Companion Animals Are Dying in Hot Weather—These Are the Reported Cases
Last updated on June 27, 2024:
The number of dogs and other companion animals who reportedly died from heat-related causes in 2024:
26
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Every year, PETA receives reports about dogs, cats, and other animals who have died after being left in hot cars or outside during hot weather. In 2023 alone, 163 animals endured heat–related deaths and another 855 were rescued from the heat—and those are just the ones that were reported. Most almost certainly aren’t.
Year | Deaths | Deaths | Rescues | Rescues |
2024 | 26 | See the list. | 71 | See the list. |
2023 | 163 | See the list. | 855 | See the list. |
2022 | 58 | See the list. | 490 | See the list. |
2021 | 60 | See the list. | 145 | See the list. |
2020 | 32 | See the list. | 50 | See the list. |
2019 | 53 | See the list. | 125 | See the list. |
2018 | 60 | See the list. | 93 | See the list. |
The following list is a compilation of heat-related deaths of companion animals reported in 2024:
Date | Location | Number of Dogs or Other Animals Who Died | Notes |
6/20/2024 | Jackson County, Tennessee | 1 | A dog died after being left in a hot car for seven hours during extreme heat. |
6/20/2024 | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1 | Two dogs and a cat were left inside a hot car while the owners stayed at a hotel. The cat and one of the dogs were rescued, but the other dog died. |
6/20/2024 | Houston, Texas | 1 | A dog was found dead inside a hot car in a hotel parking lot. |
6/17/2024 | Chester, Pennsylvania | 1 | A dog was found dead after being left outside in hot weather for more than eight hours. |
6/16/2024 | Fort Myers, Florida | 1 | Two dogs were left outside in the heat without food and water. One dog was surrendered to police, but the other died. |
6/11/2024 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 6 | Police found 15 animals, including six dead dogs, inside a U-Haul. Six dogs and three cats were rescued. |
6/5/2024 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | 1 | One dog died and another was rescued after they were left in a hot car. |
6/3/2024 | Acworth, Georgia | 1 | A police dog died inside a patrol vehicle after the air conditioning malfunctioned. |
5/26/2024 | Wilton Manors, Florida | 3 | Three dogs died after being left in a car without air conditioning for an extended period. |
5/30/2024 | Phoenix, Arizona | 1 | A dog left on a balcony died of heat-related causes. |
5/19/2024 | Sandusky, Ohio | 1 | A dog died after being left in a hot car while their owner showered. |
5/19/2024 | Dixon, Illinois | 1 | Despite receiving medical treatment, a dog who was found abandoned outside later died of heat-related causes. |
5/18/2024 | Lee County, Florida | 1 | A dog died from heat exhaustion after getting lost in a nature preserve. |
5/17/2024 | Waterloo, Iowa | 1 | A dog who was made to leave a store later died after being left in a hot car. |
5/4/2024 | Lake Buena Vista, Florida | 1 | Four puppies were discovered in a hot car in a Disney Springs parking garage. One of them later died. |
4/17/2024 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | 1 | A dog, who was likely suffering from heatstroke, collapsed while getting groomed and later died. |
4/14/2024 | Augusta, Georgia | 2 | A dog and a cat were rescued from a hot SUV. Two other cats were found dead in the vehicle. |
4/4/2024 | Glendale, Arizona | 1 | A dog died after being left in a hot car while their owner was shopping. |
The following list is a compilation of heat-related rescues of companion animals reported in 2024:
Date | Location | Number of Dogs or Other Animals Rescued | Notes |
6/21/2024 | Walker County, Georgia | 4 | Three dogs were left without food or water inside a hot car for five days. A fourth dog was found without food or water in a nearby shed. |
6/20/2024 | Indianapolis, Indiana | 2 | Two dogs and a cat were left inside a hot car while the owners stayed at a hotel. The cat and one of the dogs were rescued, but the other dog died. |
6/16/2024 | Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada | 3 | Police rescued three dogs who were left in a hot car. |
6/16/2024 | Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada | 10 | According to police, 10 animals were rescued from hot vehicles during the first half of June. |
6/16/2024 | Fort Myers, Florida | 1 | Two dogs were left outside in the heat without food and water. One dog was surrendered to police, but the other died. |
6/15/2024 | Queens, New York | 6 | Six puppies were rescued from a hot, urine-soaked sack. |
6/13/2024 | Marionville, Missouri | 1 | Police rescued a dog from a 100-degree car. |
6/12/2024 | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | 1 | Police rescued a dog in distress from a hot car. |
6/11/2024 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 9 | Police found 15 animals, including six dead dogs, inside a U-Haul. Six dogs and three cats were rescued. |
6/10/2024 | St. Petersburg, Florida | 1 | Police rescued a dog from a hot car while the owner attended a community meeting. |
6/10/2024 | Boise, Idaho | 1 | The Idaho Humane Society rescued a dog from a 107-degree car. |
6/9/2024 | Joshua Tree, California | 1 | A dehydrated puppy was rescued after running loose in a park for two days in 90-degree heat. |
6/6/2024 | Washington, Utah | 2 | The local fire department rescued two dogs from a hot park restroom. |
6/6/2024 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 4 | Four puppies were rescued after being found in a bucket on a sidewalk during a hot day. |
6/5/2024 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | 1 | One dog died and another was rescued after they were left in a hot car. |
6/5/2024 | Chandler, Arizona | 1 | Local police rescued a dog from a hot car. |
6/3/2024 | Naugatuck, Connecticut | 1 | Naugatuck Animal Control rushed a dog showing signs of severe heatstroke to a veterinary hospital. |
6/2/2024 | New Smyrna Beach, Florida | 1 | A dog was rescued from a truck while the owners were at the beach. |
5/27/2024 | Springfield, Missouri | 2 | Local police rescued a dog and a cat from a hot vehicle. |
5/21/2024 | Clearwater, Florida | 1 | A dog was rescued from a hot car in a beach parking lot. |
5/21/2024 | Houston, Texas | 1 | Firefighters rescued a dog from a hot, abandoned car. |
5/21/2024 | Omaha, Nebraska | 1 | A dog showing signs of heat distress was rescued from a hot car. |
5/18/2024 | Houston, Texas | 2 | A man already wanted for alleged cruelty to animals was arrested after he left two dogs in a hot car for hours. |
5/14/2024 | Pembroke Pines, Florida | 3 | Three dogs were rescued from a hot car in a hospital parking lot. |
5/12/2024 | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1 | A dog was saved by concerned neighbors after being thrown into a dumpster. |
5/4/2024 | Lake Buena Vista, Florida | 3 | Four puppies were discovered in a hot car in a Disney Springs parking garage. One of them later died. |
4/26/2024 | San Carlos Park, Florida | 1 | Firefighters rescued a dog from a locked car on a hot day. |
4/18/2024 | Houston, Texas | 1 | A dog—lethargic from being left out in the heat for an extended period—was rescued from a balcony. |
4/14/2024 | Augusta, Georgia | 2 | A dog and a cat were rescued from a hot SUV. Two other cats were found dead in the vehicle. |
4/12/2024 | Portage, Pennsylvania | 1 | A man was charged for allegedly leaving a dog in a hot car for hours. |
4/9/2024 | Port St. Lucie, Florida | 1 | Police broke into a parked car whose interior temperature was over 100 degrees to save a dog. |
No animal should endure a heat-related death. It’s inexcusable.
As guardians, we must take these vital steps in order to protect our beloved family members:
1. Keep dogs and cats indoors.
Unlike humans, dogs can sweat only through their footpads and cool themselves by panting, which makes it extra hard for them to beat the heat. Being left outside in hot weather can cause heat stress, injury, or death.
2. Never leave your dog—or any other animal—in a hot car.
It’s like being baked alive. Heatstroke can happen in just minutes, even with the car’s windows partially rolled down. And opening a window slightly won’t help—parking in the shade or leaving water in the vehicle won’t prevent your dog from overheating, either.
3. If you see a dog in a hot car …
… call 911 immediately. While you’re waiting for the police to arrive, write down the car’s make, model, and license plate number, or take a picture of the vehicle and go to the nearest building to find a manager and ask that the owner of the car be paged. If authorities are unresponsive or too slow to respond and the animal’s life appears to be in imminent danger, find a witness who will back up your assessment before carefully removing the animal from the car and carrying him or her into the shade. PETA offers an emergency window-breaking hammer for help with intervening in these life-or-death situations. Don’t leave until the authorities arrive on the scene and you know that the dog is safe. Learn more about what to do if you see a dog in a hot car.
4. Recognize the symptoms of heatstroke, and take action if you see them.
Heatstroke is a potentially fatal emergency. Symptoms include restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy, and lack of appetite or coordination. If a dog is exhibiting these signs, attempt to lower the body temperature by providing the animal with water and applying a cold towel to the head and chest. If someone is with you, one of you should take these steps in the car as the other drives the dog to a veterinarian.
5. Be mindful when walking a dog in hot weather.
On a hot day, the pavement on sidewalks can reach temperatures between 130 and 180 degrees, which is hot enough to hurt your dog’s feet and even seriously burn them. Here are some helpful tips when walking your companion in the heat:
- Always test the pavement with the palm of your hand before setting out—if it feels hot, it’s too hot for Spot.
- Walk early in the morning or late in the evening, when it’s cooler.
- Choose shady routes.
- Carry water, and take frequent breaks.
- Never make dogs wear muzzles or halters that restrict their breathing.
- Opt for a lightweight fabric collar or a nifty Swamp Cooler vest.
- Walk—don’t run. Dogs will run to the point of collapse just to please you. At that point, it may be too late to save them.
Together, we can help drastically reduce the number of dogs and other animal companions who die in hot weather and even eliminate these tragedies altogether. Animals are counting on us—as their guardians and as good Samaritans—to keep them safe. We mustn’t let them down.
Take Action Now
The Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seats (HOT CARS) Act of 2017 aims to minimize the number of children and animals who die in hot cars every year by requiring that automakers equip all vehicles with technology that alerts drivers when a passenger remains in the backseat after the engine has been turned off. Sadly, since the bill was introduced, more deaths have occurred—and there will certainly be more in the months ahead. But we can prevent tragedies like these. Click below to help:
Make sure that all your friends and family know the potentially lifesaving hot weather tips above.
Watch this video, listen to this radio clip, and check out this ad to learn more about the reasons why you should never leave a dog in a hot car.