Press Release: Warnings Issued as Traffic Fatalities and Canine Heat Risks Rise During Memorial Day Weekend
NAMPA, Idaho — With Memorial Day weekend on the horizon, local officials are sounding alarms about the onset of the "100 deadliest days" for traffic safety in Idaho. Concurrently, experts emphasize a parallel danger this summer: dogs left in hot vehicles.
Regulations for rescuing animals in distress vary across Idaho cities. In Nampa, breaking a window to save a dog may expose individuals to legal repercussions. Nampa Police Sergeant Clint Wilber cautioned, “While the law doesn’t expressly forbid it, doing so could lead to civil or criminal liability.”
Conversely, Boise’s regulations offer more protections. Ande Williams, Assistant Director of the Idaho Humane Society’s Animal Control, clarified that residents who forcibly enter a vehicle to rescue a domestic animal are immune from criminal penalties and any civil damages.
Emergency calls regarding dogs trapped in hot cars are prioritized by the Idaho Humane Society, which advises the public on recognizing distress signs in animals. Laurien Mavey from the Humane Society noted that behaviors such as excessive barking, drooling, and frantic scratching at windows indicate that a dog is overheating.
Experts warn that a car’s interior temperature can rise 20 degrees more than the outside temperature; on a 95-degree day, this can create dangerously hot conditions in a matter of minutes.
As the summer heats up and traffic fatalities rise, officials urge vigilance in both road safety and animal welfare, reminding residents to take swift action when witnessing dogs in distress.
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