The number of dogs and other companion animals who reportedly died from heat-related causes in 2021:

60

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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 the hot weather. In 2021 alone, sixty animals endured heat–related deaths and another 145 were rescued from the heat—and those are just the ones that were reported. Most almost certainly aren’t.

Year	Deaths	Deaths	Rescues	Rescues
2023	160	See the list.	764	See the list.
2022	58	See the list.	488	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 2021:

Date	Location	Number of Dogs or Other Animals Who Died	Notes
9/13/2021	Allenwood, Pennsylvania	1	One dog died and two were rescued after being left inside a hot car for several hours.
8/30/2021	Covington, Georgia	1	A K-9 named Tom-Tom died after being left inside a 102.8-degree patrol vehicle with faulty air-conditioning equipment.
8/28/2021	Shenandoah County, Virginia	1	A K-9 died of complications from heat exhaustion after helping his handler search for a suspect in a hit-and-run.
8/25/2021	Wood River, Illinois	1	A man was jailed and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals after allegedly leaving his dog inside a parked car for three hours, ending in the dog’s death.
8/21/2021	North Olmsted, Ohio	1	Two people were arrested on cruelty-to-animals charges after allegedly placing five kittens in a plastic tote and leaving it inside a hot car, leading to the death of one of the kittens.
8/21/2021	Corpus Christi, Texas	11	After 14 dogs were left in the back of a U-Haul truck on a 97-degree day, nine of them were found dead and two had to be euthanized. The other three dogs survived.
8/20/2021	Livingston Parish, Louisiana	1	A K-9 died of heat exhaustion after being left inside a hot patrol vehicle.
8/17/2021	Cedar Rapids, Iowa	1	A man was arrested after allegedly leaving his dog outside in the heat without access to water or shade, leading to the animal’s death.
8/10/2021	East Haven, Connecticut	1	A dog died after being left in a hot car overnight. The owner was being charged.
8/7/2021	Sandusky, Ohio	1	A dog died after being locked inside a hot car as a form of punishment by his owner.
8/3/2021	Hamilton County, Ohio	1	A dog died after being left in a hot car.
8/2/2021	Arlington, Texas	1	A dog died from the heat on a 106-degree day while at a boarding facility.
8/2/2021	Palo Alto, California	7	Seven puppies died after being transported in a hot van without air conditioning or water.
7/22/2021	Las Vegas, Nevada	1	A woman was arrested after allegedly leaving three dogs inside a hot car while she shopped at Walmart. One of the dogs had to be euthanized as a result.
7/17/2021	Dallas, Texas	1	One sheep died and four others were rescued after being confined to the trunk of a hot car.
7/13/2021	Nashville, Tennessee	1	One dog died and another was rescued after being left inside a hot car on an 82-degree day.
7/8/2021	Pensacola, Florida	1	A dog died of heatstroke after being left inside a hot car for more than an hour.
7/7/2021	Gilbert, Arizona	2	Five kittens were abandoned in boxes in extreme heat outside an animal shelter. Two of them died.
7/4/2021	Valencia, California	2	Two dogs died after being left inside a car outside Six Flags Magic Mountain on a 90-degree day.
6/23/2021	Sevierville, Tennessee	1	Two monkeys were left inside a hot car outside a water park. One monkey died, and the other was treated for heat distress.
6/23/2021	Cocoa, Florida	1	​​A K-9 officer died after being left in the back of a patrol car on an 86-degree day.
6/20/2021	Las Vegas, Nevada	2	Two dogs died after being confined to a garage on a 111-degree day.
6/18/2021	Riverside County, California	1	A dog was euthanized after being found thrashing on the side of a road in 116-degree weather.
6/10/2021	Parma, Ohio	1	A dog died after being left inside a hot car overnight.
6/10/2021	Chicago, Illinois	1	A dog died after being left inside a transport vehicle on a 90-degree day while under the care of a kennel facility.
6/9/2021	Clearwater, Florida	2	Two dogs died after being left inside a hot car following a fire at a veterinary clinic.
6/8/2021	Gaylord, Minnesota	1	A dog died after being chained outside in extreme heat with no food, water, or shelter.
6/6/2021	Odessa, Texas	1	A dog died after being left inside a hot car on a 90-degree day.
6/4/2021	Las Vegas, Nevada	1	A dog died outside a home because of extreme heat. The high reached a record-tying 109 degrees.
6/2/2021	Minneapolis, Minnesota	3	Three dogs died of heatstroke after being left “outside of residences.”
June 2021	Treasure Valley area of Idaho	4	At least four dogs died after being left inside hot cars in June.
June 2021	Omaha, Nebraska	2	Two dogs have died so far this summer from heat-related conditions.
5/31/2021	Niagara Falls, New York	1	A dog died after being left inside a hot car.
5/13/2021	Forsyth, Georgia	1	A K9 officer died after being left inside a hot car overnight.

The following list is a compilation of heat-related rescues of companion animals reported in 2021:

Date	Location	Number of Dogs or Other Animals Rescued	Notes
12/19/2021	West Melbourne, Florida	2	A police officer rescued two dogs who were locked inside a hot car in a Walmart parking lot.
9/18/2021	West Paradise, Nova Scotia, Canada	2	A woman was charged after allegedly leaving two dogs inside a hot car while golfing when the temperature outside was 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).
9/13/2021	Allenwood, Pennsylvania	2	One dog died and two were rescued after being left inside a hot car for several hours.
9/13/2021	St. Louis, Missouri	2	Firefighters rescued two dogs who were bound with duct tape inside a hot car in a Planet Fitness parking lot.
9/12/2021	Santa Clarita, California	1	Sheriff’s deputies rescued a dog who had been locked inside a hot pickup truck.
8/28/2021	Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada	1	A man was charged after police broke into his vehicle, which was parked outside a shopping center, to rescue a dog in distress.
8/25/2021	Myrtle Beach, South Carolina	2	A woman was cited after leaving two dogs inside a 107-degree car in a Best Buy parking lot.
8/21/2021	Akron, Ohio	1	Police officers rescued a dog who was in distress after being left inside a hot vehicle for at least 25 minutes.
8/21/2021	North Olmsted, Ohio	4	Two people were arrested on cruelty-to-animals charges after allegedly placing five kittens in a plastic tote and leaving it inside a hot car, leading to the death of one of the kittens.
8/21/2021	Corpus Christi, Texas	3	After 14 dogs were left in the back of a U-Haul truck on a 97-degree day, nine of them were found dead and two had to be euthanized. The other three dogs survived.
8/21/2021	Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada	1	A man was cited after leaving his dog inside a hot car.
8/18/2021	Cocoa, Florida	10	A man and woman were facing cruelty-to-animals charges after allegedly leaving two dogs and eight cats inside a hot van.
8/17/2021	Goodlettsville, Tennessee	1	A man was arrested after allegedly leaving a dog and a baby in a minivan outside a Kroger grocery store.
8/16/2021	Milford, Connecticut	1	A man was arrested after allegedly leaving his dog inside a hot car in a Walmart parking lot.
8/12/2021	Melbourne, Florida	1	A puppy had to be rescued after being left in a hot car outside a mall.
8/12/2021	Hingham, Massachusetts	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car during scorching heat after being forgotten by the owners. The animal was transported for emergency veterinary treatment in serious condition.
8/9/2021	Orlando, Florida	1	A dog had to be rescued after being left inside a hot car outside Walt Disney World.
8/9/2021	Greenfield, Massachusetts	1	After waiting 42 minutes for a dog’s owner to return to the hot car the animal was in outside a grocery store, a woman opened the door and gave the dog water. When the owners arrived, they were belligerent.
8/6/2021	Miramar, Florida	1	A puppy had to be rescued by firefighters and police after being left inside a hot car outside a nail salon.
8/3/2021	Idaho Falls, Idaho	1	A woman was charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly leaving a dog in a hot car outside a shopping mall. The animal’s temperature had risen to over 103 degrees.
7/30/2021	Atlanta, Georgia	1	Firefighters rescued a dog who had been locked inside a hot car.
7/29/2021	Brunswick, Ohio	1	A dog was rescued after being left inside a hot car on an 86-degree day.
7/29/2021	Tucson, Arizona	2	Two dogs were rescued from hot cars in a Costco parking lot.
7/26/2021	Aurora, Illinois	1	A dog was rescued after being left inside a hot car for nearly an hour outside a shopping mall.
7/23/2021	Mobile, Alabama	1	Police officers rescued a dog who had been left inside a hot car in a Walmart parking lot.
7/22/2021	Las Vegas, Nevada	2	A woman was arrested after allegedly leaving three dogs inside a hot car while she shopped at Walmart. One of the dogs had to be euthanized as a result.
7/20/2021	Middlesboro, Kentucky	1	A dog was rescued after being left inside a hot car in a Walmart parking lot on an 89-degree day.
7/17/2021	Des Moines, Iowa	4	Four dogs were rescued from hot cars in one weekend.
7/17/2021	Myrtle Beach, South Carolina	2	Two puppies were rescued from a hot car on an 88-degree day.
7/17/2021	Dallas, Texas	4	One sheep died and four others were rescued after being confined to the trunk of a hot car.
7/15/2021	Chester, New Jersey	1	A woman was charged after allegedly leaving her dog inside a hot car in a HomeGoods parking lot.
7/15/2021	Solon, Ohio	1	A dog was rescued after being left inside a hot car in a Hobby Lobby parking lot.
7/14/2021	Los Angeles, California	1	Firefighters rescued a dog who was left inside a hot car on an 84-degree day.
7/14/2021	Jamestown, New York	1	A woman was charged after allegedly leaving her dog inside a hot car.
7/13/2021	Springfield, Missouri	1	Police officers rescued a dog who had been left inside a hot car after his guardian was fatally shot nearby.
7/13/2021	Palm Bay, Florida	2	Two women were arrested and charged after allegedly leaving two dogs inside a 96-degree car for more than two hours.
7/13/2021	Nashville, Tennessee	1	One dog died and another was rescued after being left inside a hot car on an 82-degree day.
7/12/2021	Clovis, California	4	Four dogs were rescued from hot cars in one week.
7/11/2021	San Juan Island, Washington	1	Police officers rescued a dog from a hot car on a 63-degree day.
7/10/2021	Las Vegas, Nevada	1	Police officers rescued a dog who was left inside a hot car for more than five hours.
7/10/2021	Pasadena, California	2	Firefighters rescued two cats who were left inside a hot car on a 97-degree day.
7/9/2021	Las Vegas, Nevada	2	Two dogs were rescued from a 115-degree car.
7/7/2021	Gilbert, Arizona	3	Five kittens were abandoned in boxes in extreme heat outside an animal shelter. Two of them died.
7/7/2021	Brookville, Pennsylvania	1	Police officers rescued a dog from a hot car on an 88-degree day.
7/7/2021	Clovis, California	1	A dog was rescued from a 120-degree car.
7/5/2021	Los Angeles, California	1	A good Samaritan rescued a dog from a hot car on a 100-degree day.
7/5/2021	Lynchburg, Virginia	1	​​A dog was rescued after being left inside a car on a 90-degree day.
7/4/2021	Winthrop, Massachusetts	3	Between June 27 and July 4, police officers rescued three dogs from hot cars.
Summer 2021	Los Angeles, California	1	A veterinarian treated a dog suffering from heatstroke who had been running around in a backyard when it was 90 degrees outside.
7/1/2021	Franklin Township, Ohio	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car on a 90-degree day.
6/30/2021	Toronto, Ontario, Canada	1	A woman is facing charges after leaving her dog inside a car for almost three hours while the temperature outside was 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius).
6/29/2021	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	1	A woman was charged with cruelty to animals after leaving her dog inside a hot car on a 96-degree day.
6/29/2021	Edmonton, Alberta	1	Edmonton Fire Rescue Services rescued a dog from a hot car. The temperature inside the vehicle was reportedly 58 degrees Celsius (136 degrees Fahrenheit).
6/28/2021	Duluth, Georgia	1	Police rescued a puppy who was left inside a hot car for almost an hour in a Walmart parking lot.
6/27/2021	Stowe, Vermont	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car on an 88-degree day.
6/27/2021	Oliver, British Columbia, Canada	1	​​ A dog was rescued from a hot car on a 43°C (109°F) day while the dog’s owner was swimming in a lake.
6/26/2021	Cincinnati, Ohio	2	Two puppies were rescued after being left inside a hot car for almost an hour.
6/23/2021	Sevierville, Tennessee	1	​​Two monkeys were left inside a hot car outside a water park. One monkey died, and the other was treated for heat distress.
6/23/2021	Loveland, Colorado	1	​​Police rescued a Doberman pinscher puppy from inside a hot car parked outside Walmart after a good Samaritan called them. Temperature readings taken inside the car ranged from 114 to 140 degrees.
6/20/2021	Royal Palm Beach, Florida	1	A dog was rescued by firefighters after being left inside a hot car.
6/20/2021	Warr Acres, Oklahoma	1	A dog was abandoned outside an animal shelter on a 97-degree day without any way to escape the heat.
6/18/2021	Nashville, Tennessee	1	Firefighters rescued a dog from a hot car on an 87-degree day.
6/9/2021	Des Moines, Iowa	2	Two dogs were rescued from a 142-degree car.
6/5/2021	Fall River, Nova Scotia, Canada	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car, and their owner was fined.
6/2/2021	Las Vegas, Nevada	1	A pot-bellied pig was rescued after being left inside a dog cage outside a home in 107-degree weather.
6/2/2021	Minneapolis, Minnesota	9	Nine dogs have been rescued from hot cars in Minneapolis since June 1.
5/26/2021	Wadsworth, Ohio	2	A woman was issued a summons for cruelty to animals following a report that dogs had been left in a hot car.
5/26/2021	Austintown, Ohio	1	A dog was hospitalized after being left inside a hot car on an 84-degree day.
5/26/2021	Houston, Texas	12	Eleven puppies and their mother who had been abandoned in a park were rescued after suffering from heat exhaustion.
Week of 5/24/2021	Branford, Connecticut	3	In one day, three different dogs were rescued from hot cars in separate incidents.
5/21/2021	Athens, Georgia	2	Two dogs were rescued after being tied to a pole outside an animal shelter on an 85-degree day without water. One dog experienced heatstroke.
5/21/2021	Nashville, Tennessee	2	Two dogs were rescued after being left inside cars in a Kroger parking lot.
5/20/2021	Lodi, Ohio	2	Dogs were removed from a hot car after a resident filed a report.
5/19/2021	Troy, Michigan	1	A dog was rescued after being left inside a hot car for about 90 minutes.
5/18/2021	Cleveland, Ohio	1	A dog was rescued after being left inside a hot car for at least an hour on a 78-degree day.
5/16/2021	Portsmouth, New Hampshire	1	A dog was rescued after being locked inside a hot car.
5/11/2021	Sarasota, Florida	1	A dog was rescued after being locked inside a car in which the temperature had reached 115 degrees.
5/6/2021	Houston, Texas	1	A pig died after being left inside a vehicle for over 24 hours.
4/25/2021	Sarasota, Florida	1	A police officer rescued a dog from a hot car. The temperature inside the vehicle had risen to 111 degrees.
4/1/2021	Palm Desert, California	1	Animal control officers rescued a dog who was trapped 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.