Michigan: Leaving dogs in cars could escalate into a felony under Senate bills [View all]

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LANSING, MI -- Leaving Fido in the car with unsafe conditions would be illegal under a pair of Senate bills introduced this week, and someone who causes an animal death that way could face five years in prison.

Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-Lansing, said sixteen states already have similar laws surrounding dogs being left in cars.

"We just think in situations where there is obvious potential harm that we shouldn't be allowing that in Michigan," Hertel said.

So what would the rules be?

The bill language states that a person cannot "Leave or confine an animal in an unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of the animal, including, but not limited to, heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death of the animal."

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/leaving_dogs_in_cars_could_esc.html#incart_river_home_pop


MLive photographer Yffy Yossifor's dog in the car Wednesday, July 2. Pets left in cars in the summer are subject to various health risks and have prompted new legislation in the Senate. (Yfat Yossifor | The Bay City Times) (Yfat Yossifor)