Many canine owners are not aware that leaving their dogs alone in the car during the summer can be lethal. To make things worse, pooches can suffer a heatstroke in a matter of minutes.

Due to the potential danger to pets, many states prohibit leaving unattended animals in parked cars, but Tennessee has taken things to the next level.

Under a law that went into effect July 1^st, Tennessee allows people to break into cars to save trapped animals. The Good Samaritan law, that allows folks to rescue children by breaking into cars, has now been extended and is the first of its kind in the entire country. In order to have protection under the law, kind-hearted people who want to rescue animals have to search for the owner and notify the authorities before breaking into the vehicle.

The new law has gained praise across the country, with animal advocates urging other states to follow in Tennessee’s footsteps.