🐺 *** HOT CAR LAW *** 🐶
Did you know Wisconsin is part of a handful of states that allows you to rescue people and domesticated animals in a hot car? Domesticated animals being dog, cat, or other animal that is domesticated and kept as a household pet, but does not include a farm animal. The so-called “Good Samaritan” law is designed to prevent a person with good intentions from incurring a civil penalty for acting.
*** If you are concerned for an animal's welfare or see an animal in distress, call the non-emergency line at 715-339-3011. *** If a person is in distress/injured, call 9-1-1!
Per state statute 895.484, "a person is immune from civil liability for property damage or injury that results from his or her forcible entry into a vehicle if:
• he or she had a good faith belief that the domestic animal was in imminent danger of suffering bodily harm unless removed from the vehicle
• the vehicle was locked and forcible entry was necessary
• he or she dialed 911 or otherwise contacted law enforcement, emergency medical services, or animal control before forcibly entering the vehicle
• he or she remained with the domestic animal until law enforcement or a first responder arrived at the scene
• he or she used no more force than he or she reasonably believed necessary to enter the vehicle
• if this person left the scene before the owner or operator of the vehicle returned to the scene, the actor placed a notice on the windshield with information outlined in the law"