The original article on Orange France was replaced and is no longer accessible. So I was forced to look elsewhere. I found these pages (in French):
https://www.lunion.fr/id76138/article/20...-un-animal
and
https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/2550103...al-enferme
and
https://www.fidanimo.com/article/briser-...-ce-legal/
In brief, the recommended action is to call the police (gendarmerie out of town) and ask them to come as an emergency to smash the window. They can do this legally, but could also trace the owner of the car and impose fines for animal cruelty. If there is not enough time, then breaking a window is at your own risk. There is a risk of a criminal or civil case, BUT:
"Néanmoins, l'état de nécessité peut justifier, dans certains cas, le bris d'une vitre pour sauver un animal. D’après l’article 122-7 du Nouveau Code de procédure pénale : "N’est pas pénalement responsable la personne qui, face à un danger actuel ou imminent qui menace elle-même, autrui ou un bien, accomplit un acte nécessaire à la sauvegarde de la personne ou du bien, sauf s’il y a disproportion entre les moyens employés et la gravité de la menace »."
Translation: " Nevertheless, the state of necessity can justify, in certain cases, the breaking of a window to save an animal. According to article 122-7 of the New Code of Criminal Procedure: "A person who, faced with an actual or imminent danger which threatens himself, others or property, performs an act necessary for safeguarding the person or property is not legally responsible, unless there is a disproportion between the means employed and the seriousness of the threat ”.
The quote is from the third article above. Bold print emphasis is mine.
https://www.lunion.fr/id76138/article/20...-un-animal
and
https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/2550103...al-enferme
and
https://www.fidanimo.com/article/briser-...-ce-legal/
In brief, the recommended action is to call the police (gendarmerie out of town) and ask them to come as an emergency to smash the window. They can do this legally, but could also trace the owner of the car and impose fines for animal cruelty. If there is not enough time, then breaking a window is at your own risk. There is a risk of a criminal or civil case, BUT:
"Néanmoins, l'état de nécessité peut justifier, dans certains cas, le bris d'une vitre pour sauver un animal. D’après l’article 122-7 du Nouveau Code de procédure pénale : "N’est pas pénalement responsable la personne qui, face à un danger actuel ou imminent qui menace elle-même, autrui ou un bien, accomplit un acte nécessaire à la sauvegarde de la personne ou du bien, sauf s’il y a disproportion entre les moyens employés et la gravité de la menace »."
Translation: " Nevertheless, the state of necessity can justify, in certain cases, the breaking of a window to save an animal. According to article 122-7 of the New Code of Criminal Procedure: "A person who, faced with an actual or imminent danger which threatens himself, others or property, performs an act necessary for safeguarding the person or property is not legally responsible, unless there is a disproportion between the means employed and the seriousness of the threat ”.
The quote is from the third article above. Bold print emphasis is mine.
