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Arizona Daily Star & KJZZ: Bill Allowing Pet and Kid Car Rescues Gains More Support

Written by: Arizona Humane Society

News Highlights:

SB 1001 aims to end hot-car deaths of animals and children in Arizona.
The bill would allow Good Samaritans to take action and rescue a child or pet without risk of civil liability.
SB 1001 is sponsored by Senator John Kavanagh and supported by Governor Doug Ducey, among other lawmakers and animal-welfare advocates including the Arizona Humane Society, Animal Defense League of Arizona, Humane Society of Southern Arizona, and Humane Voters of Arizona.

Arizona Daily Star

Bill Letting Passers-By Break Into Vehicle To Rescue Pets, Kids Advances

Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services | tucson.com January 19, 2017

Responding to concerns by the Arizona Humane Society, state lawmakers agreed Thursday to effectively make it legal to break into a vehicle to rescue an animal — and even a child.

SB 1001 spells out that someone who uses “reasonable force” to break into an unattended motor vehicle is not subject to civil damages if there’s a “good faith belief” the child or animal “is in imminent danger of suffering physical injury or death.”

There are some restrictions, including first having to notify a police officer, first responder or animal control enforcement agency.

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KJZZ

Good Samaritan Bill Moves Through Arizona Legislature

Kathy Ritchie, KJZZ | kjzz.org 3:32 p.m. MST January 19, 2017

A Good Samaritan bill has unanimously passed the Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee. The measure would exempt a person who rescues a child or pet from a locked vehicle from civil liability.

“Every year, my dispatchers receive calls concerning dogs in hot cars, and we are left helpless to do anything,” says Christopher West of Arizona Humane Society. “Because under current law, only a law-enforcement officer or an animal-control officer can actually enter the vehicle to remove the animal.”

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Learn More About SB 1001

January 23, 2017