Tennessee has made it legal to break into a car to free an animal locked inside

A NEW law in Tennessee has promised to put an end to the horrible sight of seeing animals locked inside an unattended vehicle.

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SEEING a helpless animal locked inside a parked car while their careless owner is nowhere to be seen is pretty horrible.

Especially, when it has been well documented by the RSPCA that an animal left unattended in a car can die in just six minutes.

This year alone, the RSPCA has received 1,097 distress calls about animals being locked inside vehicles and while Australia has no specific laws surrounding the issue, if a pet suffers as a result of being left unattended in car, the offender can be fined or spend time in jail for animal cruelty.

But, is this method too reactive instead of proactive?

Currently in the US, 16 states have laws prohibiting people from leaving their animals unattended in vehicles and now one state has taken things a step further.

As of this month, Tennessee has changed its laws to allow residents to break into a parked car with no legal repercussions, if an animal is locked inside and facing imminent danger.

Republican representative David Hawk proposed the measure which was passed the Tennessee House following a decisive 90-2 vote.

The law expands on a similar one introduced to the state last year that gave civilians the right to break into locked cars to free children in danger.

While happy with the result, Mr Hawk admits it will be difficult to create specific guidelines established for diagnosing if an animal is facing imminent danger.

“We certainly considered the potential for differing opinions from a caller or callers, law enforcement, emergency responders, animal control, and the animal’s owner, just to name a few of the interested parties,” he told Vice.

“Recognising that crafting legislation is an imperfect process, we did not feel that a specific course of action could be described in law for the many potentially different situations that could occur.”

Mr Hawk said believes the guidelines will become more specific as the time progresses.

“We are always open to any suggestions and will be working with the administrative and judicial branches of government to see if some standard operating procedure is needed as we move forward, or if each situation will receive advice on a case-by-case basis,” he said.

In order to find out the legalities of performing such an act in Australia, News.com.au contacted the Attorney’s General for each state and territory.

It was discovered that if a person breaks into a car to free and animal in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales they face the risk of being charged with a criminal offence.

However, in all three states police have discretion about when to lay charges and in certain circumstances they may decide that it is not appropriate.

News.com.au is still waiting for a response from the remaining states and territories.