"Leaving a pet in a stifling hot or freezing cold car
is inhumane and potentially dangerous, and emergency responders should have the
ability to remove them if necessary," Governor Cuomo said. "As a dog
owner myself, I am proud to sign this measure into law to help ensure the safety
and wellbeing of animals."
Senator Kenneth P. LaValle said, "By authorizing
emergency medical service personnel and firefighters to remove animals from
cars in extreme heat or cold situations, we reduce wait times saving critical
minutes and the lives of innocent animals. In areas with limited police
resources, this new law becomes even more important as it expands the number of
emergency personnel who can respond to a desperate situation where a helpless
animal is in imminent danger and the owner cannot be located. Too often we hear stories about an animal who
has died due to the reckless behavior of its owner. This measure will offer greater protections
to our precious pets and penalize those who put them in harms way."
Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele said, "In the summer months,
we are reminded of the danger that the confinement of pets in motor vehicles
can pose when temperatures inside vehicles can soar to life-threatening
extremes within minutes. This important measure will result in the saving of
beloved pets' lives in these dangerous situations by substantially expanding
who can respond to a pet in distress. Firefighters and EMS personnel are
equipped and trained to act in these situations. This will allow our
firefighters to put that training to good use when a pet is threatened by
extreme temperatures in a motor vehicle."
