Leaving pets in cars can result in 5 years in prison

(Baonghean.vn) - US lawmakers are looking to increase the penalty to 5 years in prison for owners who leave their pets in stuffy cars. This is a strong ruling that lawmakers and animal lovers are aiming for.

Americans could face up to five years in prison for leaving pets in stuffy vehicles, if the law is passed. Photo: Getty.

Michigan has become the 17th US state to have tough laws to protect animals from being left in vehicles that are too hot or too cold.

Under a new state bill, offenders would face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine if an animal dies after being left unattended in a vehicle.

The growing toughness in the US on animal protection has prompted British animal lovers to take action.

A driver in the UK faces up to 26 weeks in prison under the Animal Welfare Act, for causing the death of an animal by leaving it in a closed car.

The Express is therefore campaigning to increase the sentence for those found guilty of neglecting or mistreating animals to two years in prison.

The hot weather in recent days has forced the RSPCA to deal with a spike in cases of owners forgetting or deliberately leaving their pets in stuffy cars.

However, breaking a car window to rescue an animal can lead to legal trouble and even criminal charges. The RSPCA advises to call the helpline in any case, report the incident to the police and ask for help.

Pet owners may not think their pets could die in a car. But a small test showed that after 60 minutes, the temperature inside the car can skyrocket to 43.5 degrees Celsius from a previous 15 degrees Celsius.

Khang Duy

(According to Express)