bowl of hot water. Twice was for the same dog because the owner did not comply the first time. Fuck em, animals need our protection, it isn't like they can open a window or door.

[RebelOne]

6. I have called animal control on a neighbor who left her dog

chained in the back of her house no matter how hot or cold the weather was. One day, the dog finally disappeared. I think someone else in my neighborhood saw this and took the dog. At one time, it was storming and the lightning and thunder frightened the dog so much that he was crying and howling. I had to bang on the neighbor's door and demand that she take him inside. She wasn't happy, but she did.

I called animal control because it was 30 degrees and the poor little dog was shivering. The animal control officer came and checked out the dog and issued my neighbor a citation.

[HappyMe]

8. Good.

I don't see anything wrong with this.

[healthnut7]

9. They need a Bill??

That is crazy!! Where I live they smash the car window or what ever they need to get the animal out and the owner is then charged.
It is hard for me to believe that they aren't allowed to do anything. That is messed up for sure.

[petronius]

10. I would have thought that was already allowed - and given how quickly an animal

can suffer heat injury, I'd wish some protection for non-police actors would be included (although that language would be difficult to craft...)

[Progressive dog]

11. So pass it already.

Most pet owners would give up a broken car window to save their pets, at least I would hope so.

[Brother Buzz]

12. I want a bill passed that gives me a free 'get out of jail' card when....

I bust a window to save my furry friends.

[rdking647]

14. in austin they already can buct a window open

[mikepots]

15. Car with AC running

I witnessed people considering breaking into a car that had the AC running, the dog was not in any distress. They called animal control and the police and were angered that nothing was done because the dog was not in any danger and absolutely comfortable. They started yelling at the owner of the car for not having a note on the window informing them the AC was running and then proceeded to tell him he is an A-hole and where ever he's from everyone in that region is also an A-hole.