New law allows animals to be rescued from hot cars

A new law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown will allow anyone to rescue an animal from a hot car by smashing a window under certain circumstances.

Assembly Bill 797 which would go into effect on Jan. 1 will allow someone to attempt a rescue of an animal from a vehicle that is either too hot or cold if a law enforcement agency has already been contacted and there is no other way to get the animal. Under those circumstances, a person attempting a rescue could be free from civil liabilities.

Dog owners at Civic Center Park in Palm Desert said they agreed with the new law.

“What person, what dog owner wouldn’t be supportive of a bill to protect a dog sitting in a hot car. What person wouldn’t be supportive,” Harvey Richin, a dog owner said.

Bob Booterbaugh said he’s happy to see the law in the books but was concerned about overzealous animal lovers causing unnecessary property damage if they did find an animal in a car.

“It could be a real touchy thing you know, as far as there’s a lot of animal lovers out there,” Booterbaugh said. “That I found out with Snickers my dog and some people can go overboard on it I think you know, to save an animal.”

The law does not take effect until January 1 ,2017.