GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Even as we humans endure another hot day, a new state law is on the horizon that would attach stiff felony penalties to leaving a dog in a hot car.
When outside temperatures rise above 80 degrees, it can take only a few minutes for the inside of a vehicle to reach 100 degrees, even if the windows are cracked. The Kent County Humane Society says that can kill a dog in as little as 20 minutes.
“Hundreds of animals are killed every year this way. We want to send a strong message: This is foolish," state Sen. Rick Jones said.
He and other Michigan lawmakers are working to make sure people know just how dangerous it is. Jones, R-Grand Ledge, teamed up with Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-Meridian Township, to introduce the bill, which got unanimous bipartisan support in committee this week.
“Right now in Michigan, there is no crime for leaving a dog in a car even if it leads to its death. I think we need to fix that," Hertel said.
The bill calls for graduating penalties starting with maximum of 45 days behind bars for leaving any animal in a hot car. That goes up to one year if there is serious injury to an animal and up to five years if the animal dies.
“I think it needs to be a strict penalty," Hertel said. “This bill will put penalties for people who knowingly do it but will also educate the public more on what the actual problems are out there and will hopefully save some animals' lives.”
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