CG GCE Lab School 1535 N. Dayton Chicago, IL 60642 April 29, 2018 Alderman Ariel E. Reboyras 3559 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60641 Dear Alderman Ariel E. Reboyras, Chicago is a home to many fury friends, it’s a city that prides themselves on the dog parks we have and the amazing space we’ve created for our animals. Unfortunately, we put our animals at risk especially in the summers we have here in Chicago. A dog's normal body temperature is 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Moderate heating usually happens at around 103 to 106 degrees, while severe heating typically occurs beyond 106 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s no help either that the average dog feels 20 degrees Fahrenheit more than the actual temperature. Imagine a dog left alone in a car with windows rolled up, helpless and you not being able to help it because it is against the law. Which brings me to my point in why I am writing to you today. I write to you hoping that as a member of the Finance Committee, you will support the amending of the Good Samaritan Act. The Good Samaritan Act establishes “numerous protections for the generous and compassionate acts of its citizens who volunteer their time and talents to help others”. At the moment the Good Samaritan Act only applies to those who help humans, but not animals. I hope that this liability can expand to animals in distress, and that someone who helps an animal that is in danger, hurt, or in need of help that the Good Samaritan Act can protect them. As an animal lover, and a dog owner I encourage Chicago’s Finance Committee to push for the amending of the Good Samaritan Act and to give it to the City Council to let Illinois General Assembly know our stance as a united city. Chicago is home to domestic animals as well as wildlife, about 63.8% of households in Chicago have a pet. Our Forest Preserves and our river also have a lot of animals that need our help, especially with the dangers a city can expose them to. You will also find that many people in our ward care deeply for their animals as well as other animals in our community (domestic or undomestic). Here is a quote from Evaline S. Mlynarczyk who has feed the pigeons in our neighborhood since 2003 “.. so many animals don’t have our projection, and it’s saddening that our state doesn’t protect those who help them.” People in our ward care for animals, and we want the amending of the Good Samaritan Act.
I know people in our community might disagree, or might not think that animals should be in the same Act as humans but both humans and animals are alive. We both have emotions and we both feel pain, as well as we both might find ourselves in a situation where we need help or we're in distress. There is no reason for animals not to be added into the Good Samaritan Act, we should be fighting for this amending to happen. To essentially be a city and state that shows care and compassion for both humans and animals. I hope that you take my letter into great consideration, and push for something your people want. I greatly appreciate your help and thank you for your time. Sincerely, CG