53 Companion Animals Endured Heat-Related Deaths in 2019—That We Know Of
The number of dogs and other companion animals who reportedly died from heat-related causes in 2019:
53
Download this poster
Every year, PETA receives reports about dogs, cats, and other animals who have died after being left in hot cars or outside during the hot weather. In 2019 alone, fifty-three animals endured heat–related deaths and another 125 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 | 111 | See the list. | 388 | 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 2019:
| Date of Death | Location | Number of Dogs or Other Animals Who Died | Notes |
| 12/30/2019 | Clearwater, Florida | 1 | A man left his dog and cat in his car when he went to work at a hospital. He left the vehicle running with the air conditioning on, but when he returned about five hours later, the dog was dead. Hospital security reported this incident to police, who arrested the man. Animal control took the cat, who was severely dehydrated. |
| 9/19/2019 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 2 | Two dogs who’d been taken to a park by The Urban Dog, a dog-walking service, were left in a hot van for three hours after their caretaker got distracted. Both dogs were dead when she went back to the vehicle for them. Their guardian filed a police report. |
| 9/4/2019 | Vicksburg, Mississippi | 1 | A police dog was found in distress inside a hot patrol car after the vehicle, which had apparently been left running, reportedly malfunctioned and shut off. He was rushed to a veterinarian but died later that day. |
| 8/31/2019 | Pasadena, California | 1 | A puppy was left in a hot van when an animal shelter was transporting him to a veterinarian to be neutered. He stayed at the vet’s office overnight but died the next morning. |
| 8/22/2019 | Pensacola, Florida | 1 | A dog died after being left in a hot car parked outside a Walmart store while the owner was shopping for about three hours. The woman was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 8/11/2019 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | 1 | A man who was caring for his friend’s dog was driving with the animal when his car ran out of gas or broke down. He went to get help, leaving the dog inside, and never returned. When police stopped to check out the vehicle, they found the dog dead inside from apparent heatstroke. |
| 8/6/2019 | Westminster, Colorado | 1 | A dog died after being left in a hot car while the owner ate at a restaurant. |
| 8/5/2019 | Portsmouth, Rhode Island | 1 | After running errands with their dog, a family forgot the animal in the car. Three hours later, they found the dog dead from the heat. |
| 8/4/2019 | Long Beach, California | 1 | A K9 named Ozzy was found dead inside his handler’s hot patrol car. The investigation is ongoing. |
| 8/3/2019 | Wichita, Kansas | 1 | Two dogs were left in a hot car outside a business. Police found one dead, and the other was rushed to a veterinarian. |
| 7/28/2019 | St. Landry Parish, Louisana | 1 | A dog who was left inside a hot car around 5:30 a.m. was found dead by his owner when he returned to his car around 12 noon. |
| 7/23/2019 | Fort Worth, Texas | 3 | Three dogs died after being left inside a hot car while under the care of a dog trainer. Authorities were investigating. |
| 7/23/2019 | South New Berlin, New York | 1 | A dog died after being left chained outside during a heatwave. A good Samaritan called police and asked if he could go help the animal but was reportedly told no, that he’d be trespassing. The dog was dead by the time police arrived. A woman was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 7/21/2019 | Jamestown, Rhode Island | 3 | Three dogs were found dead after being left inside a hot car outside McQuade’s Marketplace. Authorities tried in vain to revive them. |
| 7/20/2019 | Cobb County, Georgia | 1 | A dog died after being left inside a hot car for four hours in a Target parking lot. |
| 7/18/2019 | Milford, Delaware | 1 | An owner was charged with cruelty to animals after her dog died of heatstroke. Animal control officers found the dog, who’d been tethered outdoors for several hours with no shade or water. |
| 7/17/2019 | Omaha, Nebraska | 5 | According to the Nebraska Humane Society, five dogs have died this summer after being left outside in the heat. |
| 7/15/2019 | Ross County, Ohio | 2 | The Ross County Humane Society reported that two dogs had died in the past three days of heatstroke. They had been left outside. |
| 7/14/2019 | Brookings, South Dakota | 1 | Police responding to a call about a dog who had been left in a hot car found the animal dead. |
| 7/11/2019 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | 1 | A passerby called police after spotting a dog who appeared to be lifeless in a hot car outside Packers Pro Shop. Officers arrived just after the dog’s owner returned to her car and found the animal dead inside. Police were reportedly investigating. |
| 7/10/2019 | Aurora, Illinois | 1 | A dog died after being chained outside during high temperatures without water or shade. Another dog on the property was confined to a pen with a tarp covering it and had no food or water. The owner was charged with felony cruelty to animals, but the second dog wasn’t seized. |
| 7/8/2019 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 1 | A dog died after being left inside a hot truck that had been stolen from his guardian and abandoned. The vehicle was initially parked in front of Pelican Donuts, and it’s unclear where it was later found. A suspect has been charged. |
| 7/4/2019 | Rifle, Colorado | 1 | A good Samaritan called authorities when she spotted a dead dog inside a hot car parked in a residential area. The dog’s owner reportedly told police that she had been visiting a friend for an hour and 45 minutes and had left the car running with the air conditioning on. It wasn’t known whether the woman would face charges. |
| 7/2/2019 | Raleigh, North Carolina | 1 | A man left his dog outside in extreme heat with no access to food, water, or shelter. Police found her dead from heatstroke. |
| 7/2/2019 | Hialeah, Florida | 1 | Two men stole a car in Arcadia, Florida, that had a dog in it. The owner had reportedly left the vehicle running with the air conditioning on while shopping. The car was found in Hialeah with the dog, who had reportedly died of heat exhaustion, inside. |
| 7/2/2019 | Orlando, Florida | 2 | A woman left three puppies inside a hot car while she was staying at a hotel. Good Samaritans spotted them and called 911. While waiting for police to arrive, the people were able to get two puppies out, but one of them was already dead. Another died shortly afterward. The third is expected to be OK. |
| 6/27/2019 | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1 | A neighbor called animal control and other authorities several times after seeing a dog being continuously chained up outside in the heat with no access to shade. The animal died before officers showed up the following day. |
| 6/26/2019 | Tallahassee, Florida | 1 | Police discovered a dead dog inside a hot car. The owner was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 6/26/2019 | Tampa, Florida | 1 | Police responded to a call about a dog left inside a crate on a porch. When officers arrived, they discovered that the dog was dead and the temperature inside the crate was 131 degrees. They also found two dogs inside a small utility closet, which registered 126 degrees. Their owner was arrested, and the two surviving dogs were confiscated. |
| 6/25/2019 | Wilmington, Delaware | 1 | Two dogs were discovered inside a hot car. One was muzzled and tethered inside a crate, and the other was dead. Officers seized the surviving dog and arrested the owner. |
| 6/21/2019 | Columbia, South Carolina | 1 | A dead dog was discovered inside a crate in a hot car. The owner was arrested. It was 97 degrees outside. |
| 6/11/2019 | Cabell County, West Virginia | 7 | More than a dozen cats were discovered inside a hot car. A cat and a kitten were already dead, and five more animals died after being taken to a shelter. |
| 6/2/2019 | Medford, Oregon | 1 | A dog was left inside a hot car and died. |
| 4/19/2019 | Fresno, California | 1 | A dog died after being left inside a hot car on a 90-degree day. Police were alerted but weren’t able to save the animal. The car’s location wasn’t reported. |
| 4/7/2019 | Cass County, Michigan | 2 | Three dogs were found inside a hot car outside a casino. They’d apparently been left there for hours. Two didn’t survive. |
The following list is a compilation of heat-related rescues of companion animals reported in 2019:
| Date | Location | Number of Dogs or Other Animals Rescued | Notes |
| 12/30/2019 | Clearwater, Florida | 1 | A man left his dog and cat in his car when he went to work at a hospital. He left the vehicle running with the air conditioning on, but when he returned about five hours later, the dog was dead. Hospital security reported this incident to police, who arrested the man. Animal control took the cat, who was severely dehydrated. |
| 9/14/2019 | Pensacola Beach, Florida | 1 | A man left his dog in a hot car parked near the beach. Someone discovered the animal, and police and animal control officers responded. After trying to locate the owner, the police broke into the vehicle and rescued the dog. The man was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 9/12/2019 | Reidsville, North Carolina | 1 | A woman was about to leave her dog in a hot car outside the Rockingham County Judicial Center when she was warned not to do so by court officials. So she drove away, parked outside a business near the courthouse, and left the animal in the vehicle there. The court officials located her car and called Rockingham County Animal Control, which rescued the dog. The woman was arrested. |
| 8/26/2019 | Albany, New York | 1 | Police rescued a dog from a hot car. It wasn’t clear if the owner was charged. |
| 8/23/2019 | Freetown, Massachusetts | 1 | Outside a construction site, police officers had to break into a hot car to save a dog inside. The owner was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 8/21/2019 | Reno, Nevada | 1 | Police officers had to rescue a dog who’d been left for nearly an hour in a hot car parked outside a courthouse. It’s unclear whether the owner was charged. |
| 8/20/2019 | Newark, New Jersey | 1 | Police officers rescued a dog who was in a hot car parked outside Newark Airport. The owner was cited with cruelty to animals. |
| 8/18/2019 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | 1 | Police rescued a small white poodle from a hot car parked outside Logan’s Roadhouse. The owner was cited for mistreatment of animals. |
| 8/15/2019 | Monroe, Georgia | 1 | An owner was given a verbal warning by police after leaving a dog in a hot car. |
| 8/15/2019 | Brookhaven, Georgia | 1 | An owner was cited for cruelty to animals after leaving a dog in a hot car for at least 10 minutes while shopping in Town Brookhaven. |
| 8/13/2019 | Morristown, Tennessee | 1 | Police responded to a report of a dog left in a hot car parked outside a Hobby Lobby store. When officers arrived and found the animal, they also discovered drugs and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. The owners now face several drug-related charges, but no cruelty-to-animals charges were mentioned in reports. The dog was returned to his or her home. |
| 8/12/2019 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | 1 | Police responded to a call about a dog left in a hot car parked outside St. Bernards Clopton Clinic. An officer found the owner, and the animal was taken into the medical facility. The man was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 8/8/2019 | Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada | 1 | A police officer rescued a dog from a hot car. It’s unclear what charges, if any, the owner faces. |
| 8/7/2019 | London, Ontario, Canada | 1 | Someone called 911 after spotting a puppy in a hot car reportedly for more than an hour and a half. Police removed the dog from the car and gave him or her water. The owner was issued a summons to appear in court at a later date on a cruelty-to-animals charge. |
| 8/6/2019 | Glynn County, Georgia | 1 | A concerned citizen called the police after seeing a puppy inside a crate that was locked in a hot car parked outside a Walmart store. When an officer arrived, he found the owner and explained to him the dangers of leaving an animal in a hot vehicle. The man refused to listen and was cited for cruelty to animals. |
| 8/6/2019 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | 1 | Police had to rescue two dogs who were inside a hot car in the Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort overflow parking lot. The owner was charged with mistreatment of animals. |
| 8/6/2019 | Lakeside, Colorado | 1 | Police officers broke into a hot car outside a Walmart to rescue a dog. The officers began to cool him down, and once animal control officers arrived, they rushed him to a veterinarian. The owner initially fled police but was later charged with eluding police and cruelty to animals. |
| 8/4/2019 | Huntsville, Alabama | 1 | Police officers broke into a hot car outside the Ol’ Heidelberg restaurant to save a dog. The owner was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 8/4/2019 | Pooler, Georgia | 1 | Police broke into a hot car outside a Walmart store in order to save a dog who had been confined to a crate. The owner was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 8/4/2019 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 1 | A man broke a car window outside a Little Anita’s restaurant to save a dog. The owner was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 8/3/2019 | Tucson, Arizona | 1 | A police officer broke a window of a hot car outside a Walmart store to save a kitten. |
| 8/3/2019 | Wichita, Kansas | 1 | Two dogs were left in a hot car outside a business. Police found one dead, and the other was rushed to a veterinarian. |
| 8/1/2019 | Pooler, Georgia | 1 | A woman was arrested after leaving her dog in a hot car outside a Publix store. |
| 8/1/2019 | Carrollton, Georgia | 1 | A woman was arrested after leaving a dog in a hot car. |
| 7/31/2019 | Taunton, Massachusetts | 1 | Police smashed the window of a car in a municipal parking garage to get to a dog who had been left inside. The owner was not cited. |
| 7/30/2019 | Ukiah, California | 1 | Police officers were called after a dog was spotted panting inside a hot car for 10 minutes. They advised the owner against leaving animals in a car on hot days. |
| 7/30/2019 | Quincy, Massachusetts | 1 | Police had to remove a dog who had been left in a hot car in Quincy Center. The owner was charged. |
| 7/30/2019 | Melrose, Massachusetts | 1 | Police removed a dog from a hot car parked outside MelroseWakefield Hospital and took the animal to a veterinarian. The owner is not expected to be charged. |
| 7/29/2019 | Bozeman, Montana | 1 | A man was cited for leaving his dog in a hot car. The following day, he was cited for punching his dog, who was subsequently confiscated. |
| 7/27/2019 | Palm Desert, California | 1 | A good Samaritan called the police and pulled a dog from a hot car parked outside a Whole Foods. The owner was arrested. |
| 7/26/2019 | Pooler, Georgia | 2 | Two dogs were rescued from hot cars in separate cases, and both owners were charged with cruelty to animals. One car was parked outside a Western Sizzlin restaurant and the other outside Sam’s Club. |
| 7/26/2019 | Prior Lake, Minnesota | 1 | A muzzled puppy was rescued by police after being found “basically dead” inside a hot car outside Rib Fest at Mystic Lake Casino. The dog was taken to a veterinary office, but the owner took the animal back before care was completed. The owner faces multiple charges, and the prognosis for the dog is unclear. |
| 7/20/2019 | Pooler, Georgia | 2 | Three people were arrested in separate cases after leaving dogs in hot cars. One vehicle was outside an Olive Garden restaurant and the other outside a Lowe’s store. |
| 7/19/2019 | Pooler, Georgia | 1 | A man was arrested after leaving a dog inside a cage in the back of a truck outside the Wild Wing Cafe. The outside temperature was 93 degrees. |
| 7/19/2019 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | 1 | Police were called and ended up breaking into a hot car in a Walmart parking lot to save a dog who was inside. The owners were cited. |
| 7/17/2019 | Minot, North Dakota | 1 | A small dog was left in a hot car outside the North Dakota State Fair. The owner was charged with leaving an animal unattended in a motor vehicle. |
| 7/17/2019 | Idaho Falls, Idaho | 1 | An animal control officer broke into a hot car outside Grand Teton Mall to save a dog. The pup was taken to a veterinary office, and the owner was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 7/17/2019 | Duluth, Georgia | 1 | After being alerted to a dog inside a hot car outside an LA Fitness gym, firefighters broke into the vehicle and police helped them rescue and cool down the dog. Then, a witness volunteered to drive the animal to an emergency veterinary office. The owner was charged with cruelty to animals. It was 96 degrees outside. |
| 7/17/2019 | Adams County, Colorado | 2 | A woman discovered two kittens who were locked inside a hot U-Haul Moving and Storage unit. She alerted the manager of the facility, who then contacted animal control. Eventually, the manager opened the door, and the cats ran out. |
| 7/17/2019 | Somerset, Pennsylvania | 1 | Police responded to a call about a dog who had been left in a hot car for 45 minutes when it was over 80 degrees outside. The animal was OK, and the owner was cited for cruelty to animals. |
| 7/16/2019 | Ridge, New York | 2 | Two kittens were rescued from a hot car outside the Ronkonkoma train station. The owner was charged. |
| 7/16/2019 | Boynton Beach, Florida | 1 | A dog was found inside a crate that was covered with a tarp and left in a hot backyard. The animal was rescued and taken to get care. The owner relinquished rights to the dog and may face charges of cruelty to animals. |
| 7/16/2019 | Wareham, Massachusetts | 2 | Police rescued two dogs from a hot car in a parking lot. Their owner was fined. |
| 7/13/2019 | Orange County, Florida | 1 | A woman left her puppy inside a hot car for six hours outside a resort. Nearby workers heard the animal whimpering and were able to get him or her out. The woman was arrested. |
| 7/11/2019 | Loveland, Colorado | 1 | Animal control responded to a call about a dog inside a hot truck in a parking lot, and police officers broke the window to get the animal out. |
| 7/11/2019 | Berkeley Township, New Jersey | 3 | A delivery driver spotted a child in a hot car that was parked in a neighborhood and called 911. When officers arrived, they discovered the child and three dogs. They rescued all four, and the child’s grandmother was charged. |
| 7/10/2019 | Tularosa, New Mexico | 1 | A woman called police after she saw a dog inside a hot car. The officer initially wasn’t going to do anything because the windows were rolled down, but after doing some research, he determined that the dog was in danger and cited the owner for cruelty to animals. |
| 7/4/2019 | Austin, Texas | 1 | Police broke a window to save a puppy who had been left inside a hot car outside Bob Wentz Park. It was 91 degrees outside. The owner was charged. |
| 7/3/2019 | Rock Hill, South Carolina | 1 | A man was arrested after allegedly leaving his dog inside a hot car that was parked outside a Walmart store. It was 96 degrees inside the vehicle. |
| 7/2/2019 | Orlando, Florida | 1 | A woman left three puppies inside a hot car while she was staying at a hotel. Good Samaritans spotted them and called 911. While waiting for police to arrive, the people were able to get two puppies out, but one of them was already dead. Another died shortly afterward. The third is expected to be OK. |
| 7/2/2019 | Richmond, Virginia | 1 | Two men called police after they spotted a small dog in a hot car outside The Shops at Willow Lawn. While they waited for officers to arrive, they broke one of the vehicle’s windows and took the puppy out. The owner wasn’t charged. |
| 6/30/2019 | Wareham, Massachusetts | 1 | Officers were called to the parking lot of a Shaw’s supermarket after a passerby spotted a dog inside a hot car. The owner left before police arrived. |
| 6/30/2019 | Wareham, Massachusetts | 1 | An officer was called to the Wareham Crossing shopping center after someone spotted a dog inside a crate in a hot car. The owner was cited. |
| 6/29/2019 | Wareham, Massachusetts | 1 | Police had to break a window of a car in the parking lot of a Shaw’s supermarket to rescue a dog who was inside. The owner was cited. |
| 6/29/2019 | Louisville, Kentucky | 1 | Police broke the window of a car outside the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park in order to save a small dog who was locked inside. The owner was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 6/29/2019 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | 2 | Police broke into a car parked near Vanier Park to save two dogs who were trapped inside. The owner was cited. |
| 6/28/2019 | Houston, Texas | 1 | An emaciated puppy had to be rescued after being left inside a car in an apartment complex parking lot. The dog was confiscated from his owner. |
| 6/27/2019 | Strafford, Pennsylvania | 1 | A woman was arrested after allegedly leaving her dog inside a hot car that was parked outside a Target store. It was more than 90 degrees outside. |
| 6/27/2019 | Logan, Utah | 1 | An animal control officer discovered a dog who had been left inside a hot car while his or her owners were eating at a diner. The officer talked to them about the situation, and “they thought it was a joke.” |
| 6/26/2019 | Cary, North Carolina | 1 | Police officers rescued a dog from a hot car outside a Walmart. The owner was charged with cruelty to animals. |
| 6/26/2019 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 2 | A woman spotted two dogs inside a hot car outside a Hobby Lobby. The owners returned before she was able to get ahold of authorities. |
| 6/26/2019 | Tampa, Florida | 2 | Police responded to a call about a dog left inside a crate on a porch. When officers arrived, they discovered that the dog was dead and the temperature inside the crate was 131 degrees. They also found two dogs inside a small utility closet, which registered 126 degrees. Their owner was arrested, and the two surviving dogs were confiscated. |
| 6/25/2019 | Wilmington, Delaware | 1 | Two dogs were discovered inside a hot car. One was muzzled and tethered inside a crate, and the other was dead. Officers seized the surviving dog and arrested the owner. |
| 6/23/2019 | Pooler, Georgia | 1 | Police were called to a Moe’s Southwest Grill parking lot after someone spotted a dog inside a hot car. The dog’s owner was arrested. |
| 6/22/2019 | Lee County, Florida | 1 | A woman spotted a “large Chihuahua” inside a hot minivan outside a T.J.Maxx store. She alerted workers, and they found the owner, who was frustrated with the woman and drove off before police arrived. |
| 6/21/2019 | Palm Beach, Florida | 1 | After spotting a dog inside a hot car on a residential street, a man alerted the police. The dog’s owner came out of his father’s house, and police cited him. |
| 6/18/2019 | Ridgecrest, California | 1 | Animal control received a call after a dog was spotted inside a hot truck in a Walmart parking lot. Police were then called. Once the owner was located, the dog was removed from the vehicle, which was 124 degrees. The outdoor temperature was 109.6 degrees. The owner was arrested. |
| 6/16/2019 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | 1 | Police responded to a call about a dog left in a hot car outside a restaurant, where the animal’s owners were eating. The temperature inside the vehicle was 109 degrees. |
| 6/14/2019 | Wilton, Connecticut | 1 | An animal control officer was called to a YMCA after someone noticed a dog inside a hot car. The temperature inside the vehicle was 84 degrees. |
| 6/11/2019 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | 3 | In two separate cases, police were called because dogs had been left in hot cars. In the first incident, a pit bull was found in a car that was 100 degrees. The animal had been inside for at least 30 minutes. In the second case, two dachshunds had been inside a minivan for 40 minutes. The owners were cited in each case. |
| 6/11/2019 | Riverside, California | 1 | Police officers smashed the window of a hot car to rescue a dog who was stuck inside. |
| 6/11/2019 | San Bernardino, California | 1 | Police smashed the window of a hot car outside the San Bernardino County Courthouse to rescue a dog who was stuck inside. |
| 6/10/2019 | Medford, Oregon | 2 | Police are searching for the man who left two dogs inside a hot car outside a Walmart. Employees let the animals out, but the man took them back and drove off before police arrived. |
| 6/8/2019 | Santa Clarita, California | 1 | A small dog was rescued by police officers after being left inside a hot car parked outside a Walmart. |
| 6/8/2019 | Corpus Christi, Texas | 1 | Police rescued a puppy who had been left inside a hot car at a park. |
| 6/6/2019 | Elk Grove, California | 1 | A dog was rescued by a firefighter after being left inside a hot car. |
| 6/5/2019 | Panama City Beach, Florida | 1 | Police rescued a dog left in a car that had a temperature of 100 degrees inside. The animal’s owner was arrested. |
| 6/2/2019 | Merrimack, New Hampshire | 1 | A dog was rescued by police after being left inside a car that had reached 103 degrees. The vehicle was parked outside an outlet mall. |
| 6/2/2019 | Medford, Oregon | 1 | Police received a call about a dog left inside a hot car, and the animal was rescued. |
| 6/2/2019 | Hamden, Connecticut | 1 | A small dog was left inside a hot car parked outside a Stop&Shop for around 45 minutes. While firefighters worked to free the animal, the owner came out with a full cart of groceries. She was arrested. |
| 6/1/2019 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 1 | An abused puppy was rescued from a hot car and is now receiving veterinary care. She was confiscated from her breeder. |
| 6/1/2019 | Kennewick, Washington | 1 | Police officers rescued a Chihuahua who had been left inside a car that registered a temperature of 113 degrees. |
| 5/27/2019 | Jacksonville, Florida | 1 | A pig was discovered inside a hot car that was parked outside a mall. Reportedly, it was 120 degrees inside the vehicle. Police rescued the animal after a bystander called 911. |
| 5/25/2019 | Savannah, Georgia | 2 | Two owners were cited in separate cases after leaving their dogs in hot cars. |
| 5/22/2019 | Pensacola, Florida | 1 | A dog was left inside a hot car in a parking lot on an 84-degree day. A woman called 911, and police rescued the animal. |
| 5/22/2019 | Victoria, British Columbia | 1 | A dog was left inside a hot car in downtown Victoria. Police and animal control officers rescued the animal. |
| 5/21/2019 | Glendale, Arizona | 1 | A dog was rescued by police officers after being left inside a hot car for at least six hours. |
| 5/20/2019 | Southington, Connecticut | 1 | Police officers rescued a dog from a hot car parked outside a house. The animal had reportedly been in the vehicle for at least an hour. |
| 5/16/2019 | Avon, Ohio | 1 | A woman went into a Walmart and left her small dog inside her car with the windows rolled down an inch. Officers found the animal and cited the woman. |
| 5/11/2019 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | 1 | A woman left her small dog inside her car with the windows rolled up while she spent 20 to 30 minutes in a Walmart. Officers were called, and she was cited. |
| 5/7/2019 | Chehalis, Washington | 1 | A dog was left inside a hot car in a parking lot for around 30 minutes. |
| 5/6/2019 | Bluffton, South Carolina | 1 | A man noticed that a small dog was left inside a hot car at the house next to where he was working. He called police after trying unsuccessfully to contact the dog’s owner. Police were able to find the owner and instructed her to give the dog water. She lost custody of that dog and two others because of their conditions and the condition of the house. |
| 5/5/2019 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | 1 | A woman was cited for leaving her dog in a car during 80-degree weather. The car was parked in a Walmart parking lot. A concerned citizen alerted authorities. They removed the animal, who was at risk because of concerning temperatures inside the vehicle. |
| 5/2/2019 | Lady Lake, Florida | 1 | A dog wearing a furry harness was left in a hot car parked outside a Target. The windows of the vehicle had been rolled down 2 inches. The animal was rescued by police. |
| 5/2/2019 | Fort Myers, Florida | 3 | Three dogs had to be rescued after being left inside a hot car outside a Walmart. It was 105.5 degrees inside the vehicle. |
| 4/30/2019 | Norfolk, Virginia | 1 | A man smashed the window of a car in order to save a dog who was trapped inside the vehicle while the temperature was over 80 degrees outside. The car was parked in a neighborhood near a university. |
| 4/28/2019 | Pensacola, Florida | 1 | A beagle was left inside a hot car parked near the beach. The dog’s owner was arrested. |
| 4/27/2019 | Moab, Utah | 2 | In two separate incidents, police were called about dogs who were left in hot cars. In one, the temperature inside the car, whose location wasn’t reported, was 102 degrees. In the other, the temperature inside the car, which was parked outside a Motel 6, was 93 degrees. |
| 4/27/2019 | San Antonio, Texas | 2 | Two puppies were heard crying inside a hot car parked outside a library. They were found in a foam carrier that was inside a box. Both were rescued. |
| 4/19/2019 | Montpelier, Vermont | 2 | Police officers discovered a calf and a rabbit inside a hot car. They located the owner, and the animals were found to be unharmed. It was around 70 degrees that day. |
| 4/7/2019 | Cass County, Michigan | 1 | Three dogs were found inside a hot car outside a casino. They’d apparently been left there for hours. Two didn’t survive. |
| 4/3/2019 | Tampa, Florida | 4 | Four puppies were rescued from a hot car by the sheriff’s department. It was around 80 degrees outside. |
| 3/18/2019 | Springfield, Oregon | 1 | Police received their first call of the season regarding a dog left inside a hot car. |
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.
