As summer rolls around, many people across Minnesota are hitting the road to the lake, to the park, or to spend time with family, and they are bringing their pets along with them. With the increase in traveling, however, the risk of coming across a pet left alone in a hot car also goes up. Many people don’t realize that when they leave their pet in a car, the temperature inside the car can soar above the temperature outside of the car, putting the pet’s health and safety at risk.
While this is a big issue, Minnesota has already addressed the issue by passing laws relating to animals and cars. Minnesota law prohibits an individual from leaving their dog or cat in a car when it would endanger the animal’s health or safety. A person found doing this could be convicted of a petty misdemeanor and face a fine.
So, what do you do if you see a dog or cat left in a hot car? Minnesota, including 20 other states, allows state agents to use reasonable force to free the animal from the vehicle when the animal’s health is believed to be in danger. State agents include police officers, humane agents, dog wardens, and members of fire and rescue departments. After freeing the animal, the state agent must attempt to contact the owner of the animal. If they cannot get ahold of the owner, the state agent can take the animal to a shelter. If you are not a state agent, you are not legally protected from any action you take to remove the animal from the car. If, as a bystander, you see a dog or cat in a car and believe their health to be at risk, you should call a state agent to come and help.
If you are cited for leaving a pet in a hot car or face criminal charges from trying to free an animal stuck in a vehicle, our attorneys are here to help! Give our office a call at (763) 421-6366.