Law Says Firefighters Not Liable When Saving Pets From Cars

ALBANY – A new law in New York says firefighters and emergency medical professionals aren’t liable for any vehicular damage when they remove a pet from a dangerously hot or cold car.

Existing law already granted legal protections to police who break a car window to rescue a trapped pet.

The law signed Wednesday by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo extends those same rules to firefighters and EMTs.

Supporters say the law will speed up pet rescues by allowing authorities to dispatch firefighters or EMTs instead of having to send police officers whenever someone reports a pet locked in a car in extreme heat or cold.

Cuomo says that as a dog owner himself he was proud to sign the measure into law.