General Discussion

Orrex

(67,124 posts)

32. Three things

Fri Jul 25, 2014, 09:09 AM

Jul 2014

1. If you break out a window, REGARDLESS OF THE AREA, what kind of judge would charge you with damaging a vehicle to rescue an animal?

If I must choose between calling 911 or acting to protect an animal in a way that may subject me to substantial liability and litigation, then I'm calling 911. Unless you can guarantee me that I will be free of penalty or repercussion or that you will compensate me for time spent in litigation and pay all court costs, attorney's fees and penalties, then it would be irresponsible of me to intervene directly. Sorry, but that's how reality works.

2. My lawyer friend just IM'd me saying that this is a universal rule. After 37 years of being a defense attorney, he told me that he would LOVE to take up the case of someone saving ANY life, ...regardless of ANY State. *

Your lawyer friend IM'd you? On a reliability scale, that ranks somewhere below "what I read spray painted on a manhole cover." Have your lawyer provide specific statutes that specifically shield me from harm for damaging property to access an animal, and we'll talk. Otherwise, unless your lawyer friend can guarantee me that I will be free of penalty or repercussion or that they'll compensate me for time spent in litigation and pay all court costs, attorney's fees and penalties, then it would be irresponsible of me to intervene directly.

And if this rule is universal, why did the linked PDF omit Pennsylvania? Ohio? Kansas?

3.And on a personal OP note,, goddamnit, why wouldn't you save a life of a li'l buddy? Whatzzamattah witcha? Tell you what, this ever comes up, stand up and be that person, Orrex. Be that person!

i'm the sole income for a family of four. I'm sorry that some asshole locked his dog in an oven, but unless you can guarantee me that I will be free of penalty or repercussion or that you will compensate me for time spent in litigation and pay all court costs, attorney's fees and penalties, then it would be irresponsible of me to intervene directly.

Of course, if we're talking about a child locked in a car, that's very different, and I would almost certainly break the window. But a dog? Well, the cops will be here shortly.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

109 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Sheriff Smashes Car Window to Rescue Overheated Dogs [View all] doxydad Jul 2014 OP

I would do the same. No hesitation. SammyWinstonJack Jul 2014 #1

You should call 911 or animal control gerogie2 Jul 2014 #2

I disagree! doxydad Jul 2014 #3

Good for you! pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #4

Correct. Reporter demonstrates hot car dangers............. doxydad Jul 2014 #6

You're a hero MissDeeds Jul 2014 #35

Depending on where you live, Animal Control can be very slow to respond... joeybee12 Jul 2014 #56

What if there was a child in that car? Would you break the law then? Divernan Jul 2014 #7

If it was a child I would call 911 also. gerogie2 Jul 2014 #8

In a life-and-death emergency you'd be afraid to break a window? pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #9

I'm not the police or fire dept. gerogie2 Jul 2014 #11

That is incorrect! doxydad Jul 2014 #15

Not omnipresent, and they vary widely Orrex Jul 2014 #27

3 things: doxydad Jul 2014 #29

Three things Orrex Jul 2014 #32

Imagine what you are teaching your children treestar Jul 2014 #37

They'll learn a great lesson when we lose house and car and I lose my job Orrex Jul 2014 #42

Why would you lose your job? treestar Jul 2014 #44

What makes you think that it's an assumption? Orrex Jul 2014 #51

1 - the penalty would not happen treestar Jul 2014 #60

Are you an attorney? If not, then you're making shit up. Orrex Jul 2014 #61

A car window cost 1-300 bucks, LOL snooper2 Jul 2014 #69

Send me $300, and I'll break the window Orrex Jul 2014 #70

Yes- you can take this reply as a note of good faith- If you find yourself in the situation do it snooper2 Jul 2014 #72

As far as I'm concerned, that's all there is to it. Orrex Jul 2014 #74

K, found the hot dog snooper2 Jul 2014 #76

SMASH! Orrex Jul 2014 #77

A car window barely costs as much as a house. And why would you lose your job? cui bono Jul 2014 #93

Show me the exact law that protects me from all repercussions Orrex Jul 2014 #95

Show me the exact statute/provision that states you would lose your job, car and house in that order cui bono Jul 2014 #97

In other words, you have no idea whether I would face litigation or prosecution Orrex Jul 2014 #100

This message was self-deleted by its author cui bono Jul 2014 #103

I guarantee... doxydad Jul 2014 #40

I'm sure you don't care, but I simply don't believe you Orrex Jul 2014 #45

He does not practise in PA... doxydad Jul 2014 #50

call 911 AND BREAK THE WINDOW. pansypoo53219 Jul 2014 #106

Ask your lawyer friend if it may matter who owns the car? What is the condition of the A Simple Game Jul 2014 #39

I think the vast majority of us here would err on the side of life and take our chances. nt pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #43

Wow. So you would knowingly allow an animal to die when you could have easily saved it? cui bono Jul 2014 #92

Show me the exact law that protects me from all repercussions Orrex Jul 2014 #94

Show me the exact proof that said repurcussion would occur. cui bono Jul 2014 #98

I'm asking people to justify their insistence that I destroy someone else's property Orrex Jul 2014 #101

Easily is if the door is unlocked.. pipoman Jul 2014 #102

Conscience does make cowards of us all. n/t geomon666 Aug 2014 #109

ROFLMAO.... snooper2 Jul 2014 #58

snooper2, if I ever see you in distress and a there's a window between us Skittles Jul 2014 #88

Why can't you... pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #90

I suppose you have never taken a CPR class then, or would not save a drowning child? uppityperson Jul 2014 #75

So you'd just sit there and wait while a kid cooked? Not knowing how long the wait is? 7962 Jul 2014 #10

The "Good Samaritan" laws allow you to take action. Divernan Jul 2014 #12

I would call 911 gerogie2 Jul 2014 #13

That is your choice. Better hope you never need immediate assistance! Divernan Jul 2014 #16

I would take action. gerogie2 Jul 2014 #20

This has to be some kind of reverse psychology schtick pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #22

Look there are other demented people that call 911 gerogie2 Jul 2014 #24

No doubt many people are both proud of, and defend their apathy. LanternWaste Jul 2014 #57

If I was apathetic gerogie2 Jul 2014 #62

That's a creative way to rationalize a lack of relevant action... but not much else. LanternWaste Jul 2014 #63

When this happened... gerogie2 Jul 2014 #65

We allege what we can to make ourselves appear better to others when necessary.... LanternWaste Jul 2014 #66

Very strange... pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #68

You should be ashamed sorefeet Jul 2014 #21

K&R doxydad Jul 2014 #31

hmmm, child's death on my hands or take law into my hands... eShirl Jul 2014 #30

I would do something. gerogie2 Jul 2014 #48

Really? Swede Atlanta Jul 2014 #33

I did take action. gerogie2 Jul 2014 #47

Are you for real? MissDeeds Jul 2014 #38

Yes. gerogie2 Jul 2014 #46

I am sorry for you MissDeeds Jul 2014 #49

The poster is fishing HangOnKids Jul 2014 #67

I was wondering about that MissDeeds Jul 2014 #71

So afrer calling 911 sarisataka Jul 2014 #64

The law has nothing to do with saving someone's life. arcane1 Jul 2014 #82

why do you keep saying you hopemountain Jul 2014 #105

Would not break ANY law. doxydad Jul 2014 #14

Wrong. Minutes are the difference between life and death Warpy Jul 2014 #78

Yep. I'll call 9-11 and wait for help the next time I see someone drowning. Or not. dballance Jul 2014 #81

It isn't taking the law into your own hands. whopis01 Jul 2014 #86

mmmmmm I will have to disagree here Skittles Jul 2014 #87

No. You should break the window. It is legal to do so in California if a dog or child is in there. cui bono Jul 2014 #91

It would be helpful if you could cite the exact statute Orrex Jul 2014 #96

I would call 911 and while on the whistler162 Jul 2014 #104

Smart Car because the owners were not! liberal N proud Jul 2014 #5

I've done the same thing. ColesCountyDem Jul 2014 #17

AMEN! doxydad Jul 2014 #18

Thank goodness for people like you MissDeeds Jul 2014 #41

It took her 3 days to post bond. ColesCountyDem Jul 2014 #52

That is awesome MissDeeds Jul 2014 #54

IL is rated first in the nation by the AVMA, in terms of animal welfare laws. ColesCountyDem Jul 2014 #59

I saw that once in school shenmue Jul 2014 #19

'smart' car with stupid owners tomm2thumbs Jul 2014 #23

Yeah..BUT.. doxydad Jul 2014 #25

Interesting moral rorshach here. Fairgo Jul 2014 #34

And people say there aren't ever posts about good cops on DU. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #26

I'd do it in a heartbeat KinMd Jul 2014 #28

GOOD! MynameisBlarney Jul 2014 #36

A Smart Car? Why didn't he just pick it up and take it inside where it was cooler? tularetom Jul 2014 #53

Because he's an asshole. Next question. n/t DRoseDARs Jul 2014 #107

I am appalled.... CherokeeDem Jul 2014 #55

Great post, CherokeeDem MissDeeds Jul 2014 #73

Consider it a form of civil disobedience and saving a life. nilesobek Jul 2014 #79

You should absolutely assess the situation and take the requisite action.... Swede Atlanta Jul 2014 #80

In some states, failure to act could in fact place you in jeopardy of being charged with being an ac COLGATE4 Jul 2014 #83

If I saw ANYTHING dying in someones locked car, I would take matters into my own hands. Rex Jul 2014 #84

Here's a smart idea to this troubling problem: doxydad Jul 2014 #85

I'd do that too, why is it being discussed? 2banon Jul 2014 #89

k&r Liberal_in_LA Jul 2014 #99

Still debated but not enough solutions. newton2207 Aug 2014 #108