It’s Illegal to Leave Your Pet in a Hot Car In These States

Earlier this month, two Arizona dogs died after they were left alone in a parked vehicle for hours. It was a preventable tragedy, and similar situations happen more commonly than you might expect. Just this year, 11 dogs have died after being left unattended in a vehicle, reports PETA — and many more have been rescued from close calls. In 2024, 111 animals pets died from heat-related causes, and 388 were rescued.

With summer in full swing and temperatures rapidly rising, it’s important for pet parents to be aware of the risks of a hot car. You don’t have to leave a pet alone for a long time for the conditions to become dangerous. In 72 degree Fahrenheit weather, it takes an hour for the inside of a car to heat up to 116 degrees. At 80 degree heat, it only takes 10 minutes for a car to reach 99 degrees. Pet parents may think there’s no harm to running a quick errand while their pup stays behind, but the consequences can be deadly.

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There can be legal consequences, too. It’s illegal in many states to leave a pet in a hot car; some laws even carry potential prison sentences.

States where it’s illegal to leave your pet in a hot car

Leaving a dog in a car is considered illegal when the conditions in the car pose a threat to the animal’s life. Depending on your state’s specifications, this can be because of extreme heat, poor ventilation, a lack of food and drink in the vehicle, or extreme cold.

Nineteen states have some kind of legal ramification in the books for leaving a pet unattended in a hot car. In Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and West Virginia, the law specifically considers leaving a pet unattended in a car under dangerous conditions to be a misdemeanor. It is possible to be charged with a misdemeanor in other states on a case-by-case basis under their local animal cruelty laws, even if they don’t have specific statewide laws against leaving animals in vehicles. Some states, such as California, attach a misdemeanor to a second violation or an instance of extreme bodily injury. In New Hampshire, a second conviction is a felony offense. 

Other states with impose fines or civil infractions are: Colorado, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Washington.

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States where it’s legal to forcibly enter a car to help an animal

In 14 states, any person — not just members of law enforcement — can legally break into a car to save a trapped animal; they are provided civil immunity, meaning they can’t be sued for damages to the vehicle. These states are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin. In Indiana, someone who forcibly enters a vehicle must pay half the damages. 

In West Virginia and New Jersey, it’s illegal to leave a pet unattended in a car under dangerous conditions, but there is no immunity for someone who rescues a pet from a car. 

Certain steps may be required before it is considered legal to break into a car to rescue a pet. For example, in some states, you have to call 911 first, check that the car is locked, or stay until law enforcement arrives.

What to do if you find a pet in a hot car

If you find a pet in need, The Humane Society of the United States recommends first jotting down the make, model, and license plate number of the car where a pet is trapped. Then, you can go to a nearby business to notify a manager; they can make an announcement to the store, which may enable the car’s owner to help the animal. If the car’s owner can’t be found, you can call animal control or local law enforcement — or, if you’re in one of the 14 states where you are given civil immunity, you can choose to take actions to free the animal yourself.