How to Keep Dogs Safe This Summer

WASHINGTON — As summer approaches and temperatures rise, so does the danger of dogs dying in hot cars, left to overheat by negligent owners.

Even on a day when it’s 70 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can hit 90 degrees in just 10 minutes. On a hot day, the temperature inside a closed car can shoot as high as 116 degrees in the same amount of time.

What can you do to keep dogs safe this summer? The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), the nation’s preeminent legal advocacy organization for animals, has some tips.

1. Never leave a dog in a hot car. 

Leaving an animal in a car for any amount of time is dangerous. Electric vehicles with settings that maintain a safe internal temperature (Tesla’s “Dog Mode” is between 68°F and 72°F) mitigate this risk – but only so long as the vehicle functions properly. Cracking a window doesn’t eliminate the risk of heatstroke or death, and in some states negligent owners can face up to one year imprisonment. 

If you have your dog with you: 

• Plan to visit animal-friendly restaurants and shops. 

• Bring a friend who can stay with your dog while you run into a store. 

• Leave your dog at home where they are safe and comfortable in the air conditioning!

2. If you see an animal in distress, call 911.

Calling 911 is the first step to saving that animal’s life. Most states allow a public safety officer to break into the car and rescue an animal if his life is threatened. 

Signs a dog may be in distress from the heat include excessive panting and restlessness, which can progress to unsteadiness or difficulty walking, possibly drooling, confusion or altered mental state. They may also develop diarrhea and vomiting, and/or their gums may appear blue, purple or bright red. These signs require immediate intervention.

3. Know your rights.

Social media posts have circulated across the country urging people to break a window if they see a dog trapped inside a hot car, but you should know your local laws. 

• Only 16 states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin— allow “good Samaritans” to break a car window to save an animal

• Almost all of those states require “good Samaritans” to contact law enforcement before breaking into the car. 

• An additional 17 states, plus the District of Columbia and Guam, have statutes authorizing public officials such as law enforcement and humane officers can legally break into a car to rescue an animal (Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, and Washington).

4. Let people know it’s not okay to leave an animal unattended in a car. 

If you see someone leave their animal in a parked car, consider politely approaching them and letting them know that even if it’s a pleasant day outside, the temperature inside the car can skyrocket fast. ALDF has created a printable flyer you can download at aldf.org/hotcars. 

For more information on keeping dogs safe this summer visit aldf.org/hotcars.