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  7. 111 Companion Animals Endured Heat-Related Deaths in 2024—That We Know Of

111 Companion Animals Endured Heat-Related Deaths in 2024—That We Know Of

The number of dogs and other companion animals who reportedly died from heat-related causes in 2024:

111

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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. More than twice as many dogs and cats reportedly died from heat-related causes in 2023 than in any other year on record—and those are just the ones that were reported. Most almost certainly aren’t.

YearDeathsDeathsRescuesRescues
20250See the list.17See the list.
2024111See the list.388See the list.
2023163See the list.855See the list.
202258See the list.490See the list.
202160See the list.145See the list.
202032See the list.50See the list.
201953See the list.125See the list.
201860See the list.93See the list.
How to Keep Your Animal Companion Safe in Hot Weather

The following list is a compilation of heat-related deaths of companion animals reported in 2024:

DateLocationNumber of Dogs or Other Animals Who DiedNotes
9/24/2024Phoenix, Arizona1Two dogs were rushed to an emergency veterinarian after they were found chained to a pole in a backyard during an extreme heat wave. They had no food, water, or shade, and one died. The dogs’ owner was accused of violating city code and charged with two felonies.
9/24/2024Pleasanton, California1A dog died while trapped on a balcony in the heat.
9/19/2024Ames, Iowa1A cat was found dead in a hot car after being left without food and water for “multiple days.” The cat’s owner was charged with animal neglect leading to serious injury or death.
9/19/2024Cleveland County, Oklahoma1A K-9 was found dead inside his handler’s hot car.
9/12/2024Clearwater, Florida1An employee at a companion animal resort left two dogs in an outside fenced kennel for a “potty break.” Both dogs collapsed from heat exhaustion, and one died.
9/5/2024Las Vegas, Nevada1A dog showing signs of heat distress died after his owner refused to provide him with water or allow him to cool off.
9/4/2024Ontario County, New York1A dog with untreated cancer had to be euthanized after being left in a hot camper for days without food or water.
8/22/2024Byron, Georgia1A dog died in a hot RV after its generator malfunctioned.
8/20/2024Sugar Land, Texas1A dog died from heatstroke after being left outside at a boarding facility.
8/20/2024Manor, Texas1A person was arrested for animal cruelty after leaving nine dogs in cages in the heat, resulting in the death of one of them.
8/15/2024Canandaigua, New York1A dog died after being left in a hot car.
8/13/2024Macon, Georgia1A man was arrested after a dog was found dead in his hot vehicle.
8/7/2024Outside Baker, California4Four dogs living in the Mojave Desert were rescued from the extreme heat.
8/4/2024Olympia, Washington1Mall security personnel rescued a puppy from a hot vehicle.
8/2/2024Henderson, Kentucky1One dog died and another was rescued after they were left outdoors without water or shelter.
7/31/2024Arnold, Missouri1A K-9 in a patrol vehicle with malfunctioning air conditioning died from heat exhaustion.
7/31/2024Twiggs County, Georgia1A dog died after being left in a hot vehicle by a tow truck operator.
7/30/2024Shorewood, Illinois1A dog died after being left in a hot car while their owner went shopping.
7/28/2024Dorchester County, South Carolina1A K-9 died in a hot patrol car.
7/27/2024Tybee Island, Georgia1A dog died after getting trapped in a hot car without their guardians’ knowledge.
7/26/2024Las Vegas, Nevada1A dog was found inside a taped-shut plastic tote in 110-degree heat and later died due to blood clotting caused by severe heatstroke and shock.
7/25/2024Eau Claire, Wisconsin1Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
7/21/2024Coeur d’Alene, Idaho1A dog in a boarding and training facility died from apparent heat exhaustion.
7/16/2024Lancaster, Pennsylvania1A dog suffering from extreme heat exposure was found in an alley. The animal was taken for emergency care but didn’t respond to treatment.
7/15/2024Des Moines, Iowa1A dog had to be euthanized due to heatstroke after being left in a yard without adequate water or shelter. The boyfriend of the dog’s owner was arrested and charged with animal neglect.
7/15/2024Miami, Florida1A dog died after being left outside in hot weather.
7/14/2024Springfield, Missouri10Thirteen puppies found inside a hot car were taken to an emergency veterinary clinic, where only three survived.
7/11/2024Thermal, California19Riverside County Animal Services found more than 40 dogs left unattended at a property. Nineteen dogs were found dead, and the remaining dogs were rescued.
7/11/2024Westminster, Colorado2Westminster Animal Management reported the deaths of two dogs left in hot cars.
7/9/2024Boston, Massachusetts3Three dogs were found dead inside an abandoned U-Haul van.
7/8/2024Coalinga, California1A K-9 died after being found lethargic in an outdoor kennel following a weekend of “dangerously high” temperatures.
7/7/2024Telluride, Colorado1A dog died after being left in a hot car by a companion animal sitter.
7/7/2024Harnett County, North Carolina1A stolen dog died after presumably being left in a hot FedEx truck.
7/7/2024Pine Hills, Florida1A dog died after being left in a car.
7/6/2024Apex, North Carolina1Police found seven puppies in a hot car. One of them didn’t respond to medical care and was later euthanized.
7/5/2024Danville, Virginia  1Police rescued a dog who was discovered chained to an air conditioning unit on a hot day. The dog didn’t respond to medical care and was later euthanized.
7/5/2024Gainesville, Florida1A K-9 died after overheating while pursuing a suspect.
7/2/2024Raleigh, North Carolina1Six puppies were rescued after being abandoned outside without food or water in a crate as temperatures reached at least 90 degrees. One of the dogs later died.
7/1/2024Calgary, Alberta, Canada1A dog died after being left inside a hot car.
6/30/2024Honolulu, Hawaii1A dog died after overheating inside his carrier during a flight.
6/29/2024Houston, Texas3Seven dogs were rushed to an “animal emergency room” after a sitter left them in a hot shed. Three of the dogs later died from heat-related causes.
6/25/2024Macon, Georgia1A dog died after being left in a hot car in a Walmart parking lot.
6/24/2024Memphis, Tennessee1Memphis Animal Services reported that a dog died after being found unresponsive in the play yard at its shelter. Preliminary information suggested that the dog’s death was heat-related.
6/24/2024Lafayette, Indiana1A dog died after being left in a hot vehicle while their owner was at work at a hospital.
6/24/2024Lexington, Kentucky2Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control reported receiving 18 animal-related calls over the previous weekend. Reasons for the calls included dogs left in hot cars; animals who apparently weren’t provided with the appropriate amount of food, water, or shade; and dogs experiencing heat-related illness. Two of the 18 animals later died.
6/22/2024Greenwich, Connecticut3Three dogs died and four others were treated for heatstroke after being transported in a hot U-Haul van by a dog trainer.
6/22/2024Lilburn, Georgia1A dog tethered to a porch died after being left without food, water, and shelter from the heat for six days.
6/22/2024Stockton, California1A K-9 died from suspected heat-related causes.
6/21/2024Hamburg, New York 1A dog died after being left in a hot car.
6/20/2024Savannah, Missouri1A K-9 died after being left in a hot car following an overnight shift.
6/20/2024Jackson County, Tennessee1A dog died after being left in a hot car for seven hours during extreme heat.
6/20/2024Indianapolis, Indiana1Two 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.
6/20/2024Houston, Texas1A dog was found dead inside a hot car in a hotel parking lot.
6/17/2024Chester, Pennsylvania1A dog was found dead after being left outside in hot weather for more than eight hours.
6/16/2024Fort Myers, Florida1Two dogs were left outside in the heat without food and water. One dog was surrendered to police, but the other died.
6/13/2024Peoria, Arizona1A dog and his guardian were found dead inside a car.  Heatstroke was the suspected cause of death.
6/11/2024Las Vegas, Nevada6Police found 15 animals, including six dead dogs, inside a U-Haul. Six dogs and three cats were rescued.
6/5/2024Virginia Beach, Virginia1One dog died and another was rescued after they were left in a hot car.
6/1/2024Dallas, Texas2A dog died and another had to be euthanized after they were left in a cage on a hot airport tarmac for six hours following a flight.
5/26/2024Wilton Manors, Florida3Three dogs died after being left in a car without air conditioning for an extended period.
5/30/2024Phoenix, Arizona1A dog left on a balcony died of heat-related causes.
5/26/2024Tallahassee, Florida1A dog died of heatstroke after spending an hour at a dog park.
5/19/2024Sandusky, Ohio1A dog died after being left in a hot car while their owner showered.   
5/19/2024Dixon, Illinois1Despite receiving medical treatment, a dog who was found abandoned outside later died of heat-related causes. 
5/18/2024Lee County, Florida1A dog died from heat exhaustion after getting lost in a nature preserve. 
5/17/2024Waterloo, Iowa1A dog who was made to leave a store later died after being left in a hot car. 
5/4/2024Lake Buena Vista, Florida1Four puppies were discovered in a hot car in a Disney Springs parking garage. One of them later died.
4/17/2024Bowling Green, Kentucky1A dog, who was likely suffering from heatstroke, collapsed while getting groomed and later died.
4/14/2024Augusta, Georgia2A dog and a cat were rescued from a hot SUV. Two other cats were found dead in the vehicle.
4/4/2024Glendale, Arizona1A 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 LocationNumber of Dogs or Other Animals RescuedNotes
9/28/2024Avondale, Arizona1A dog was rescued after being tethered to a home in the heat without access to food and water. Local police expect charges to be filed against her former owner.
9/26/2024Alameda, California1A dog was rescued from a hot car.
9/24/2024Phoenix, Arizona1Two dogs were rushed to an emergency veterinarian after they were found chained to a pole in a backyard during an extreme heat wave. They had no food, water, or shade, and one died. The dogs’ owner was accused of violating city code and charged with two felonies.
9/20/2024Denton, Texas1A dog was rescued from a hot car. Police cited the animal’s owner.
9/15/2024Naples, Florida1A puppy was rescued after being left in a hot truck for over an hour while his owner went shopping.
9/14/2024Corpus Christi, Texas1A dog was rushed to an animal hospital after being found in a hot U-Haul truck by police officers.
9/12/2024Clearwater, Florida1An employee at a companion animal resort left two dogs in an outside fenced kennel for a “potty break.” Both dogs collapsed from heat exhaustion, and one died.
9/6/2024Lakewood, Colorado1A puppy was rescued from a car whose interior temperature was 117 degrees. The animal’s owner was cited for animal neglect.
9/5/2024Newport Beach, California1Animal control officers rescued a dog from a hot car at a shopping center.
8/30/2024Dallas, Oregon2The local police department reported that it would issue a warning to the owner of dogs left unattended in a vehicle.
8/28/2024Jackson, Mississippi1A starving dog was rescued after he was found chained outside in the heat with no water.
8/27/2024LaPorte County, Indiana1A K-9 was rushed to a veterinary clinic with symptoms of heatstroke.
8/26/2024Mason City, Iowa29A total of 29 cats with no access to food or water were rescued from a hot van.
8/24/2024Houston, Texas1A woman rescued a dog from a ditch in the sweltering heat.
8/20/2024Albuquerque, New MexicoThe Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department reported that it has received 370 calls so far this year involving companion animals left in hot cars. 
8/20/2024Manor, Texas8A person was arrested for animal cruelty after leaving nine dogs in cages in the heat, resulting in the death of one of them.
8/14/2024Dedham, Massachusetts 1A dog’s owner was cited after police found the animal in a hot car.
8/11/2024Bennington, New York1Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
8/10/2024Asheboro, North Carolina1Two people were charged with cruelty to animals for leaving a dog in a hot vehicle as they visited a zoo.
8/9/2024Dedham, Massachusetts1A dog owner was cited a second time for leaving their dog in a hot vehicle in the same parking lot as the previous offense.  
8/8/2024Carmel, New York1A person was charged after leaving a dog in a hot car.
8/7/2024Middleburg Heights, Ohio1A dog’s owner was cited after police found the animal in a hot car.
8/2/2024St. Petersburg, Florida1Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
8/2/2024Dedham, Massachusetts2Two dogs were found tied to a parked car in a hot parking lot.
8/2/2024Gillette, Wyoming1A puppy was rescued from a hot car.
8/2/2024Henderson, Kentucky1One dog died and another was rescued after they were left outdoors without water or shelter.
8/1/2024Brewster, New York1A person was charged after leaving a dog in a hot car.
7/31/2024Mount Shasta, California5Police rescued a dog and four puppies from a hot car.
7/31/2024Gillette, Wyoming1Police rescued a dog from a hot car in a store parking lot.
7/31/2024Cortland, Ohio2Police rescued two puppies from a hot car.
7/26/2024Round Rock, Texas2Two dogs were found panting heavily in a 123-degree vehicle.
7/25/2024St. Albans, VermontA dog was reportedly left in a vehicle.
7/24/2024Wake County, North CarolinaWake County Animal Services reported that three people had been charged with cruelty to animals over a 10-day period for leaving dogs in hot cars.
7/23/2024Dedham, Massachusetts1A dog was found locked in a hot car.
7/22/2024Airdrie, Alberta, Canada1The Airdrie Fire Department responded to three calls regarding animals left in hot vehicles over the previous three days.
7/21/2024La Crescenta-Montrose, California1An overheated dog was rescued from a hiking trail.
7/21/2024Torrington, ConnecticutTorrington Animal Control reported an uptick in calls concerning dogs left in hot cars.
7/20/2024Longmont, ColoradoPolice issued a summons to the owner of a dog left in a hot vehicle.
7/19/2024Calgary, Alberta, CanadaCalgary police reported eight incidents of dogs left in hot cars since July 1.
7/18/2024Idaho3The Idaho Humane Society reported receiving 141 calls to rescue animals from hot vehicles from March 20 to July 2.  
7/17/2024St. Albans, VermontA dog was reportedly left in a car.
7/17/2024Colorado Springs, Colorado1A dog was rescued from a hot car.
7/16/2024Narragansett, Rhode Island1A dog owner pleaded not guilty to charges after police rescued her dog from a hot car.
7/16/2024100 Mile House, British Columbia, Canada1Police rescued a dog left in a hot vehicle. The police department reported receiving approximately four calls a week regarding dogs left in cars, with three calls received in one day during the previous week.
7/16/2024Greenbelt, Maryland1Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
7/16/2024Orlando, Florida2Two dogs were rescued from a car at Aquatica.
7/15/2024Edmonton, Alberta, Canada6Edmonton Fire Rescue Services reported that it responded to calls regarding six animals left unattended in vehicles the previous day.  
7/15/2024Baltimore, Maryland1A woman rescued a dog—apparently suffering from heatstroke—from the scorching heat.
7/14/2024Garden City, Kansas13Thirteen puppies were rescued from the side of a road. Police reported that the dogs were “hot” due to the extreme temperatures.
7/14/2024Springfield, Missouri3Thirteen puppies found inside a hot car were taken to an emergency veterinary clinic, where only three survived.
7/13/2024St. Albans, VermontA dog was reportedly seen panting while locked in a vehicle.
7/13/2024Peoria, Illinois1Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
7/13/2024Fairfield, ConnecticutPolice investigated a hot car parked in a grocery store lot that had an unattended dog inside.
7/13/2024Lake City, Florida1Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
7/12/2024Newburgh, New York43A total of 43 “lethargic” cats were rescued from a hot van.
7/11/2024Pasco County, Florida16Sixteen puppies were rescued from a cage left outside a convenience store.
7/11/2024Wheat Ridge, Colorado2A dog and a kitten were rescued from a hot parked camper.
7/11/2024Livermore, California1Police rescued a dog from a hot car in a Costco parking lot.
7/11/2024Philadelphia, Pennsylvania1An abandoned dog was rescued from the sweltering outdoor heat.
7/11/2024Mount Pleasant, South Carolina23A total of 23 dogs—“chained in unlivable conditions”—were rescued from a wooded area behind a home.
7/11/2024Thermal, California21Riverside County Animal Services found more than 40 dogs left unattended at a property. Nineteen dogs were found dead, and the remaining dogs were rescued.
7/10/2024Johnstown, Pennsylvania1A dog was rescued after being tethered to a fence during a heat wave without food and water. The dog’s owner was charged with cruelty to animals and neglect.
7/10/2024Edmonton, Alberta, Canada1Animal control officers rescued a dog from a hot car in a shopping mall parking lot.
7/10/2024Elora, Ontario, Canada1Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
7/9/2024Wheat Ridge, Colorado1A dog was left in a hot car while their owner dined in a nearby restaurant.
7/9/2024Cary, North Carolina1Police rescued a dog from a hot car in a hotel parking lot.
7/8/2024Merlin, Oregon1A service dog and his blind guardian were rescued from extreme heat after going on a hike.
7/8/2024Snyder County, Pennsylvania1A dog was left in a hot car while their owner shopped at a Walmart store.
7/8/2024Bradenton, Florida1Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
7/6/2024Apex, North Carolina6Police found seven puppies in a hot car. One of them didn’t respond to medical care and was later euthanized.
7/6/2024San Diego, CaliforniaThe San Diego Humane Society reported that it had responded to 85 calls regarding animals left in hot vehicles during the previous month.    
7/5/2024Murrieta, California2Police rescued two dogs from a hot truck in a Walmart parking lot.
7/4/2024Myrtle Beach, South Carolina2Police rescued a dog and a cat from a hot car in a shopping center parking lot.
7/4/2024Chandler, Arizona1A dog was rescued from a hot car after passersby alerted the police.
7/3/2024Fresno, California12A community service officer rescued 12 dogs from extreme heat at a park.
7/3/2024Sacramento, California1Firefighters rescued a “disoriented” dog from the bluffs along the American River on a hot day.
7/3/2024Orlando, Florida1A dog was rescued from a car at SeaWorld.
7/2/2024Raleigh, North Carolina5Six puppies were rescued after being abandoned outside without food or water in a crate as temperatures reached at least 90 degrees. One of the dogs later died.
7/1/2024Lake Buena Vista, Florida1A dog was rescued from a car at the Disney Springs shopping complex.
6/29/2024Houston, Texas4Seven dogs were rushed to an “animal emergency room” after a sitter left them in a hot shed. Three of the dogs later died from heat-related causes.
6/29/2024Florida City, Florida3Police rescued three dogs from a crate full of feces and urine in a hot car outside a motel. The dogs had “visible marks on their skin, possibly bite marks.”
6/28/2024Wheat Ridge, Colorado1Police responded to calls reporting a dog left inside a hot car. Shortly afterward, the owner arrived at the scene and removed the dog from the vehicle.
6/28/2024Asheville, North Carolina4A litter of puppies was rescued after being abandoned in a container left out in the hot sun.
6/27/2024Lincoln, Nebraska3Lincoln Animal Control reported that it responded to 53 calls regarding dogs left unattended in hot cars so far this summer.
6/27/2024Hempstead, New York1Local police rescued a dog from a hot car.
6/24/2024Tarrant County, Texas8Police rescued eight puppies who were left without water in a carrier in 100-degree weather.
6/24/2024Lexington, Kentucky16Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control reported receiving 18 animal-related calls over the previous weekend. Reasons for the calls included dogs left in hot cars; animals who apparently weren’t provided with the appropriate amount of food, water, or shade; and dogs experiencing heat-related illness. Two of the 18 animals later died.
6/22/2024Greenwich, Connecticut4Three dogs died and four others were treated for heatstroke after being transported in a hot U-Haul van by a dog trainer.
6/22/2024Wheat Ridge, Colorado1Police rescued a dog from a hot trailer.
6/21/2024Walker County, Georgia4Three 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.
6/20/2024Pennsboro, West Virginia1A K-9 was rescued from a hot patrol car.
6/20/2024Indianapolis, Indiana2Two 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.
6/17/2024Kilgore, Texas1Police rescued a dog from a hot vehicle in a Walmart parking lot.
6/16/2024Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada3Police rescued three dogs who were left in a hot car.
6/16/2024Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada10According to police, 10 animals were rescued from hot vehicles during the first half of June.
6/16/2024Fort Myers, Florida1Two dogs were left outside in the heat without food and water. One dog was surrendered to police, but the other died.
6/15/2024Queens, New York6Six puppies were rescued from a hot, urine-soaked sack.
6/13/2024Marionville, Missouri1Police rescued a dog from a 100-degree car.
6/12/2024Hamilton, Ontario, Canada1Police rescued a dog in distress from a hot car.
6/11/2024Las Vegas, Nevada9Police found 15 animals, including six dead dogs, inside a U-Haul. Six dogs and three cats were rescued.
6/10/2024St. Petersburg, Florida1Police rescued a dog from a hot car while the owner attended a community meeting.
6/10/2024Boise, Idaho1The Idaho Humane Society rescued a dog from a 107-degree car.
6/9/2024Joshua Tree, California1A dehydrated puppy was rescued after running loose in a park for two days in 90-degree heat.
6/6/2024Washington, Utah2The local fire department rescued two dogs from a hot park restroom.
6/6/2024Las Vegas, Nevada4Four puppies were rescued after being found in a bucket on a sidewalk during a hot day.
6/5/2024Virginia Beach, Virginia1One dog died and another was rescued after they were left in a hot car.
6/5/2024Chandler, Arizona1Local police rescued a dog from a hot car.
9/4/2024Lauderhill, Florida1Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
6/3/2024Naugatuck, Connecticut1Naugatuck Animal Control rushed a dog showing signs of severe heatstroke to a veterinary hospital.
6/2/2024New Smyrna Beach, Florida1A dog was rescued from a truck while the owners were at the beach.
6/1/2024Bennington, New York1A man was charged after leaving a dog in a hot vehicle.
5/27/2024Springfield, Missouri2Local police rescued a dog and a cat from a hot vehicle.
5/26/2024Las Vegas, Nevada2Police rescued two dogs from a hot minivan.
5/21/2024Clearwater, Florida1A dog was rescued from a hot car in a beach parking lot. 
5/21/2024Houston, Texas1Firefighters rescued a dog from a hot, abandoned car. 
5/21/2024Omaha, Nebraska1A dog showing signs of heat distress was rescued from a hot car. 
5/18/2024Houston, Texas2A man already wanted for alleged cruelty to animals was arrested after he left two dogs in a hot car for hours. 
5/16/2024Buffalo, New York4Four kittens were rescued from a box left out in the sun.
5/14/2024Pembroke Pines, Florida3Three dogs were rescued from a hot car in a hospital parking lot. 
5/12/2024New Orleans, Louisiana1A dog was saved by concerned neighbors after being thrown into a dumpster. 
5/4/2024Lake Buena Vista, Florida3Four puppies were discovered in a hot car in a Disney Springs parking garage. One of them later died.
4/26/2024San Carlos Park, Florida1Firefighters rescued a dog from a locked car on a hot day.
4/18/2024Houston, Texas1A dog—lethargic from being left out in the heat for an extended period—was rescued from a balcony.
4/14/2024Augusta, Georgia2A dog and a cat were rescued from a hot SUV. Two other cats were found dead in the vehicle.
4/12/2024Portage, Pennsylvania1A man was charged for allegedly leaving a dog in a hot car for hours. 
4/9/2024Port St. Lucie, Florida1Police 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.

URGENT: Dogs trapped inside hot cars can DIE 🚫☀️🚙🐕If you spot a dog who needs help, here's what you can do: http://peta.vg/28na

Posted by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) on Thursday, June 7, 2018

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:

Tell Lawmakers to Take Action for Kids and Animals Left in Hot Cars

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.

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Westminster Dog Show’s ‘Winner’ Rewarded With Shocking Prize

The only prize the “Best in Show” winner of the 2025 Westminster dog show gets is a lifetime of being exploited.

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“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?”

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind

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