During these dog days of summer, it is not only children who are at risk in the confines of an oven-hot car, but pets are equally susceptible.

We have heard the stories at how good Samaritans have broken car windows to rescue at-risk children or distressed pets only to wind up on the wrong end of a lawsuit by the car's enraged owners.If some Pennsylvania lawmakers have their way, this will change, but first two bills must clear the state General Assembly, then be signed by Gov. Tom Wolf.Rep. Karen Boback, R-Luzerne, said that her bill helps prevent injury and death to children trapped in hot cars by granting civil immunity for any damage that may be done to the vehicle when forceful entry is necessary to rescue the child.The bill has passed the House Judiciary Committee and could be considered by the full House in the fall.Boback said the last thing people should be thinking about in such a situation is, "Gee, am I going to get sued by the vehicle-owner if I do this?"So far this year, 23 children in the United States have died in hot cars, nearly twice as many compared with last year at this time. Last summer, four died in a one-week period, including one in the Williamsport area. "On average, 38 children die in heat-related deaths each year as the result of being trapped inside motor vehicles," Boback said.Boback's legislation would give immunity to those acting in good faith and under the belief that a child is in imminent danger or harm.Before breaking into the car, the person must first determine whether the car is locked and that there is no other way to remove the child, and he or she must contact or attempt to contact police.Boback said if the law passes, it would bring Pennsylvania in line with 10 other states that give immunity to "good Samaritans."Pennsylvania's current law holds that it is illegal to leave a child under the age of 6 years old unattended in a motor vehicle.Hyperthermia is typically the cause of death for children who die from being left in a vehicle.A child will generally suffer severe organ damage or death if the interior of a car exceeds 107 degrees.With its windows closed on an 80-degree day, a car's interior can reach a temperature of 100 degrees within 10 to 20 minutes and could top 130 degrees after an hour.Boback's bill refers to civil suits only - not criminal complaints.No law now exists to protect individuals from being criminally charged for breaking into a vehicle to save a life, but several district attorneys I spoke to said it would be unlikely that charges would be filed in such "good Samaritan" cases.Still, there is a possibility, and we believe legislation should include criminal immunity, too.Meanwhile, a bill giving protection in the form of liability protection to police officers, humane society officers or firefighters who enter a vehicle to rescue a dog or cat from heat has been passed by the state House and will next be taken up by the Senate Judiciary Committee.We believe both of these bills are no-brainers; in fact, we believe that even good Samaritans, who are not officials, should be given equal protection from civil action or criminal prosecution.As many as 27,000 dogs are left in cars daily, according to an animal rights advocacy group called My Dog is Cool based in California, which raises awareness of the dangers of leaving animals in vehicles. A representative likened it to putting an animal in a microwave oven.If the state Senate agrees with the House's bill, and Gov. Wolf signs it, Pennsylvania would become the 27th state in the nation with these protections for animals.By Bruce Frassinelli |

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