Is it illegal to save an animal from a hot car by breaking a window? What Southern laws say
Summers in the South are not for the faint of heart.
With the temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s and the heat index in the triple digits, the heat waves, excessive heat warnings and harsh sunlight just seem to never end.
If you think the outdoor temperature is scorching, just take a second to imagine how hot the inside of your vehicle gets.
We all know how it feels to wait for the AC to cool down the inside of a vehicle or the feeling of burning legs on hot leather seats.
So, how hot does it actually get inside a vehicle in the summer?
According to the National Weather Service: “The temperature inside a vehicle will reach 100 degrees in 25 minutes when the outside temperature is only 73F.”
With the hot temperatures we’ve been seeing lately (in the 90s), vehicles are heating up to an average of 116 degrees inside.
And according to Live Science, dashboards, steering wheels and seats reach unbearably sweltering temperatures:
“The cars’ dashboards got even hotter, reaching 157 degrees on average; the steering wheels climbed to a temperature of 127 degrees on average; and the temperature of the seats hit 123 degrees on average.”
What does the law say about animals in hot cars?
Because of this evidence, it is often seen as animal cruelty to leave an animal in a closed hot vehicle. You can get arrested and charged for doing so. However, not every state has specific laws making it illegal to keep an animal in a hot car.
Georgia and Mississippi are states where there aren’t laws regarding leaving animals in vehicles. Southern states that protect animals in cars include Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The full list of states that have laws protecting animals in hot vehicles can be found online.
Can you smash a window to save an animal in a hot car in GA or MS?
Although it is often seen as a heroic act, breaking a window to save an animal in a hot vehicle does not come without punishment in most cases.
In most cases, using reasonable judgment to save the pet is fine, but you could still be liable for damages. This is also the case for police officers who may break a window in order to save the pet–they, too, have to pay for any damages.
Tips for bystanders & pet owners
If you witness an animal in a hot car, here’s what to do:
Make sure that the dog is actually unsafe. Many pet owners will take precautions if they have to leave their animal alone for a prolonged period of time. For example, they may leave the car running with the air conditioning on, or Tesla owners will put their car into “pet mode.”
Try every possible way to contact the owner. Look for their phone number on the dog tag (if possible) or anywhere else on the vehicle. If they are in a store parking lot, try paging them at the customer service desk.
Call your local law enforcement’s non-emergency phone number and animal control. Report the car’s license plate, along with the make and model, and ask them to help save the dog.
Stay with the dog until help arrives. If possible, shade the window that the dog is closest to.
If the pup is in imminent danger of heat stroke or heat exhaustion (using reasonable judgment), you may break the car window to rescue the dog. Remember that you may face legal consequences in most states.
If you are a pet owner yourself, be responsible. Leave your dog at home as much as possible unless transporting them for an activity specifically related to them. Don’t leave them in the shade for an errand, don’t stop for groceries, and never leave them in a hot vehicle without air conditioning.
Have any questions? Comment below and let us know
This story was originally published September 6, 2023 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Is it illegal to save an animal from a hot car by breaking a window? What Southern laws say."
