Closed petition Change the law on smashing a car window to release a dog from a hot car.

Closed on 3 January 2019

At present, members of the public risk being prosecuted for criminal damage if they act on instinct and smash the window of a vehicle to release a distressed dog which is trapped inside the vehicle in hot weather. The burden of proof is upon them to show that smashing the window was necessary.

Please change the law to allow for concerned members of the public to release animals (dogs) trapped inside vehicles by smashing a window in circumstances where it would be deemed reasonable to assume that the animal (dog) is suffering from heat stroke or is at imminent risk of suffering heatstroke. Place the burden of proof on the owner to demonstrate that the animal (dog) was not at risk.