By Margaret Banks
News & Record
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Police and emergency personnel would be allowed to break into vehicles to rescue animals in distress under legislation state Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, filed this week.
Police and other first responders can only look for the vehicle owner. The bill would allow them to break in after making a reasonable effort to locate the owner, the bill says.
House Bill 612 spells out misdemeanor charges for people who leave an animal in a hot or otherwise dangerous vehicle, clarifying the state’s animal cruelty rules.
The bill has bipartisan support; a number of Republican legislators have signed on - including state Rep. Rayne Brown, D-Davidson. State Rep. Alma Adams, D-Guilford, also is a sponsor.
Copyright 2013 News & Record (Greensboro, NC)