Is it Illegal to Leave Your Pet Alone in Your Car in South Dakota?

It's the time of the year where a pet left in an unattended vehicle can be a very dangerous thing, depending on the circumstances.

While it may seem safe to leave a pet in your vehicle as you run into a store, it's important to remember that a parked vehicle at 80-degree heat can feel like 104 inside after just 15 minutes.

In a recent study, it was found that 28 states have laws in place to protect animals left unattended in vehicles. But is South Dakota one of them?

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According to the DIY website, Family Handyman, South Dakota, is in fact, one of the states which protect pets left inside unattended vehicles.

Here's the full list:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

As you can see, there are states from every corner of the US on this list. And while they all offer some sort of protection towards animals; certain states go further than others.

For example, in 12 states it's legal for an average citizen to break into a vehicle to free an animal in distress. South Dakota is not one of these states.

To see how long it's safe for your pet in an unattended vehicle, check out the Good Calculators website.

And for the full, in-depth story, visit the Family Handyman article here.

Story Source: The Family Handyman

Story Source: Good Calculators