A House committee approved a bill to provide immunity to anyone who breaks into a vehicle to rescue an animal from a hot car.
Two years ago, lawmakers provided civil immunity to anyone who breaks into a hot car to rescue a child. Now, legislators want to provide the same immunity for those rescuing animals trapped in hot vehicles.
Amy Jo Sites is the Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control director. She says her department received more than 250 calls for animals in hot cars last summer alone.
"My fear is that some of the more, maybe, rural areas or smaller communities that don't have animal control – how many animals are suffering and dying?" Sites says.
In order to receive the immunity, a person must first call 911 and reasonably believe the animal won't survive unless they break in to the vehicle.
After passing committee, the bill now heads to the House floor.