A proposed law would allow people to break a window in conditions of extreme heat to rescue an animal from a car.

Senate Bill 977, introduced by animal advocate and 15th district State Sen. Rob Teplitz, was introduced last September. If passed, Pennsylvania would join about 22 other states with similar laws.However, Donna Crum, a Carbon County Friends of Animals animal cruelty officer, is skeptical about when it could actually be passed."Nothing with animals is ever put at the top of the list, and the animals suffer because of it," she said. She recommends that people should contact local and state government to express their concerns, which could help push the bill through.On an 80-degree day, Teplitz said the temperature inside a car can reach 99 degrees in just 10 minutes, 109 degrees within 20 minutes, and 114 degrees within 30 minutes. Animals do not sweat like humans do, so they have no way to cool themselves down in hot conditions, causing irreversible organ damage, heat stroke, brain damage and in extreme cases, death."When it comes to leaving a pet in a hot car for 'just a few minutes,' " Crum said, "every minute that animal is in a hot car is a minute that puts it in danger."She related a recent experience where a dog was locked in a hot car outside a local business."I went out there, it was 102 degrees in the car," said Crum, who carries a laser thermometer with her. "The windows were cracked maybe 2 or 3 inches. I called the police, and within minutes, the temperature went up to 112, 114 degrees.""Luckily, the dog got water quickly, so there was no mishap," she said.Other animals may not be so lucky."We had an incident a few years ago, where a dog died in a car at the Carbon Plaza Mall," Mahoning Township Police Chief Audie Mertz said.Mahoning Township Police Department has seen several incidents already this summer."We do receive a significant number of complaints," Police Chief Audie Mertz said. "We've had five dogs in cars since June 1.""We've had 10 to 15 incidents of animals in hot cars in the past two weeks," Crum said.Currently, law enforcement officers are limited in their capacity to help an animal in such a situation."A dog left in a hot car is a summary offense right now," Mertz said. "So even if a dog dies, the most we can do is issue a summary citation, animal cruelty."Some animal advocates, however, are more than willing to forgo the law to ensure the safety of a pet."Last year, at Rockin Rescue, we had a dog in a truck, and we had 20 people immediately there with bricks and rocks, ready to break a window," Crum said.To put it simply, Kimmy Mulik, a board member of Carbon County Friends of Animals, said, "Never leave an animal in a car."She said it is not only deadly, but in most cases, illegal."Some people think if they leave their animal in a car with the windows down, it is sufficient. It is not."Both Crum and Malik recommend keeping animals at home during extreme temperatures to ensure their safety."Make sure they are provided with adequate shelter in a cool spot, out of the sun, and supply plenty of fresh water throughout the day," Malik said.When it comes to animal safety - especially in the case of animals in extreme heat - Crum commends the efforts of concerned animal advocates, and advises them to immediately contact police or local animal control associations for help.Mertz also recommends calling the police.As Crum sums it up, "Raise your paws, because they can't dial 911."