The number of dogs and other companion animals who reportedly died from heat-related causes in 2022:

58

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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 2022 alone, fifty-eight animals endured heat–related deaths and another 490 were rescued from the heat—and those are just the ones that were reported. Most almost certainly aren’t.


Year	Deaths	Deaths	Rescues	Rescues
2024	4	See the list.	6	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 2022:

Date	Location	Number of Dogs or Other Animals Who Died	Notes
10/14/2022	Cocoa, Florida	1	A dog died of heatstroke while in the custody of a sitter.
9/19/2022	Washington, D.C.	1	A K-9 died after the air conditioning failed in the vehicle he had been left in.
9/2/2022	Boone County, Iowa	1	A former sheriff’s deputy was charged with one count of “injury or interference of a police dog service,” after his K-9 died from being left inside a hot car.
8/27/2022	Rowley, Massachusetts	1	The owner of a kennel was charged with cruelty to animals after police found 37 dogs inside a trailer without air conditioning or water. A dog boarded there had died previously, and a necropsy found signs of dehydration and heatstroke.
8/12/2022	Gloucester County, New Jersey	1	Two dogs, one of them a K-9, died after allegedly being left in a hot car.
8/11/2022	Las Vegas, Nevada	1	A woman was arrested on cruelty-to-animals charges after allegedly leaving her two dogs on her apartment patio in extreme heat for over a week. One of the dogs died, and the other was taken into police custody.
8/10/2022	Austin, Texas	2	Two mother dogs died of heatstroke, and their 19 puppies were rescued.
8/7/2022	Lenoir, North Carolina	1	Police attempted to rescue two dogs from a hot car. One dog died, and the other ran off as soon as officers were able to cool him off.
8/7/2022	Round Rock, Texas	1	A dog died in a hot car while police waited for animal control to take him. The car’s engine had shut off without the officers’ knowledge.
7/30/2022	Beaverton, Oregon	1	A dog died after being left in a hot car for at least 35 minutes on an 89-degree day.
7/26/2022	Sedro-Woolley, Washington	1	A dog died after being left on a balcony without shade or water. The surface of the balcony had reached 131 degrees.
7/22/2022	Smithtown, New York	1	A dog died after being left in a hot car at a guide dog program.
7/21/2022	Houston, Texas	5	A dog and her eight puppies were taken from a home after they were found outside in heat distress. Five of the puppies died.
7/19/2022	Conyers, Georgia	1	A woman was charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly leaving her dog inside a hot car for two hours. The animal died.
7/14/2022	Grand Junction, Colorado	1	A dog died after allegedly being left outside unattended at a doggie daycare.
7/13/2022	Groves, Texas	1	A dog died after being left inside a metal crate without shade or water on a 94-degree day.
7/8/2022	Escambia County, Florida	3	A man was arrested after allegedly leaving his daughter’s three dogs inside a hot car for a couple of days while she was out of town.
7/5/2022	Salt Lake City, Utah	1	A dog died after being left inside a hot car for more than an hour.
6/29/2022	Southington, Connecticut	1	Police arrested a woman for allegedly leaving a dog inside a hot car for three hours on an 81-degree day. The animal died.
6/26/2022	Horry County, South Carolina	1	A dog died after being left inside a hot car on a 95-degree day.
6/22/2022	Meridian, Idaho	1	A dog died after being left inside a 147-degree truck. The owner was cited for neglect and was facing prosecution.
6/22/2022	Louisville, Kentucky	2	Two dogs died after being left inside a hot car during a heat advisory.
6/18/2022	Mandeville, Louisiana	1	A man was arrested and booked on a count of “aggravated animal cruelty” after leaving his dog tethered outside to die in 114-degree weather without food, shade, water, or shelter.
6/15/2022	Baden, Pennsylvania	1	A dog had to be euthanized after being left outside during a heat advisory.
6/15/2022	Jonesboro, Georgia	1	A man left a dog in his car for an hour and a half during 95-degree weather while buying guns. Despite emergency treatment from animal control officers, the dog died.
6/14/2022	Rockdale County, Georgia	3	Three dogs died after being confined to a shed when the heat index was more than 100 degrees. Two other dogs were rescued from the property.
6/14/2022	Columbia County, Florida	1	A K9 died after sustaining a “heat-related injury” during a training exercise.
6/13/2022	Calera, Alabama	1	A dog died after being left in a crate outdoors without water on a 91-degree day.
6/13/2022	Houston, Texas	2	In separate incidents, two dogs died after being left outside in the heat with no water, food, or shade.
6/13/2022	Hopkinsville, Kentucky	1	A dog died of heatstroke, and three others were rescued after being found in the heat with no water or shelter. As a result, two people were facing charges related to cruelty to animals.
6/13/2022	Evansville, Indiana	2	A man was facing four charges of animal neglect after two dogs were found dead in his yard from heat exhaustion. Two live dogs were removed from the property.
6/5/2022	Fort Myers, Florida	1	A man was facing a charge of “aggravated animal cruelty” after allegedly leaving his dog inside a hot vehicle, leading to the animal’s death.
6/2022	Rockdale County, Georgia	3	Three dogs died after being left in cages inside a hot shed without proper insulation.
5/30/2022	Toronto, Ontario, Canada	1	A dog died after being left inside a hot car while in the custody of a dog walker.
5/28/2022	Salisbury, Massachusetts	1	A dog died of suspected heatstroke following a four-day stay at Nose to Nub kennel.
5/26/2022	New Smyrna Beach, Florida	4	A woman was arrested after leaving four dogs inside a hot car while she ate lunch, leading to the animals’ deaths.
5/19/2022	Shreveport, Louisiana	2	Two puppies died from heat exhaustion and two others were rescued after being found inside a rubber tub near a local humane society.
5/13/2022	Parker County, Texas	1	A woman was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals after allegedly leaving her dog tethered outside in 102-degree heat, causing the animal to die of heatstroke.
5/11/2022	Pottsville, Pennsylvania	1	A woman was charged after allegedly leaving a dog inside a hot car for three hours on an 80-degree day. The animal died.
4/2022	Orlando, Florida	1	A dog died after being left inside a hot car all day while her guardians went to Walt Disney World.

The following list is a compilation of heat-related rescues of companion animals reported in 2022:

Date	Location	Number of Dogs or Other Animals Rescued	Notes
9/21/2022	Scottsdale, Arizona	1	Firefighters rescued a 125-pound dog from a trailhead after he developed heat exhaustion.
9/3/2022	Malibu, California	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car at the beach.
8/30/2022	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada	1	Firefighters responded to a call about a dog left in a hot car. The owner returned and took the dog.
8/30/2022	Seaside Heights, New Jersey	1	Police rescued a dog who was left in a hot car for over an hour on a 90-degree day.
8/27/2022	Rowley, Massachusetts	37	The owner of a kennel was charged with cruelty to animals after police found 37 dogs inside a trailer without air conditioning or water. A dog boarded there had died previously, and a necropsy found signs of dehydration and heatstroke.
8/25/2022	Cohasset, Massachusetts	2	Two dogs were rescued from a hot car. The temperature that day was in the mid-80s.
8/25/2022	Cohasset, Massachusetts	2	A man was charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly leaving two dogs inside a crate in a car whose interior temperature was 120 degrees.
8/17/2022	Boca Raton, Florida	2	Police rescued two dogs who had been left inside a hot car for over an hour. Their owner was charged with cruelty to animals.
8/17/2022	Dedham, Massachusetts	1	A woman was fined after leaving her dog inside a hot car for at least 45 minutes.
8/16/2022	Fort Mohave, Arizona	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car on a 109-degree day.
8/15/2022	Chehalis, Washington	1	Police rescued a dog from a car whose interior temperature was 103 degrees.
8/12/2022–8/15/2022	Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada	4	Police responded to three unrelated calls regarding dogs left in hot cars.
8/11/2022	Las Vegas, Nevada	1	A woman was arrested on cruelty-to-animals charges after allegedly leaving her two dogs on her apartment patio in extreme heat for over a week. One of the dogs died, and the other was taken into police custody.
8/10/2022	Austin, Texas	19	Two mother dogs died of heatstroke, and their 19 puppies were rescued.
8/10/2022	Grosse Pointe, Michigan	1	Police rescued a dog who had been left in a hot car for over 90 minutes.
8/7/2022	Lenoir, North Carolina	1	Police attempted to rescue two dogs from a hot car. One dog died, and the other ran off as soon as officers were able to cool him off.
8/6/2022	Sedgwick County, Kansas	1	Firefighters rescued a dog from a hot car on a 91-degree day.
8/6/2022	Manchester, Connecticut	1	A dog was rescued after overheating during a hike up a mountain.
8/5/2022	Upper Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car on a 95-degree day.
8/4/2022	Rhinelander, Wisconsin	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car for over an hour.
8/2/2022	Goodlettsville, Tennessee	1	A dog was rescued from a car whose interior temperature was 156 degrees.
8/2022	Atlanta, Georgia	200	Two hundred dogs were rescued from a hoarding situation after being left outside in the heat for several days.
7/28/2022	Collierville, Tennessee	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car on a 95-degree day.
7/23/2022	Hagerstown, Maryland	1	A dog was rescued after being abandoned inside a kennel on a 100-degree day.
7/23/2022	Dedham, Massachusetts	1	A dog was rescued after being abandoned inside a crate on a 90-degree day.
7/22/2022	East Lansing, Michigan	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
7/21/2022	Youngstown, Ohio	14	Two dogs and a dozen puppies were rescued after they were found unattended without food, water, or shelter on an 89-degree day.
7/21/2022	Houston, Texas	4	A dog and her eight puppies were taken from a home after they were found outside in heat distress. Five of the puppies died.
7/20/2022	Las Vegas, Nevada	1	A dog whose mouth was taped shut was rescued after being left in a hot car for nearly two hours.
7/20/2022	Youngstown, Ohio	1	Firefighters rescued a dog who got stuck under a shed trying to escape the heat.
7/16/2022	Moore, Oklahoma	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car.
7/14/2022	Mansfield, Massachusetts	3	Three dogs were rescued from hot cars while their owners were at a concert.
7/8/2022	Eugene, Oregon	1	Police rescued a dog from a hot car whose interior temperature was 113 degrees.
7/6/2022	Fort Lauderdale, Florida	1	Alerted by a good Samaritan, law-enforcement officials rescued a dog from a hot car and took her to a veterinarian.
7/4/2022	New Fairfield, Connecticut	1	Police broke a car window to rescue a small dog in distress on an 82-degree day.
7/2/2022	Jersey City, New Jersey	1	Police rescued a puppy from a hot car.
7/1/2022	Fort Pierce, Florida	2	Two dogs were rescued after being abandoned in a sweltering home during the summer.
7/1/2022	Mississauga, Ontario, Canada	1	Police broke a window to rescue a dog from a hot car.
7/2022	Bellevue, Nebraska	1	A cat suffering from heatstroke was taken to an animal shelter. Unfortunately, he sustained neurological damage from the heat and went blind.
6/28/2022	Long Valley, New Jersey	1	A man was arrested after leaving his dog in a hot car on an 80-degree day.
6/28/2022	Thomasville, North Carolina	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car after being left for almost two hours. The interior temperature of the car was 123 degrees. The dog was tethered to the center console and was seen choking.
6/27/2022	Boise, Idaho	1	A dog was rescued from a hot car after being left for at least an hour. The interior temperature was 123 degrees.
6/25/2022	Hernando County, Florida	1	Police rescued a dog who had been left in a hot car for at least eight hours on a 95-degree day.
6/21/2022	San Francisco, California	10	In two separate incidents, 10 dogs were rescued from hot vehicles.
6/20/2022	Auburn, Nebraska	44	Forty-four dogs were rescued from a breeder after being left inside a building with no air conditioning.
6/18/2022	Tybee Island, Georgia	1	Police broke a car window to rescue a dog from a vehicle with an interior temperature of 115 degrees.
6/17/2022	New York, New York	1	Police officers rescued a dog who was locked inside a hot car for over two hours.
6/16/2022	Frazer Township, Pennsylvania	1	A person was charged with animal neglect after leaving a dog inside a hot car on a 90-degree day.
6/16/2022	East Cleveland, Ohio	9	Nine puppies were rescued from an abandoned garage during extreme heat.
6/16/2022	St. Louis, Missouri	22	In separate incidents, 14 dogs and eight cats were rescued from inhumane conditions during a dangerous heat wave.
6/15/2022	Mason, Ohio	1	A dog was rescued after being left inside a car on a 95-degree day.
6/15/2022	Cheektowaga, New York	1	A dog was rescued after being left inside a hot car.
6/14/2022	Rockdale County, Georgia	2	Three dogs died after being confined to a shed when the heat index was more than 100 degrees. Two other dogs were rescued from the property.
6/14/2022	Harris, Minnesota	47	Forty-seven cats were rescued from a hot car that was parked at a rest stop during extreme heat.
6/13/2022	Lehigh Acres, Florida	4	Four dogs were rescued after being found inside a 111-degree shed.
6/13/2022	Des Moines, Iowa	2	Two emaciated and dehydrated puppies were rescued after being found covered with their own waste in extreme heat.
6/13/2022	Hopkinsville, Kentucky	3	A dog died of heatstroke, and three others were rescued after being found in the heat with no water or shelter. As a result, two people were facing charges related to cruelty to animals.
6/13/2022	Evansville, Indiana	2	A man was facing four charges of animal neglect after two dogs were found dead in his yard from heat exhaustion. Two live dogs were removed from the property.
6/11/2022	Lakewood, New York	1	A man was facing cruelty-to-animals charges after allegedly leaving his dog inside a hot vehicle outside a cinema.
6/11/2022	Tybee Island, Georgia	4	A police officer rescued four dogs who were locked inside cages in the bed of a pickup truck in hot weather.
6/1/2022	Clark County, Nevada	1	Animal protection services rescued a dog from a hot car.
6/1/2022	Palm Desert, California	1	A dog was rescued after being left inside a hot vehicle in 100-degree weather.
5/31/2022	Cincinnati, Ohio	3	Police officers rescued three dogs from a hot vehicle.
5/26/2022	Calgary, Alberta, Canada	5	Peace officers rescued five dogs from a hot vehicle.
5/22/2022	Clearwater, Florida	1	A man was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly leaving his dog in a parked car on a 93-degree day.
5/19/2022	Shreveport, Louisiana	2	Two puppies died from heat exhaustion and two others were rescued after being found inside a rubber tub near a local humane society.
5/18/2022	Las Vegas, Nevada	1	A man allegedly left his dog in a crate in direct sunlight on a 99-degree day, and another dog was found deceased on the property. He was charged with two counts of animal abuse and neglect.
4/27/2022	Myrtle Beach, South Carolina	1	A woman was cited for mistreatment of animals after leaving her dog inside a hot car for over six hours.

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.