If you see a pet in a hot car, here’s what you can do

Now that temps are up, cars temps will rise quickly when parked

Now that the temperatures have risen, La Crosse County animal control has already received calls about pets left in vehicles.

If you think they need your help, Kathy Kasakaitas, the animal control supervisor, has advice for you before you go breaking into their car.

“Law has been passed that does takes the liability off of the person of the person, as far as damaging a window,”  she said.

But, there’s a ‘but.’

“Prior to that,” Kasakaitas continued, “they must call 911 and they must stay by the vehicle. So, it’s not just as easy as seeing an animal in the car, ‘I think it’s in distress, I’m going to break in and take it.'”

On the flip side, if you’re pet is with you, and you need to run into the store for just a minute, it’s never ‘just a minute.’

In 15 minutes, temps in a car can rise by 40 degrees. 

In 20 minutes, your dog is already overheated.

“There’s not enough air circulation and ventilation,” Kasakaitas said. “So, it will cause them to overheat very rapidly.

“And, when you really think about it, by the time you park your car, walk in, get your few items and are in the checkout lane, you’re probably easily in there 20 minutes, when you only think you’re going to run in for one or two items.”

The law, for those who deem it necessary to break into a car to rescue a pet, reads:

“A person is immune from civil liability for property damage or injury that results from his or her forcible entry into a vehicle if:

• he or she had a good faith belief that the domestic animal was in imminent danger of suffering bodily harm unless removed from the vehicle.
• the vehicle was locked and forcible entry was necessary.
• he or she dialed 911 or otherwise contacted law enforcement, emergency medical services, or animal control before forcibly entering the vehicle.
• he or she remained with the domestic animal until law enforcement or a first responder arrived at the scene.
• he or she used no more force than he or she reasonably believed necessary to enter the vehicle.
• if this person left the scene before the owner or operator of the vehicle returned to the scene, the actor placed a notice on the windshield with information outlined in the law.