Can You Save a Dog from a Hot Car Without Getting Fined in CO?

Normally, I'm not one to judge...

Just kidding! I can be VERY judgmental, but you'd be judging too if you saw what I did the other day.

I was doing some errands one evening in Fort Collins when I pulled my car into a parking spot. As I turned my music down, I started to hear barking next to me. I turned over to the vehicle next to mine and saw a dog hanging out in the back seat.

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No human was around and the temperatures were scorching! I peaked over (because I'm a bit nosy) and saw that the windows were cracked and the AC was blasting.

The person must've run into the store for something real quick.

I took a sign of relief when I saw them get back in the car and greet their dog.

This situation got me thinking...

Can You Break a Car Window to Save a Dog in Colorado?

Canva/KM

If that dog was in the car with no AC on or windows open, would myself or anyone else who noticed the dog overheating be able to break the window and let them out?

Or would the good Samaritan have to deal with the legal and financial consequences of breaking someone's car window?

I had to know.

Colorado Law on Rescuing Animals from Cars

I did some digging and found that there's an exact law that addresses this in Colorado.

According to Colorado law, specifically C.R.S.A. § 13-21-108.4 and C.R.S.A. § 18-1-706.5, if you come across an animal or an at-risk person in distress in a locked vehicle and decide to break the vehicle's window you are "exempt from criminal and civil liability" in this case.

What Does the Law Cover?

The Colorado law specifically covers "persons rendering emergency assistance from a locked vehicle."

You are allowed to use as much force as is reasonably necessary in this case.

Animals like livestock are excluded from this law.

An "at-risk person" refers to anyone with an IDD (Intellectual/Developmental Disability), at-risk elder or juvenile, according to this legal precedent.

What Conditions Must Be Met to Avoid Legal Trouble?

This good Samaritan will not be criminally or civically liable as long as:

The vehicle being broken into is not a police car.
There is reasonable belief that the animal or person in the vehicle is in "imminent danger of death or suffering serious bodily injury."
Forcible entry is believed to be necessary.
An attempt was made to contact the owner or operator of the car.
911 and emergency responders were contacted FIRST before trying to get into the vehicle.
The person who forcibly broke into the vehicle stays with the animal or person until law enforcement or emergency services arrive on site.

Avoid the Drama: Don’t Leave Your Pets in Hot Cars

To avoid all of this, just remember to be smart when traveling with your pets this summer. No one wants to be locked in a hot car in the Colorado heat.

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