Last updated on October 20, 2025:

The number of dogs and other companion animals who have reportedly died from heat-related causes in 2025:

140

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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 2024 alone, 111 animals endured heat–related deaths and another 388 were rescued from the heat—and those are just the ones that were reported. Most almost certainly aren’t.


Year	Deaths	Deaths	Rescues	Rescues
2025	140	See the list.	365	See the list.
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.

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 2025:

Date	Location	Number of Dogs or Other Animals Who Died	Notes
9/13/2025	Madison, Wisconsin	5	A woman left seven dogs in a hot van, five of them died.
9/5/2025	Hilo, Hawaii	1	A dog used by police died after being left in a hot car for an “unacceptable” amount of time.
9/2/2025	Petaluma, California	1	A Telsa’s “dog mode” malfunctioned, resulting in one of the two dogs inside dying from heat.
8/24/2025	Argyle, New York	21	Twenty-one dogs died at a trainer after being left with no AC. Only one dog survived.
8/17/2025	Taney County, Missouri	5	Five dogs died after being left in a hot camper for an extended period of time.
8/13/2025	Sterling, Virginia	2	Two dogs to died after being left in a hot car.
8/9/2025	Milford, Maine	1	A dog and a girl died after being left in a hot car for more than 12 hours.
8/8/2025	Augusta, Maine	1	One dog died and another was rescued after being left in a hot car in a Whiskey Kitchen parking lot.
8/7/2025	Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada	3	Nine kittens were rescued from a hot shed that claimed the lives of three of their littermates.
8/7/2025	West Palm Beach, Florida	1	A dog died in a hot car at a marina.
8/3/2025	Oshawa, Ontario, Canada	1	Two dogs were left in a hot car, and as a result, one had to be euthanized.
8/1/2024	Sherman, Texas	1	A dog died after being left outside in the heat while their owner went out of state.
7/31/2025	Boyle County, Kentucky	2	Two cats died after they were left in a hot car outside a hospital.
7/28/2025	Canton, Ohio	1	A puppy died after being left in a hot car while the owner went shopping.
7/28/2025	Coffee County, Tennessee	1	A dog died after being left out in the heat without food, water or shade.
7/25/2025	Auburn, Alabama	2	Two puppies died from heatstroke after the AC failed in a veterinarian’s vehicle with 14 other cats and dogs inside.
7/19/2025	Miami, Florida	1	A dog at a shelter died of suspected heatstroke.
7/18/2025	Warminster, Pennsylvania	1	A dog died of heatstroke after being left outside in a boarding facility.
7/16/2025	Bates City, Missouri	2	Two dogs died from heat after being left in a van overnight.
7/16/2025	Bridgewater, Massachusetts	2	Two dogs died after they were left inside a hot vehicle.
7/15/2025	New Bedford, Massachusetts	2	Two cats died and one was rescued after being left inside a hot car.
7/13/2025	Trenton, Georgia	1	A police dog died after she was left in a hot patrol car.
7/11/2025	Las Vegas, Nevada	1	A necropsy revealed that a dog found dead in a crate outside died of heatstroke.
7/9/2025	Carnegie, Pennsylvania	1	Three emaciated dogs were found chained outside without food or water in extreme heat. One of the dogs had to be euthanized due to his injuries.
7/9/2025	Brighton, Colorado	1	Two dogs were found inside a hot vehicle. Despite rescue efforts, one of them did not survive.
7/7/2025	Halfmoon, New York	1	A dog died from heatstroke after being left outside in a boarding facility.
7/6/2025	Park Forest, Illinois	1	A dog died from heatstroke after he was left on a balcony because the air conditioning unit inside the apartment had failed.
7/5/2025	Paducah, Kentucky	1	A dog died after being left overnight in a hot car.
7/4/2025	Carrollton, Ohio	1	A dog died from heat stroke inside a vehicle, even though the vehicle was running and the air conditioning was on, due to the extreme heat.
7/3/2025	Joliet, Illinois	1	A dog had to be euthanized after being left outside on a hot day without food, water, or shelter.
6/29/2025	Santa Nella, California	28	One hundred and six cats were rescued from a U-Haul van in a parking lot where they had no food or water. Twenty-eight other cats were found dead.
6/29/2025	Bensalem, Pennsylvania	1	A dog died after being left in a hot car while the owner was at a casino.
6/26/2025	Dorchester County, Maryland	1	A police dog died after he was left in a hot car while off-duty.
6/26/2025	Southern Pines, North Carolina	1	A dog died by hanging while trying to jump out of a hot car.
6/25/2025	Milford, Connecticut	1	One dog died and another was rescued from a hot car while their owner was shopping.
6/24/2025	Hopkinsville, Kentucky	1	A dog died from heatstroke after being left in a hot car.
6/24/2025	Athens, Pennsylvania	1	A dog died after being left in an enclosed truck bed on a hot day.
6/21/2025	Nashville, Tennessee	1	A dog died after being left on a balcony in extreme heat.
6/20/2025	Arizona	7	The Arizona Humane Society reported that seven dogs have died in recent weeks due to heat-related causes.
6/17/2025	Frostproof, Florida	2	Two dogs died from heatstroke after being left outside in the heat without water or shelter.
6/13/2025	Orange County, California	2	Nine dogs died while in the care of a trainer. Necropsies indicated that two of them died from heatstroke.
6/13/2025	Queen Creek, Arizona	2	Two dogs died after being left in a hot car for at least six hours.
6/11/2025	Altoona, Pennsylvania	1	A dog died after being left in a hot truck.
6/7/2025	Bethlehem, New York	14	Fourteen dogs died after they were left in a hot RV overnight.
6/7/2025	Forsyth County, North Carolina	2	Three dogs were left in a hot vehicle overnight. Two of them died, and one survived.
6/2/2025	Morrisville, North Carolina	1	A dog died after being left inside a hot car while his owner was at work.
5/31/2025	Las Vegas, Nevada	1	A dog died after being left in a crate outside in extreme heat.
5/28/2025	Bangor, Maine	1	Maine’s first official comfort dog died in a hot state vehicle.
5/22/2025	Houston, Texas	1	A dog died after being left on a patio in the heat with no access to water, food, or shade.
5/16/2025	Manassas, Viginia	1	A dog died after being left inside a car parked outside a mall.
5/15/2025	Jonesboro, Georgia	1	A dog is believed to have died of heatstroke at a grooming facility.
5/15/2025	West Palm Beach, Florida	1	A puppy died after being left tied up inside a minivan.
5/11/2025	Immokalee, Florida	1	One dog died and another was rescued after being left outside in extreme heat.
4/28/2025	Niceville , Florida	2	Two dogs died after being locked in a hot car.
4/20/2025	Cary, North Carolina	1	A dog died after being left in a hot car parked outside a motel.

The following list is a compilation of heat-related rescues of companion animals reported in 2025:

Date	Location	Number of Dogs or Other Animals Rescued	Notes
10/1/25	Roswell, GA	1	A was found in a car with the windows fogged up after being left there for almost three hours on a 78 – 80 degree day.
10/1/25	Tyler, Texas	2	Two dogs were rescued after being left in a hot car for over an hour. Temperatures reached 90.1 degrees at the time of rescue.
9/13/2025	Madison, Wisconsin	2	A woman left seven dogs in a hot van, five of them died.
9/6/2025	Anaheim, California	1	A dog was rescued after being discovered panting heavily in a hot car in a Disneyland parking lot.
9/2/2025	Petaluma, California	1	A Telsa’s “dog mode” malfunctioned, resulting in one of the two dogs inside dying from heat.
8/24/2025	Argyle, New York	1	Twenty-one dogs died at a trainer after being left with no AC. Only one dog survived.
8/24/2025	Kitsap County, Washington	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
8/23/2025	Gig Harbor, Washington	3	Three puppies were rescued from a hot car in a Target parking lot.
8/20/2025	Marietta, Georgia	1	A dog was rescued from a car with triple-digit heat inside.
8/19/2025	Tyler, Texas	1	A pregnant dog was rescued from a hot car while her owner was at a restaurant.
8/19/2025	Wolfe County, K entucky	1	A dog was rescued from a hiking trail during extreme heat.
8/17/2025	Clearwater, Florida	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car at a beach.
8/16/2025	Wolfe County, Kentucky	1	A dog and two humans were rescued from a hiking trail during extreme heat.
8/11/2025	Memphis, Tennessee	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car a for hours.
8/9/2025	Windsor, Ontario, Canada	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a car for ten minutes on a heat advisory day.
8/8/2025	Kirksville, Missouri	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car outside a home for almost four hours on a 97-degree day.
8/8/2025	Augusta, Maine	1	One dog died and another was rescued after being left in a hot car in a Whiskey Kitchen parking lot.
8/7/2025	Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada	9	Nine kittens were rescued from a hot shed that claimed the lives of three of their littermates.
8/7/2025	Weymouth, Massachusetts	2	Two dogs were left in a hot car after it was stolen and posted for sale online.
8/5/2025	Graham, Washington	80	80 cats, some of them pregnant, were rescued from a hot trailer.
8/3/2025	Clearwater, Florida	1	Police rescued a cat from a hot car outside a beach.
8/3/2025	Oshawa, Ontario, Canada	1	Two dogs were left in a hot car, and as a result, one had to be euthanized.
8/2/2025	Fairfax, Virginia	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car after being left there for more than 30 minutes.
7/31/2025	Minden, Louisiana	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car while the owner was working out.
7/29/2025	Ridgefield, Connecticut	1	A man was charged with animal cruelty for leaving his dog in a hot car.
7/28/2025	Shawano, Wisconsin		Police reported being called to check on a dog left in a hot car in a Walmart parking lot.
7/28/2025	Evansville, Indiana	2	Police rescued two dogs from a hot truck.
7/25/2025	Auburn, Alabama	15	Two puppies died from heatstroke after the AC failed in a veterinarian’s vehicle with 14 other cats and dogs inside.
7/25/2025	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	8	Seven dogs and a cat were rescued from a hot SUV parked at a university’s campus.
7/23/2025	Jackson, Tennessee	1	An emaciated dog was rescued after being left in a hot garage without food or water.
7/23/2025	Clare County, Michigan	1	A dog and a child were rescued from a hot truck.
7/22/2025	Cobb County, Georgia	1	Police rescued a dog from a wire crate in the bed of a truck. The dog’s paws were burned by the extreme heat.
7/17/2025	Colorado Springs, Colorado	1	A puppy was rescued from a hot car.
7/16/2025	Watertown, New York	1	Police spotted a dog in a hot SUV and located the owner to rescue the dog.
7/16/2025	Attleboro, Massachusetts	1	A dog was rescued after being tied to a trash can outside on an extremely hot day.
7/15/2025	New Bedford, Massachusetts	1	Two cats died and one was rescued after being left inside a hot car.
7/12/2025	Tiverton, Massachusetts	1	A dog and a baby were rescued from a hot car in a casino parking garage.
7/11/2025	Memphis, Tennessee	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car in a Bass Pro parking lot.
7/11/2025	Forsyth County, Georgia	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car while his owner was getting a haircut.
7/9/2025	Carnegie, Pennsylvania	2	Three emaciated dogs were found chained outside without food or water in extreme heat. One of the dogs had to be euthanized due to his injuries.
7/9/2025	Brighton, Colorado	1	Two dogs were found inside a hot vehicle. Despite rescue efforts, one of them did not survive.
7/8/2025	Berlin, Vermont		A man was cited for leaving a dog in a hot car on two separate occasions.
7/7/2025	Bend, Oregon	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car while her owner was in a library.
7/7/2025	Waterloo, Ontario, Canada		The Waterloo Regional Police Service reported receiving five reports of companion animals left in hot cars over the weekend.
7/7/2025	Boise, Idaho	1	The Idaho Humane Society rescued a dog from a hot car in a Walmart parking lot.
7/6/2025	Delta, British Columbia, Canada		Police reported responding to a complaint about a dog left in a hot car and issued a verbal warning to the owner.
7/5/2025	Marietta, Georgia	2	Firefighters rescued two dogs from a hot car in a waterpark parking lot.
7/4/2025	Blue Springs, Missouri	8	A rescue organization reported finding eight dogs abandoned outdoors and inside a trailer in extreme heat.
6/30/2025	Kelly Township, Pennsylvania		Police cited a woman after she left a dog in a hot car in a Walmart parking lot.
6/29/2025	Santa Nella, California	106	One hundred and six cats were rescued from a U-Haul van in a parking lot where they had no food or water. Twenty-eight other cats were found dead.
6/29/2025	Heath, Ohio	10	Nine cats and a dog were rescued from a hot car.
6/28/2025	Burtonsville, Maryland	1	A kitten was rescued from inside a hot car engine during a heatwave.
6/28/2025	Sevierville, Tennessee	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car in a Walmart parking lot.
6/27/2025	Dedham, Massachusetts	2	Dedham Animal Control reported two incidents of dogs being left in hot cars. One dog was locked in a vehicle while the owner was at a doctor’s appointment, and the other was locked in a vehicle while the owner was working out at a gym.
6/26/2025	Chester County, Pennsylvania	1	A dog was rescued after being forced to live outside in a hot metal crate. He was suffering from heat exhaustion, and his paw pads were burned.
6/25/2025	Richmond Heights, Ohio	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
6/25/2025	Walton County, Florida	1	A dog was rescued from an abandoned, sweltering house.
6/25/2025	Milford, Connecticut	1	One dog died and another was rescued from a hot car while their owner was shopping.
6/23/2025	Noblesville, Indiana	2	Two dogs were rescued from two different hot cars in the same parking lot.
6/23/2025	Fort Dodge, Iowa	10	Animal Control reported rescuing at least 10 dogs from hot cars recently.
6/22/2025	Lincoln, Nebraska	4	Police rescued four dogs from a hot car in a parking lot.
6/20/2025	Midland, Texas	3	Three emaciated dogs were rescued from a hot car outside a home.
6/12/2025	Dedham, Massachusetts	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car while his/her owner was shopping.
6/7/2025	Cornelius, North Carolina	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car in a parking lot.
6/7/2025	Forsyth County, North Carolina	1	Three dogs were left in a hot vehicle overnight. Two of them died, and one survived.
6/5/2025	Dedham, Massachusetts	1	A dog died after being left in a hot car.
6/2/2025	Rochester, Minnesota	1	A dog and a child were rescued from a hot car while their mother was at the beach.
5/31/2025	Laveen, Arizona	10	A mother dog and her nine puppies were rescued after being found tied up outside in extreme heat.
5/31/2025	Walton County, Florida	1	Police rescued a dog that had been left in a hot car by the owner, who was at the beach.
5/26/2025	Defiance, Ohio	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a car by a woman who was found dead the following day.
5/25/2025	Mount Wilson, California	1	A dog was rescued after overheating on a hiking trail.
5/17/2025	Brownsville, Texas	2	Two puppies showing signs of heat exhaustion were rescued after being left in a hot car.
5/16/2025	Palmyra, Pennsylvania	2	Two dogs were rescued after being left inside a hot car for over 13 hours.
5/16/2025	Oakland, California	1	A dog was rescued after being found overheated and lying in the roadway. She was later taken to a nearby animal shelter, where she was treated for severe heat exhaustion.
5/11/2025	Immokalee, Florida	1	One dog died and another was rescued after being left outside in extreme heat.
5/5/2025	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada		Police were called after a dog was found tethered to a car in direct sunlight in a parking lot. The owners arrived a few minutes later and were fined.
5/2/2025	Englewood, Florida		Bystanders tried to give water to a dog locked inside a hot car, but the owner saw them and assaulted one of them.
4/24/2025	Victoria, British Columbia, Canada	1	Police were called after two dogs were seen locked inside a hot car. Before the police could take action, the owner showed up at the scene.
4/20/2025	Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car by police and a park ranger.
4/7/2025	Frisco, Colorado	1	Animal control officers rescued a dog from a hot car in a ski resort parking lot.
4/6/2025	St. Johns, Florida	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car in a Home Depot parking lot.
3/17/2025	Lake Worth Beach, Florida	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car while the dog’s owner was in a pub.
3/1/2025	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	11	Eleven dogs were rescued from a hot car after spending nearly eight hours inside with the windows up and no access to food or water.
2/4/2025	Ormond Beach, Florida	17	Seventeen dogs were rescued after being found in cages inside a hot trailer without food or water. Ten of these dogs were puppies who had to have their chests rubbed to be revived, according to the police.

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.