Push for Pet Warning Signs

   Councilwoman Sylvia Overby will present to the East Hampton Town Board suggestions for locations where signs might be erected alerting motorists to state laws designed to protect pets from harmful conditions in parked cars.

    Ms. Overby noted that Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. recently acted to strengthen the laws and penalties for leaving pets in cars during extreme weather conditions, and a group of local residents is working with nearby municipalities to provide and install the signs.

    In a recent incident in Bridgehampton, a dog left in a hot car died.

    “My Sophie’s the most dear thing in the world,” Supervisor Bill Wilkinson said of his own pet at a town board meeting on Tuesday. “I take responsibility for her all the time.”

    “Some people have to be reminded not to be cruel,” Councilman Dominick Stanzione said.

    “Some people have to be reminded to breathe,” said Councilwoman Theresa Quigley. “Should we put up signs saying, ‘Let’s breathe’?”

    She said she is “completely opposed” to Ms. Overby’s initiative. Mr. Stanzione and Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc cautioned only that they would not like to see signs everywhere, but “more of a public education campaign,” as Mr. Van Scoyoc put it.