NJ Law — You Can’t Break a Window To Save a Dog in a Hot Car

They call these the "dogs days of summer," which means it is extremely hot outside.  That makes it a good time to remind dog owners, like me, that a hot car can be deadly for our furry friends.

According to ASPCA.org...
"Many people don’t realize how quickly the interior of a car can heat up, even when a window is cracked or the car is parked in the shade. On a 70-degree day, a car’s interior temperature can climb to 90 degrees. On an 85-degree day, it takes only 10 minutes for a car’s interior to top 100 degrees; in 30 minutes, the temperature can jump to 120 degrees."

Now, what happens if you see a dog in a hot car?  An article on adlf.org says that 29 states have "hot car" laws, but New Jersey is not one of them.  That means, if a dog is in a hot car, it is illegal for anyone, including law enforcement, to break into the car to save the animal.

Hopefully, this is something that changes soon, but until then, the ASPCA suggests you try to find owner and ask local stores to make announcements.