Az, Broke A Car Window To Pull Out A Panting Dog, Police Said It Was Fine, Owner Sent Me A 1,240 Bill, What Now

Location: Arizona, Maricopa County. Last Saturday was 108 by my dash. I parked at a strip mall to grab a fan for my kids room. As I walked past a blue Camry I heard the saddest little sound, a dog crying like a squeaky toy gone wrong. Back seat, small terrier mix, no water, all four paws doing a slow panic dance. I checked the doors, all locked. I put my phone camera on, read the clock at 1 12 pm, filmed the dog, filmed the lot, filmed the store fronts. I called non emergency, they bumped me to 911, dispatcher said officers on the way, watch the animal, and if things looked critical use a safe entry. After four more minutes the dog stopped making much noise and did that dazed wobble. My brain said wait. My stomach said nope.

I grabbed the tire iron from my trunk and popped the rear window, farthest from the dog, tiny shower of glass, reached through, opened the door, pulled the pup to shade. I poured water in a bowl from my bottle, wet a T shirt, fanned him. A store manager came out with ice, we did the little cool down routine my vet once showed me when my own mutt overheated at a trail. At 1 22 the officer arrived, took my statement, watched the dispatcher call the registered owner, wrote a report, said Arizona has a hot car animal law and that I was ok given what he saw. Owner showed up at 1 34, said thank you, then went quiet when the officer explained the report.

Monday I get a text from a number I do not know. It is a photo of a glass shop invoice, 1,240 for two panes, plus cleaning, plus a line that says loss of use. The text says pay by Friday or we file. I replied that I acted under the heat law, and that the police report exists. They said the officer told them I would pay, which is not what he said. I called the shop, the owner did approve a same day rush repair, I do not know if both panes were really replaced or just one. I asked for the police report number, I have it now. I saved all messages, my video, the 911 record request is filed, and the store manager will write a note.

Questions, in Arizona do I have civil immunity for breaking the window when an animal is in distress, given I called and waited a bit and used the least destructive entry I could think of. Is there anything formal I should send back, like a short letter citing the statute. If they try small claims, what proof carries weight here, video, weather record, officer statement. Also do I need a lawyer now or is this a wait and see until an actual filing shows up.