Assembly Bill 797, which seeks to allow private citizens to remove a companion animal from a vehicle if they believe that the animal is in imminent danger of suffering harm, is currently being considered by the California State Senate (second reading).
Summary:
The AKC agrees that no person or animal should ever be left in a situation where their health or safety is in danger. Those who would leave them in such a situation – including a vehicle – should be held accountable. However, as currently written, Assembly Bill 797 could lead to lost dogs, property damage, and other unintended consequences.
AKC urges California residents to contact their Senator to ask for floor amendments that also protect responsible dog owners whose animals were not in danger.
As currently written, AB 797 removes civil or criminal liability for anyone removing an unattended companion animal from a motor vehicle if they believe the animal is in imminent danger of suffering harm.
However, it does not provide recourse for owners for damage incurred if the animal in the car was not in danger, or remove liability for the owners if the dog harms someone as a result of being forcibly removed from the vehicle. Such protections are also important if the animal flees the car and becomes at large.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact your California State Senator and ask for amendment to protect responsible owners from unintended consequences of AB 797.
For questions or more information about this legislation, please contact AKC Government Relations at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org
The AKC agrees that no person or animal should ever be left in a situation where their health or safety is in danger. Those who would leave them in such a situation including a vehicle should be held accountable. However, as currently written, Assembly Bill 797 could lead to lost dogs, property damage, and other unintended consequences.