New Ore. bill aims to protect dogs left in hot cars

Central Oregon is considered very dog-friendly. However, the state’s laws are lax when it comes to protecting canines left in hot cars. A new bill before lawmakers in Salem is aiming to change that.

“We have a lot of dogs in this area, and a lot of times people bring their dogs with them places,” Dr. Lauren Stayer of Bend Veterinary Clinic said Wednesday.

While many places in Central Oregon are dog-friendly, some are not. Inevitably, dogs are left in cars.

Stayer says the clinic treats dogs with heat stroke often.

“I would say in the summer probably a couple times a month,” she said.

The Human Society of Central Oregon gets calls from concerned citizens as well. It says on hot days, it can be anywhere from three calls to upwards of 20. However, they don’t have the authority to do anything about it — only police do.

Bend police are certainly no strangers to the issue. It says that in 2014, from June 1st – September 30th, they received 208 calls about it. On one of those calls, they issued a citation.

It’s not just a summer problem — cars can get hot on any sunny day. The current law allows police to break into a car only if the animal is unresponsive.

Senate Bill 614 could change that. It would allow officers to break into a car before the animal suffers heat stroke, or worse.

“I think it will give officers a tool to actually save a life,” said Lynne Ouchida of the Humane Society of Central Oregon.

State Senator Tim Knopp, R-Bend, is sponsoring the bill with Senate President Peter Courtney. Former Bend resident Desiree Donaldson launched a campaign in recent years that helped prompt the legislation.

“I think at the end of the day, it means your pet comes home with you, instead of dying in the hot car on accident,” Knopp said.

Knopp, along with other stakeholders, urged passage of the bill at a hearing Wednesday. The next step is a work session, where a committee considers and likely votes on it.

View the bill and track it here: https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2015R1/Measures/Overview/SB614