A piece of legislation to protect pets left unattended in hot cars was approved by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives earlier this month.
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The Motor Vehicle Extreme Heat Protection Act (HB 1216) was authored by local State Rep. Frank Farry, a Republican from Langhorne.
The legislation works to prohibit the confinement of a dog or cat in an unattended motor vehicle in a manner that would endanger the health and well-being of the animal and allows a police officer, humane officer or other public safety professional to remove the animal from the vehicle if they believe the animal is suffering and endangered and the owner or operator of the vehicle cannot be located. The bill ensures that the officer or professional that removed the animal is not held liable for damages and that the vehicle’s operator is charged with a summary offense.
“The heat of summer can be dangerous for animals, especially those left inside hot cars. Every year, countless animals die after being left behind while their owners work, visit, shop or run other errands. These deaths are tragic and entirely preventable,” said Farry. “Too often we see pets left in hot cars as their owner runs an errand. You may think you’re being quick, but it only takes a few minutes for the inside of the car to reach nearly 100 degrees on a hot day, even with the windows cracked. Animals left in these conditions face irreversible organ damage, heat stroke, brain damage, and, in extreme cases, death.”
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The Humane Society of the United States, Fraternal Order of Police, the American Automobile Association (AAA), the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association and emergency service organizations have announced their support for the legislation and have even helped lawmakers craft the bill’s language.
