If you're in Indiana, you can get arrested for saving a dog's life

Locking a dog in a car during these warm months is incredibly dangerous, and can result in death if they are left there too long.

Indianapolis Animal Care & control officer Jerry Kellems described the gruesome process: "Literally, if they're in there their internal system and brains could get fried. It's like baking them from the inside out."

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If someone sees a dog trapped, they might want to take matters into their own hands and break into the car to save the pup.

In fact, Tennessee passed a law that states that one can do so without fear of legal action.

In Indiana, however, this is not the case. Not only is it legal to lock a dog in a car, but lawmakers were barred from making a rule similar to Tenessee's.

Krista Taggart, corporation council for the city of Greenwood, Indiana, explained, "Indiana's home rule statute states that municipalities cannot enact civil defenses. That's something that has to be done at the state level."

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"We don't have anything in the books," said State Representative Linda Lawson about the issue. "There is nothing at all that would protect an animal from being in a hot car for any length of time. Not two hours, two days, or whatever."

This means that if you break into a car to save a dog in the state, you may be subject to legal action -- even if you save the dog's life.

If you see a suffering dog, the best bet not to be arrested is to call the police -- despite your instincts.