State tackles heated issue
Bills address pets in hot vehicles
It was less than two weeks ago that state Rep. Frank Farry, R-Langhorne, was released from a four-day hospital stay — the result, he said, of overheating and dehydration brought on from his work as a volunteer firefighter.
“The difference is, I was actually able to make the phone call and get the medic unit,” Farry said at a press conference on Wednesday, the first day of summer. “I was able to call 911. Your pet is not able to do that.”
Farry and several colleagues had gathered to promote a bill that would allow first responders — police, firefighters and humane officers — to take any steps needed to rescue dogs and cats from hot cars. The bill, if passed, would free them from the risk of lawsuits even if they smash windows or bypass locks to free overheated pets.
It’s part of a raft of bills aimed at changing Pennsylvania’s animal laws, bringing the state in line with a growing number of neighbors that have raised punishments and empowered police. The hot-car bill, House Bill 1216, doubles down on an effort last year that passed the House but died in the Senate.
“The time has come already. Summer is here,” said Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-Chester, who sponsored a matching bill awaiting a Senate vote. “There’s no excuse to delay anymore.”
Every summer, animal rights groups push to remind pet owners of the dangers hot cars can pose to pets. Because dogs and cats don’t sweat like humans, moderate heat can quickly take its toll.
Even on a 72-degree day, a car’s inside temperature can rise well above 100 degrees in just an hour, representatives of the political action committee Humane PA noted in backing the legislation. On an 80-degree day, a car’s temperature can rise some 20 degrees in just a few minutes.
That leads to a recurring summer scene across the state: Bystanders see a panting dog in a hot car and call the authorities, who have to quickly decide what action to take.
“It usually starts around the end of May and works its way all through August, sometimes into September,” said Humane Society of Central Pennsylvania Officer Paul Gottshall, who covers Blair County.
By late last week, Gottshall said he had already seen seven local cases of police called to deal with overheated pets.
Responders deal with the calls on a case-by-case basis, he said, and it’s rarely necessary to smash a window. If the animal appears to be in distress and police can’t find the owner quickly, firefighters can be summed with tools to break in without serious damage.
In rare cases when an officer smashes a window, however, he or she can be left open to lawsuits from the car or pet’s owner.
“Everybody threatens to sue you,” Gottshall said.
That adds a layer of uncertainty for responders — uncertainty Farry and his colleagues hope to banish with House Bill 1216.
Under the bill, responders wouldn’t be liable for damages as long as they first seek the pet’s owner, believe the animal is in distress and leave a note explaining the situation.
The push for the bill follows last week’s passage of House Bill 1238, which strengthens animal cruelty laws and broadens felony charges for those who harm pets. That bill was set for Gov. Tom Wolf’s signature late last week.
Those who leave their pets in cars aren’t inherently bad people, advocates and lawmakers stressed: Many owners are simply forgetful or don’t realize the risk a hot car poses.
Addressing reporters last week, Rep. Dom Costa, D-Pittsburgh — a former city police chief — recounted the story of a Pittsburgh media figure who recently left his dog in a hot vehicle.
“It was inadvertent. He thought he was going to be a couple minutes, took longer. … And when he came back he was a little upset that a civilian had broken his window,” Costa said. “He’s a good guy, and he meant no harm.”
For animal advocates, it’s largely a matter of education. At the Wednesday press conference at the Capitol, Kristen Tullo, Pennsylvania state director for the Humane Society of the United States, detailed the best response, both for owners and bystanders.
“If you know you can’t go shopping and bring your pet in the store, make sure you leave them at home,” she said.
For witnesses who see an overheated pet, the best response is to write down the car’s identifying information and take it to a nearby business where the owner can be contacted, Tullo said. If that does not work or if the pet is in distress, call the police.
The latest effort to change the law has broad support: Similar legislation passed the House last year in a 192-0 vote. It died without a Senate vote, but Dinniman’s matching effort already has 12 cosponsors as it awaits a full debate.
“It’s about time we understand that the way we treat animals reflects our humanity,” Dinniman said, “and reflects on the way we ultimately treat each other.”
COMMENTS