I just read the online paper from the town we have lived in for the past 3 years. An ordinance has been passed that allows an onlooker/civilian to use force to break open a vehicle that has a dog locked inside of a hot car. My first reaction was, "Great! I would want to be able to save an obviously suffering dog". But then my husband's questions started to make me think a little deeper. Who determines if the dog is in distress? Do they have a method to determine the temperature and what is too hot? Could a passer by take a crow bar to my insulated MTK Box with fans and let my dogs out into a busy parking lot or on the street? So now I am reconsidering my first positive reaction. I guess we will see how the ordinance is implemented and if common sense will prevail. Any thoughts from anyone who has lived with such an ordinance?
New ordinance good or bad???
2tall
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I just read the online paper from the town we have lived in for the past 3 years. An ordinance has been passed that allows an onlooker/civilian to use force to break open a vehicle that has a dog locked inside of a hot car. My first reaction was, "Great! I would want to be able to save an obviously suffering dog". But then my husband's questions started to make me think a little deeper. Who determines if the dog is in distress? Do they have a method to determine the temperature and what is too hot? Could a passer by take a crow bar to my insulated MTK Box with fans and let my dogs out into a busy parking lot or on the street? So now I am reconsidering my first positive reaction. I guess we will see how the ordinance is implemented and if common sense will prevail. Any thoughts from anyone who has lived with such an ordinance?
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We have had that same ordinance here for a long time. The funny thing is that the law allows you to force entry if there is an animal in the vehicle but not a child. Wow! I have never heard of it actually happening.
I would think that the majority of people would either interpret vehicle as meaning the actual automobile or are probably not aware of the ordinance and would most likely call law enforcement or animal control.
I would think that the majority of people would either interpret vehicle as meaning the actual automobile or are probably not aware of the ordinance and would most likely call law enforcement or animal control.
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bad law - allows every idiot out there to be considered not only an expert , but gives them the right to prove it at the expense of you and your animal........
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Im not aware of that here in Canada, but from my perspective that law can open a whole can of worms, I don't really like the idea, I would have a few questions:
1) who determines that the dog is in distress? Common sense isn't that common anymore.
2) lets say somebody decides to break a window to let the dog out...who is responsible if that dog now jumps out of the vehicle and bites somebody?
3) now that your vehicle is broken into who is responsible it somebody decides to steal your stuff?
4) if the dog jumps out and runs away and I lose my dog... can the person who broke into the vehicle now be charged because I just lost my dog?
I could probably come up with a few more, but you can see the spin off scenarios can be numerous. I would be interested to see how that plays out.
1) who determines that the dog is in distress? Common sense isn't that common anymore.
2) lets say somebody decides to break a window to let the dog out...who is responsible if that dog now jumps out of the vehicle and bites somebody?
3) now that your vehicle is broken into who is responsible it somebody decides to steal your stuff?
4) if the dog jumps out and runs away and I lose my dog... can the person who broke into the vehicle now be charged because I just lost my dog?
I could probably come up with a few more, but you can see the spin off scenarios can be numerous. I would be interested to see how that plays out.
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There seem to be a lot of members of the general public who think that if it's on wheels and a dog is inside, the dog is in imminent danger of dying from the heat. The mechanism of heat buildup inside an automobile, where the glass allows solar uv in but does not allow thermal infrared radiation out, is too technical for many people. So, yes, people will assume your ventilated, insulated dog box is a death trap, and if the law encourages them to act, they well may.
People who are certain they're right, and who have already condemned you in their minds as an irresponsible owner who does not deserve to be in charge of animals, do not seem to be the best at critiquing their own choices. In my opinion.
Amy Dahl
People who are certain they're right, and who have already condemned you in their minds as an irresponsible owner who does not deserve to be in charge of animals, do not seem to be the best at critiquing their own choices. In my opinion.
Amy Dahl
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I don't believe an ordinance making it illegal for me from freeing a dog or child from an obvious life threatening situation would stop me from doing so, so why the need for an ordinance allowing it?
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Ordinances allowing one citizen to destroy the property if another should be unconstitutional at best. Someone needs to challenge that one.
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There was an instance of this happening in N. Ill just a couple of years ago to {shall remain nameless}. So the story goes she went into a drive-in and when she came out, a do-gooder had the local police in attendance. I forget the details but recall that the do-gooder had performed some specific act that could have chargeable.
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While for a dog truly in distress I wouldn't need an ordinance to tell me it's ok. I'd do it anyway. We were in that situation last summer. Great Dane in a small car windows rolled up tight. Police were called and the group I was with (field training seminar dinner out after the day) were trying to pop the lock but prepared to break the window when the owners walked out of the restaurant. Cops gave them a ticket.
What amazes me is how many who should know better leave dogs locked up tight. At my Specialty 2 years ago they were CONSTANTLY announcing dogs in distress in cars. It was 100 degrees out. The facility had fabulous air conditioning. Those announcements shouldn't be necessary.
I'd break a dog out. Too bad about your window.
What amazes me is how many who should know better leave dogs locked up tight. At my Specialty 2 years ago they were CONSTANTLY announcing dogs in distress in cars. It was 100 degrees out. The facility had fabulous air conditioning. Those announcements shouldn't be necessary.
I'd break a dog out. Too bad about your window.
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Former OU football coach Barry Switzer took a puppy out of a car last summer, walked around until he found the owners and paid them 200.00 for the dog.
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