Animal Control Officers Can Rescue Pets from Cars

There have been many times when I've seen animals in vehicles in the parking lot of a grocery store with the windows either rolled up or not rolled down enough in 100 degree weather.

Sometimes the pet would appear to be in distress while other times not.

I always get the license plate number and have the manager call it over the intercom for the owner to go check on their four-legged friend.

According to several articles, when it's 80 degrees outside in a car for an animal it's 100 and they don't sweat like people. Their only resource is panting when they get overheated. Research also shows that animals quickly get overheated or overly cold, not like humans who take some time.

Now a new law in Fort Worth, TX where I live dictates that animal control officers can seize pets from vehicles. (Source: Star-Telegram).

"Animal control officers in Fort Worth now have authority to seize pets unattended in vehicles without a warrant after the City Council approved changes to its animal and fowl ordinance," said writer Mike Lee. (http://www.star-telegram.com/arlington_news/story/546635.html). "Animal control workers have to break into cars about once a week during the summer, City Animal Control Director Keane Menefee said."

In unrelated news, Texas drivers must carry more auto insurance, according to an article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

"Drivers who carry the minimal liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage will be paying higher premiums for a higher level of mandated coverage that goes into effect next month," writes John Moritz. (http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/546846.html). "Currently, drivers must be covered for at least $20,000 for each injured person in an accident to a total of $40,000 for everyone injured in the accident and $15,000 for property damage."

The new rules only apply to liability coverage, which pays others for accidents caused by a driver, the article stated.

"Lawmakers enacted the new law because insurance companies said that lower coverage levels were not always sufficient to cover the costs of accidents," said Moritz. "The penalties for violating the state law requiring auto liability insurance are severe."

The new law also raises the coverage limit again starting Jan 1, 2011, according to Moritz.

"Drivers who carry minimum limits will begin to notice the new limits as they renew their auto policies or buy a new policy," the article said.