Good Samaritans in Tennessee given permission to smash car windows to rescue dogs in hot cars
Temperatures inside cars can rise to 50 degrees on warm days. (AAP)
Residents in Tennessee will now be protected by the law if they see an animal trapped in a hot car and take action to free it.
As of July 1 the state’s Good Samaritan law, which allows people to break into a vehicle if a child is locked inside, was extended to include animals.
The new rule protects people from charges if they damage somebody else’s property while rescuing an animal trapped inside a car.
People must take certain steps before breaking into the car in order to be protected by the law, including making a reasonable attempt to find the owner and notifying law enforcement.
Nashville Fire Department chief of staff Mike Franklin told WKRN News anybody who acted reasonably would not be held responsible for damages.
“If you act reasonably, as any reasonable person would respond, you will not be at fault to save a life,” he said.
“You will not be at any fault to save a life and or animals.”
On a hot day the temperature inside cars can rise to 50 degrees Celsius, even with a window slightly open.
Animals and small children can die within ten minutes under these conditions.
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