Montana: $500 fine if pet is left in car

[cynatnite]

My husband was visiting his family in Montana on a run in the northwest. This is what his mother told him. She said if the vehicle isn't running they'll lay a big fine on anyone who has a pet in their car. They had their heatwave for quite a while up there this past summer and I guess after a rash of animals dying in cars that weren't running, they began these large fines.

[LostinVA]

1. Good for them!

I hope it's a worse punishment, if the pet ends up dead.

[xultar]

2. That should be a law in every state.

[DemGa]

3. Excellent!!

[Contrary1]

4. The fine should be higher...

with all monies going to the local animal shelter.

[havocmom]

13. Any higher and there may be no chance of collecting

Our pay scale here sucks majorly.

[youthere]

5. HURRAY for MONTANA!

EVERY state should make this a law. Two years ago I was in Wisconsin (my mother was having some health issues and I was there helping her out) and I had run to Super Wal-Mart (I know) to get her prescription filled. It was SOOOO hot (this was August) and they kept announcing over the PA "The person who left their dog in the car, you should know it is suffering and we have called the police" and I wanted to cheer.

[jgraz]

6. Good for them, even though it would make my life far more inconvenient

I'm always transporting birds around and stopping for a quick run into the drug store or 7/11. It would be pretty tough to haul the cage in with me, but oh well.

[sam sarrha]

7. in Yosemite National park it is a $500 fine if a coyote eats you dog, and $150 fine if you tie up a

dog outside a store.. and a Coyote doesn't eat it.. the Coyotes will snap up snack in broad daylight with hundreds of people on the sidewalk..

it is considered feeding a wild animal if the Coyotes eat your dog

[karlrschneider]

8. Kids and pets should NEVER be left in a car when it's hot.

I posted something related to this,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1560213

[tularetom]

9. This is one case where I believe in Old testament justice

fine 'em the $500, sure. Then put the sorry piece a shit in a car with all the doors locked from the outside and roll up all the windows. Leave them in there as long as they left their pet in the car.

We had a situation a few years back where we saw a dog locked in a car with all the doors locked and the windows rolled up on one of our typical central valley summer days where the temp was flirting with 100. Amazingly the license plate frame said "Veterinarians do it with Heart". A crowd had gathered and I was headed back to my car for a tire iron to bust out a window when a young women with an excess of attitude came out of a store and headed for the car. Angry words were exchanged and she became increasingly defensive and accusatory calling us assholes as she almost ran a couple of people over in her haste to get the heell out of there. We tried to do a license plate reverse search to find out where she worked but couldn't get the info.

[wicket]

10. YUP

I would've done exactly as you & attempted to smash the window. Assholes who do this care more about their property than their pets or kids :grr:

[Withywindle]

11. HELL yes!

This is a good thing. :thumbsup:

[havocmom]

12. Years ago, in Helena, there was a judge who sentenced a few to time in hot cars

He had them placed in a car, monitored by a peace officer for a spell. Not long enough to harm, but long enough to make a point. Thought he was on to something.

[BlooInBloo]

14. Whether or not the pet dies? Whether or not the A/C is on? Any details?

[TheMadMonk]

15. A good move, but I want to know what the penalty is for a child?

A worrying trend I see is the way offenses against animals are somehow considered more heinous than the same crime committed against another human being.