Laws On Pets In Hot Cars

In perusing Twitter at 3 am, (another up in the middle of the night to let Savannah out), I came across this vital piece of information.

I cannot even begin to tell you how many times people have called and asked me "What do I do if I am standing outside a car with a dog closed in it?"

Well, my answer has always been the same.. "OK, I am not a lawyer, or a police officer, but I will tell you that I feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility to assist a pet in need. It has gotten me in trouble before, it will get me in trouble in the future, but in the end I have to live with my on conscious, so I never walk away. My advice is to stay beside that car and call the police right now. So what if some person gets pissed at you for being a busy body? What's worse, leaving a pet to die?"

Here is a better way to educate you all on what to do should you find yourself in the same parking lot dilemma.

Table of State Laws that Protect Animals Left in Parked Vehicles

Rebecca F. Wisch 

Animal Legal & Historical Center
Publish Date: 2013
Place of Publication:Printable Version 

Is it illegal to leave your dog in a parked car?  The answer to this question, of course, depends on in the state in which you live.  Actually, only 14 states (AZ, CA, IL, ME, MD, MN, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, SD, VT, and WV) have statutes that specifically prohibit leaving an animal in confined vehicle.  The next factor important to the question is the condition under which the the animal is left in the vehicle.  Most of these laws provide that the animal must be confined or unattended in a parked or stationary vehicle.  Further, the laws add that in order for a person to violate the law, the conditions have to endanger the animal's life.  Some of the statutes specifically state that extreme hot or cold temperatures, lack of adequate ventilation, or failing to provide proper food or drink meet this definition.  Other laws are more vague and just require that the conditions are such that physical injury or death is likely to result.
While not all states have laws that address animals in parked vehicles, numerous local ordinances prohibit this, and more may be enacted.  It is critical then that owners are aware of their local laws concerning this subject.  Even with out a state or local law, this action could still constitute cruelty under some circumstances.  In fact, in the Texas case of Lopez v. State, the defendant left his dog in his car on a hot day to go and watch a movie in a theater.  He was ultimately convicted under the state's anti-cruelty law.  Notably, Texas does not have a statute that specifically addresses dogs left in parked vehicles.  Below is a table that describes these laws by outlining the major concerns within the laws.

State	Citation and Link	Animals Covered	What is Prohibited	Penalty	Rescue Provisions
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona	A.R.S. § 13-2910	An animal ("animal" means a mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian).	Unattended and confined in a motor vehicle and physical injury to or death of the animal is likely to result.	Class 1 misdemeanor	A peace officer, animal control enforcement agent or animal control enforcement deputy may use reasonable force to open a vehicle to rescue an animal.
Arkansas
California	Cal. Penal Code § 597.7	An animal	Leave or confine an animal in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal.	First conviction: fine not exceeding $100 per animal. If the animal suffers great bodily injury, a fine not exceeding $500, imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding 6 months, or by both. Any subsequent violation of this section, regardless of injury to the animal, punishable by a fine not exceeding $500, imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by both.	Peace officer, humane officer, or animal control officer is authorized to takeall steps that are reasonably necessary for the removal of an animal from a motor vehicle. Must leave written notice bearing his or her name and office, and the address of the location where the animal can be claimed.
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
D.C.
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois	510 ILCS 70/7.1	Any animal	Confine any animal in a motor vehicle in such a manner that places it in a life or health threatening situation by exposure to a prolonged period of extreme heat or cold, without proper ventilation or other protection from such heat or cold.	A person convicted of violating this Section is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation is a Class B misdemeanor.	An animal control officer, law enforcement officer, or Department investigator has authority to enter such motor vehicle by any reasonable means under the circumstances after making a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person responsible.
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine	7 MRSA § 4019	An animal	Animal's safety, health or well-being appears to be in immediate danger from heat, cold or lack of adequate ventilation and the conditions could reasonably be expected to cause extreme suffering or death.	While a penalty is not provided in the law, the owner may claim an animal removed from a vehicle only after payment of all charges that have accrued for the maintenance, care, medical treatment and impoundment of the animal.	A law enforcement officer, humane agent, animal control officer, firefighter, first responder, or licensed security guard may take all steps that are reasonably necessary to remove an animal from a motor vehicle if the animal's safety, health or well-being appears to be in immediate danger from heat, cold or lack of adequate ventilation and the conditions could reasonably be expected to cause extreme suffering or death. Must leave written notice bearing the officer's or agent's name and office and the address of the location where the animal may be claimed.
Maryland	MD Code, Transportation,§ 21-1004.1	Cat or dog	Standing or parked motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the cat or dog.	Per District Court of Maryland District page that outlines citations for violations of Motor Vehicle Code: Fine of $70.00 (see § 21-1004.1 on page 51) (http://www.courts.state.md.us/district/forms/criminal/dccr090.pdf)	May use reasonable force to remove from a motor vehicle a cat or dog left in the vehicle in violation of the provisions if person is: A law enforcement officer A local or state public safety employee An local or state animal control officer An officer of a prevention of cruelty to animals authorized to make arrests A volunteer or professional of a fire and rescue service
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota	M.S.A. § 346.57	Cat or dog	Unattended in a standing or parked motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the dog's or cat's health or safety.	Petty misdemeanor. A person who violates this subdivision is subject to a fine of $25.	The following may use reasonable force to enter a motor vehicle and remove a dog or cat which has been left in the vehicle in violation of the law: a peace officer a humane agent a dog warden a volunteer a professional member of a fire or rescue department A person removing a dog or a cat under this subdivision shall use reasonable means to contact the owner. If the person is unable to contact the owner, the person may take the dog or cat to an animal shelter.
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada	N.R.S. 574.195	Cat or dog	Unattended in a parked or standing motor vehicle during a period of extreme heat or cold or in any other manner that endangers the health or safety of the cat or dog.	A cat or dog that is removed from a motor vehicle under the law is deemed to be an animal being treated cruelly for the purposes of NRS 574.055. A person who violates a provision of subsection 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor.	These individuals may useany force that is reasonable and necessary under the circumstancesto remove from a motor vehicle a cat or dog: Peace officer Officer of a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals who is authorized to make arrests Animal control officer Governmental officer or employee whose primary duty is to ensure public safety Employee or volunteer of any organized fire department Member of a search and rescue organization under the direct supervision of a sheriff The person who removed the cat or dog may take any action relating to the cat or dog specified in that section and is entitled to any lien or immunity from liability that is applicable pursuant to that section.
New Hampshire	N.H. Rev. Stat. 644:8-aa	"Animal" means a domestic animal, household pet, or wild animal held in captivity.	It shall be cruelty to confine an animal in a motor vehicle or other enclosed space in which the temperature is either so high or so low as to cause serious harm to the animal.	Misdemeanor as set forth in RSA 644:8 (misdemeanor for a first offense, and of a class B felony for a second or subsequent offense).	Any law enforcement officer or agent of a licensed humane organization may take action necessary to rescue a confined animal endangered by extreme temperatures, and to remove the threat of further serious harm.
New Jersey	N.J.S.A. 4:22-26	A living animal or creature	Unattended in a vehicle under inhumane conditions adverse to the health or welfare of the living animal or creature.	Constitutes cruelty with penalty of a sum of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000.	None
New Mexico
New York	NY Agri. & Mkts. §  353-d	Companion animal	Confined in motor vehicle in extreme heat or cold without proper ventilation or other protection where confinement places companion animal in imminent danger of death or serious injury due to exposure.	Any person who knowingly violates this section is guilty of a violation: 1st offense - fine of not less than $50 not more than $100  2nd offense – fine of not less than $100 not more than $250	Police, peace officer, or peace officer acting as agent of humane society may take necessary steps to remove animal from vehicle. Will not be civilly or criminally liable if actions taken in reasonably good faith.
North Carolina
North Dakota	NDCC ST 36-21.1-03.1	Dog or cat	Unattended in a stationary or parked motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the animal's health or safety.	Guilty of an infraction	None
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota	S D C L § 40-1-36	Cat, dog, or other small animal	Unattended in a standing or parked vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of such animal.	None provided	Reasonable forcemay be used to remove such animal by any peace officer or agent or officer of any humane society.
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont	13 V.S.A. § 386	An animal	Unattended in a standing or parked motor vehicle in a manner that would endanger the health or safety of the animal.	Failure to comply with subsection (a) of this section is a violation ofsubdivision 352(3) of this title (guilty of cruelty with a sentence of imprisonment of not more than one year, or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both).	Any humane officer or member of a fire and rescue service may use reasonable force to remove any such animal from a motor vehicle.
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia	W. Va. Code, § 61-8-19	An animal	Unattended and confined in a motor vehicle when physical injury to or death of the animal is likely to result.	Guilty of a misdemeanor; upon conviction shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $2000 or confined in jail not more than 6 months, or both.	None
Wisconsin
Wyoming

OK, last disclaimer, I AM NOT A LAWYER!! I just provide advice on the internet..what do I know?
(I know you can't walk away from a pet in a car as much as I can't)

For a link to the site see; Animal Legal & Historical Center

If you have a question for me you can find me @pawbly, or Pawbly.com. I am here to help you and your pet.