The weather is warming up and just about everybody is shouting "about time!"  Everybody that is except for all the family pets who will find themselves at some point this summer locked inside a red hot automobile.

It takes less than an hour for the temperature inside a car (even with an open window) to double when it's just 70 degrees Fahrenheit outside. So when you experience the heat outside and you see a dog locked inside - what are your legal rights if  think a dog  is in trouble?
The Animal Defense Fund, the nation's preeminent legal advocacy organization for animals, says you should first call 9-1-1  as most states allow a public safety officer to break into the car and rescue an animal if its life is threatened.
Even though 29 states have some form of  'hot car' law that provides the window-breaking-rescuer with some protection, the fact is that the laws vary drastically from state to state-- so make sure you know what the rules are in your state!
The best thing you can do is remind any dog owner you spot leaving their pooch in the car that it's dangerous, even if it's not super warm outside.

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