It's summertime and that means that once in a while you're going to come across a dog left in a vehicle while their owner is inside a business doing, whatever. Before you take it upon yourself to bust a window and save that dog, just know there are no "rescue laws" that give you that right in Texas.

In fact, you are going to be held liable for that window you broke.

Texas doesn't specifically make leaving an animal in a vehicle illegal. Most cities have their own ordinance regarding letting your four legged friend wait in the car while you shop.

It took a lot of digging for me to find something that looks like it might pertain to leaving animals in hot cars. At the Municode website, under Sec 8-2-6, you'll find this sentence:

Care that confines an animal and exposes the animal to temperatures detrimental to the health of the animal is neither adequate nor necessary care as required by the incorporated statute or this article.

Sounds like it could be used to describe an Oldsmobile on a hot summer day, at least to me.

While Texas hasn't specifically made it illegal to leave an animal in a vehicle, there is a chance that it will be considered an act of cruelty. There was a case about a Texas man who left his dog in his vehicle while he went to watch a movie. He was convicted under anti-cruelty laws.

If you see an animal in a vehicle on a hot day, the best thing to do is contact the authorities if the animal is in distress.

The City of Amarillo website does have a list of resources to help you care for your pets in the hot weather. You can find that at this link.

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