Can You Legally Break A Car Window To Save An Animal In Texas?

We've all seen it happen before. We spot a cute cat or dog sitting in a vehicle while their owner is taking care of an errand. If their human is loving and responsible, the animal is left with some way to stay cool in a those hot Texas temperatures.

But there are too many instances in which the animal is left with no way to stay cool. With no assistance in sight, some Texans might get worried about the health and safety of the pet. There are limited options, such as making a decision to break the window for relief.

But the question remains: if that happens, have you broken the law? For those thinking of doing so, you may want to think twice.

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Texas Good Samaritan Act And Whom It Protects

The Lone Star State does indeed have an act that protects those who break into a vehicle to help a human being. Unfortunately, this act does not apply to animals. So it is indeed illegal to break a car window to help an animal.

There are ongoing attempts in the Texas legislature to make it so that people who assist animals who are in hot cars are considered Good Samaritans. But for those still wanting to help, the Human Society of the United States has some tips:

- If the owner can't be found, call the non-emergency number of the local police or animal control and wait by the car for them to arrive.
- Take down the car's make, model, and license plate number.
- If there are businesses nearby, notify their managers or security guards and ask them to make an announcement to find the car's owner.

As always, remember to never leave a child or animal in a hot car! Temperatures climb insanely quickly, and we read far too many stories about children and animals dying in the heat because of negligent or cruel people.