163 Companion Animals Endured Heat-Related Deaths in 2023—That We Know Of

The number of dogs and other companion animals who reportedly died from heat-related causes in 2023:

163

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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. More than twice as many dogs and cats reportedly died from heat-related causes in 2023 than in any other year on record—and those are just the ones that were reported. Most almost certainly aren’t.

YearDeathsDeathsRescuesRescues
2024109See the list.385See the list.
2023163See the list.855See the list.
202258See the list.490See the list.
202160See the list.145See the list.
202032See the list.50See the list.
201953See the list.125See the list.
201860See the list.93See the list.

The following list is a compilation of heat-related deaths of companion animals reported in 2023:

DateLocationNumber of Dogs or Other Animals Who DiedNotes
10/24/2023Rikers Island, New York1A K-9 died after being left in a hot patrol vehicle.
10/21/2023Honolulu, Hawaii5Five dogs died from heat exposure after a circuit failure turned off the air conditioning at a training facility.
9/23/2023Lafayette, Louisiana1A dog died from heat exhaustion while playing outside at a hunting club.
9/21/2023Houston, Texas1One dog died and another was rescued from a van, owned by a “pet transport” company, that had overheated while the driver stopped to take a nap.
9/15/2023The Colony, Texas1A dog died from heat exhaustion after being left in the custody of an unlicensed boarding facility. The business’s owner was arrested in connection with cruelty to animals.
9/13/2023Miramar, Florida1A dog died after overheating while at a groomer.
9/12/2023York County, Virginia1An infant and a dog died after being left in a car for six hours.
8/28/2023La Mesa, California1A dog died after being left in a hot car at a trolley station for hours.
8/22/2023Birmingham, Alabama3Three dogs died after being left in a locked car outside a gas station.
8/21/2023Parsons, Kansas1A K-9 died while left in a kennel outside with no shade on a 104-degree day.
8/21/2023Riverside, Iowa9A total of 131 dogs were rescued from a breeder after being found in “hot, dirty conditions.” Nine of the dogs later died, some from heatstroke.
8/18/2023Jacksonville, Florida1A dog died after a dog walker took him on an hour-long walk during a heat advisory.
8/17/2023Seattle, Washington2Two dogs died in the cargo hold of a military plane flying from Japan to Seattle.
8/12/2023Lake Worth Beach, Florida3A woman was charged with cruelty to animals after three dogs she’d been sitting apparently died in her hot car.
8/9/2023Warwick, Rhode Island1A dog who had died of heatstroke was found in a bag at a park.
8/9/2023Phoenix, Arizona1One dog died and another barely survived being taken on a hike in triple-digit heat.
8/9/2023Lehigh Acres, Florida1A dog died after being left in an unventilated garage.
8/8/2023Kenner, Louisiana1A dog died after being left in a hot U-Haul truck for an hour.
8/8/2023Bishop, Texas1Police took two dogs from owners who had let a third die after leaving them all out in the heat.
8/6/2023Plaquemine, Louisiana1A dog died after being left in a hot crate near the Mississippi River.
8/6/2023Harrison County, Mississippi4In separate incidents, four dogs died from heat-related causes in one day.
8/6/2023North Amityville, New York1A man was charged with cruelty to animals and making false statements to police after a dog was found dead in a hot car.
8/1/2023Hot Springs, Arkansas1One dog survived and one died after being left outside during a heat wave without shade, shelter, or water.
7/31/2023Hot Springs, Arkansas1A dog died from overheating despite being pulled from a hot car by a police officer.
7/29/2023Sharptown, Maryland1A K-9 died after being left in a hot car during a birthday party.
7/28/2023Marshalltown, Iowa1Two dogs were rescued and one died after being left outside in triple-digit heat with food and water that were out of reach.
7/27/2023Cherokee County, Georgia7Seven puppies died after being abandoned in a crate in the Georgia heat.
7/27/2023Tulsa, Oklahoma2Two dogs died from heat-related illnesses while hiking on Turkey Mountain.
7/27/2023Lake Station, Indiana8Eight of 19 dogs headed for a police training camp died in transit after the truck’s air conditioning failed.
7/26/2023Hattiesburg, Mississippi12Twelve dogs died after air conditioning failed en route to an adoption event. Twenty-two dogs survived.
7/25/2023Salt Lake City, Utah1A dog died after his or her owner ran out of water for the two of them on a hike in the heat.
7/24/2023Las Vegas, Nevada2Two dogs died in separate incidents after landlords failed to repair air-conditioning units during a heat wave.
7/24/2023Brookings, South Dakota1A dog died after being left in a hot car overnight.
7/24/2023Las Vegas, Nevada1A dog died after being tied up outside in 114-degree heat.
7/22/2023Ocala, Florida1A dog died of heatstroke a few hours after being dropped off at a boarding facility. His temperature was 109, according to his veterinarian.
7/21/2023Hudson, Florida2Two dogs died after being left in a car in a Walmart parking lot for an hour.
7/19/2023Chubbuck, Idaho1A dog was found dead in a car more than a week after his or her owner was arrested.
7/14/2023Laredo, Texas1A dog died after being tied to an outdoor grill in the heat.
7/14/2023Lincoln, Rhode Island1A dog was found dead after being left in a hot car outside a casino for several hours.
7/14/2023Las Vegas, Nevada2Two puppies died and seven were rescued from a hot car outside a motel.
7/13/2023Salt Lake City, Utah1A K-9 died while waiting in a police car outside a correctional facility.
7/12/2023Queen Creek, Arizona1A dog died after being left out in the heat by a cleaning crew.
7/11/2023Fort Myers, Florida1A dog died after being left tethered to a pole in 95-degree heat all morning.
7/4/2023Oceana, West Virginia1A K-9 died after being left in a patrol cruiser on a hot day.
7/4/2023Denver, Colorado1Witnesses failed to save a dog with CPR after pulling the animal from a hot car in a golf course parking lot.
7/3/2023Houston, Texas2Two dogs were found dead and one emaciated without water on a balcony in the heat.
7/2/2023Geneva, Florida1A dog died after being left in a hot car for hours while their owner went on a boat ride.
7/2/2023Forest Heights, Maryland1A K-9 died of heat exhaustion while searching for a burglary suspect in a school.
7/1/2023Castle Pines, Colorado1A dog died after being forgotten in a hot car for over an hour.
7/1/2023Spring, Texas1One dog died and another recovered after being left outside for hours at a boarding facility.
6/30/2023Las Vegas, Nevada1A dog died an hour after being left at a boarding facility, where he’d gone outside in triple-digit temperatures.
6/26/2023Houston, Texas1Seven dogs were found in a backyard during sweltering heat.
6/25/2023Roanoke, Virginia1Four dogs were confiscated after a man left two of them in a hot car. One died.
6/25/2023Houston, Texas13Twelve cats and one dog were found dead and six cats were rescued after the animals were left in a vacant apartment during a heat wave.
6/24/2023Fort Myers, Florida3Three dogs were found dead from heatstroke in an unventilated shed.
6/24/2023Shreveport, Louisiana1A K-9 died from heat-related injuries while on duty.
6/22/2023Austin, Texas1Eight puppies were found in a trash bag outside during a heat wave, and one later died.
6/19/2023Houston, Texas1A dog died of heatstroke shortly after being left at a doggy daycare center.
6/18/2023Fort White, Florida12An air-conditioning failure led to the deaths of 12 dogs at a dog-training kennel.
6/18/2023Hollywood, Florida1A dog died after being left in a hot car overnight.
6/17/2023Ellwood City, Pennsylvania2A woman was facing felony charges after leaving two dogs in a hot car. They both died.
6/16/2023Baytown, Texas1A couple and their dog died because it took too long to secure a loan to fix their air conditioner during a heat wave.
6/14/2023Blue Grass, Iowa1A dog died after being left outside for 30 to 60 minutes and then taken into a kennel with faulty air conditioning.
6/13/2023Houston, Texas1A K-9 died from heat exhaustion after the air-conditioning unit in the parked patrol car he was left in malfunctioned.
6/11/2023Van Buren, Arkansas1One dog died and another was rescued after being kept in a backyard without shade.
6/11/2023Portsmouth, New Hampshire1A dog died after being left in a hot car for hours.
6/8/2023Midland, Texas1A dog died from heat exhaustion while in the custody of animal control.
6/7/2023Arlington, Texas1A dog died in a boarding facility’s hot van while their guardians were on their honeymoon.
6/6/2023Salt Lake City, Utah1A dog died from dehydration while on a hike during hot weather.
6/5/2023Oklahoma City, Oklahoma1One dog died and 35 others were rescued after being left for eight to 10 hours inside a U-Haul truck in a Walmart parking lot.
6/5/2023Acworth, Georgia1A K-9 died after being left in a patrol car with a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit.
6/5/2023Oroville, California3Three dogs are dead and one is being treated after being left in a hot car outside an apartment building.
6/1/2023Blue Grass, Iowa1A dog died at a kennel after being left out in the heat for 30 minutes to an hour.
5/26/2023Wayne Township, Ohio1A dog died after being left in the car during a six-hour eviction process.
5/25/2023Clayton County, Georgia1A K-9 died of a heat-related illness while working at an airport.
5/25/2023Garland, Texas1A dog died of heatstroke and dehydration while at a professional training facility.
5/17/2023Portland, Oregon1A dog was found dead in a van during a heat wave.
5/15/2023Sparta, Wisconsin1A sheriff’s office K-9 died days after sustaining a “heat-related injury.”
5/10/2023Sidney, Ohio1A dog died in a hot car after the driver reportedly had a panic attack and walked away for several hours.
4/29/2023Valley Center, California1A dog died after being left in a hot van during a dog show.
4/4/2023Rowan County, North Carolina1A K-9 died from heat exhaustion in a police cruiser.
3/12/2023Fort Lauderdale, Florida4Four puppies died after being left inside a hot car in a garage.
3/02/2023Naples, Florida1A woman was arrested after leaving a dog in a hot car for hours during an argument, causing the animal’s death.

The following list is a compilation of heat-related rescues of companion animals reported in 2023:

Date LocationNumber of Dogs or Other Animals RescuedNotes
10/23/2023St. Louis, Missouri1A dog was rescued from a hot dumpster after neighbors saw a woman abandon the animal.
10/4/2023Martin County, Florida9A woman was arrested for allegedly dumping nine dogs in the woods during “sweltering heat” without food or water.
10/4/2023Council Bluffs, Iowa12Local animal shelters rescued 12 dogs after the bus transporting them was destroyed in a crash, leaving them stranded without air conditioning in hot weather.
9/23/2023Anza, California1A dog was rescued by AAA after accidentally locking himself in a car on a hot day.
9/23/2023Minford, Ohio1A dog was rescued from a hot car in the  parking lot of a farm.
9/21/2023Houston, Texas1One dog died and another was rescued from a van, owned by a “pet transport” company, that had overheated while the driver stopped to take a nap.
9/15/2023Atlanta, Georgia1A dog was rescued from a hot car after a restaurant server called the police.
9/9/2023Port Townsend, Washington1A dog was rescued from a hot car in which they had been left muzzled in direct sun for hours.
9/7/2023East Greenwich, Rhode Island3Police rescued three dogs from a hot car where they lived with their owner.
9/6/2023Benton, Kentucky1A dog was rescued from a hot car outside a Walmart store.
9/6/2023East Greenwich, Rhode Island1Police officers saved a dog in a hot car by threatening to charge the owner if he didn’t leave the coffee shop immediately.
9/4/2023Palmer, Massachusetts1A dog was rescued from a hot car while their owner was grocery shopping.
9/3/2023Salem, Ohio1A man was charged with a misdemeanor after leaving a dog in his truck on a hot day.
9/1/2023Maricopa, Arizona1A dog was rescued from a hot car after their owner passed out while driving drunk.
8/28/2023San Antonio, Texas2A hiker rescued two kittens from the Texas heat.
8/27/2023Pasadena, California15Fifteen dogs were rescued from a locked van during a heat wave.
8/25/2023Burlington, Iowa1A woman was cited for leaving her dog in a hot car while shopping.
8/25/2023Pearland, Texas85Reports of escaped dogs led police officers to rescue 85 dogs, some who were being kept without shade or water.
8/25/2023Henderson, Kentucky1Police officers rescued a panting and distressed dog from a car on a 101-degree day.
8/22/2023Omaha, Nebraska8Police officers rescued eight dogs from a hot car, and one officer got bitten in the process.
8/22/2023Gainesville, Georgia1A dog was rescued from a hot car parked in direct sunlight.
8/22/2023Brighton, Colorado1A dog was rescued from a car whose interior had reached 113 degrees.
8/21/2023Riverside, Iowa122A total of 131 dogs were rescued from a breeder after being found in “hot, dirty conditions.” Nine of the dogs later died, some from heatstroke.
8/21/2023St. Louis, Missouri1A dog abandoned outside amid record-setting temperatures was rescued.
8/21/2023Paducah, Kentucky1A dog was rescued from a hot car outside a mall on a 92-degree day.
8/21/2023Houston, Texas1A dog found overheating on a balcony was rescued.
8/20/2023East Haven, Connecticut1A dog was adopted by the firefighters who had rescued the animal from a 122-degree car.
8/16/2023Williamson County, Texas1A dog is recovering from a 107-degree internal body temperature after being left outside.
8/15/2023Liberty, South Carolina1A dog was found abandoned behind a humane society in a closed plastic container during 90-degree weather.
8/14/2023Mission, British Columbia, Canada1A dog was rescued from a hot car during a heat wave.
8/13/2023North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada1A hot and exhausted dog was rescued from a trail during a hike.
8/13/2023Gardena, California15Fifteen dogs were found in an unhoused woman’s hot car while she was in a casino.
8/9/2023Phoenix, Arizona1One dog died and another barely survived being taken on a hike in triple-digit heat.
8/8/2023Hollywood, Florida1A dog was rescued from a hot car outside a casino during a heat wave.
8/8/2023Bishop, Texas2Police took two dogs from owners who had let a third die after leaving them all out in the heat.
8/7/2023Indianapolis, Indiana1A dog was rescued from a hot car in the parking lot of the Indiana State Fair.
8/3/2023Atascosa, Texas52Fifty-two dogs were rescued after being kept outside in the Texas heat.
8/1/2023Canyon Lake, Texas1A cat in a carrier was left outside an animal shelter on a very hot day. 
8/1/2023Hot Springs, Arkansas1One dog survived and one died after being left outside during a heat wave without shade, shelter, or water.
7/28/2023Quincy, Massachusetts2Two dogs were rescued from a hot car in a parking garage.
7/28/2023Marshalltown, Iowa2Two dogs were rescued and one died after being left outside in triple-digit heat with food and water that were out of reach.
7/28/2023Middletown, Ohio90Nearly 100 dogs were rescued from an inadequately ventilated shelter that reached 90 degrees.
7/27/2023Madison Township, Ohio86Eighty-six living and 30 dead dogs were being kept in a garage with no ventilation and another building by a supposed dog rescue group.
7/27/2023Lake Station, Indiana11Eleven of 19 dogs headed for a police training camp died in transit after the truck’s air conditioning failed.
7/27/2023Valparaiso, Indiana1A dog was rescued from a hot car in a hospital parking lot.
7/26/2023Tipton, Iowa39Thirty-nine dogs were rescued from a room that was hotter than the excessive heat outside.
7/26/2023Hattiesburg, Mississippi22Twelve dogs died after air conditioning failed en route to an adoption event. Twenty-two dogs survived.
7/25/2023Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma2A dog and a cat were rescued from a hot trailer, where many other animals had died from neglect.
7/22/2023Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada1Police officers rescued a dog from a hot car.
7/22/2023Monrovia, California1A search-and-rescue dog was airlifted out of a national forest after becoming overheated while searching for a hiker.
7/21/2023Hill County, Texas1A dog was rescued after being abandoned outside a gas station in the heat.
7/19/2023Lemoore, California1A dog was rescued after being abandoned in a field during 110-degree heat.
7/18/2023Lynwood, California1A woman saved a dog from a hot car in which the owner had left the animal for at least an hour.
7/18/2023Las Vegas, Nevada1A 13-year-old dog was rescued from a hot car.
7/17/2023Tampa, Florida9A mother dog and her eight puppies were rescued after being left in a rusty cage in the heat.
7/15/2023Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada1A dog was rescued from a hot car in a Costco parking lot.
7/14/2023Las Vegas, Nevada7Two puppies died and seven were rescued from a hot car outside a motel.
7/13/2023Austin, Texas1An overheated cat was rescued from the street.
7/13/2023Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada14Two abandoned mother dogs and their 12 puppies were found sheltering from the heat under a trailer along the highway.
7/13/2023Atlantic City, New Jersey2A dog and a cat were left in a hot car outside a casino.
7/11/2023Fort Myers, Florida1Animal control rescued a dog who was tied up outside in the heat and cited the animal’s owners.
7/11/2023Houston, Texas1A puppy and a child were left in a hot car for three hours.
7/10/2023Manhattan, Kansas1A cat was rescued after being abandoned in a parking lot in sweltering heat.
7/9/2023North Richland Hills, Texas1A dog was rescued after getting stuck under a shed in the heat.
7/7/2023Dedham, Massachusetts2Good Samaritans rescued two puppies from a hot car.
7/7/2023Montréal, Québec, Canada1A dog was rescued after being left outside in a crate for 48 hours during a heat wave.
7/6/2023South Burlington, Vermont1A dog was rescued from a hot car after being left tied to the seat in 90-degree temperatures.
7/4/2023Niagara Falls, New York1A dog was rescued from a hot car while their owner was in a casino.
7/3/2023Hamilton Township, Pennsylvania2Two dogs were rescued from hot cars in separate incidents on the same day.
7/3/2023North Charleston, South Carolina8Eight puppies were found suffering from heat exposure in a plastic crate.
7/3/2023Houston, Texas1A dog was found panting and wearing a muzzle on a balcony in the heat.
7/3/2023Houston, Texas1Two dogs were found dead and one emaciated without water on a balcony in the heat.
7/3/2023Denver, Colorado1A dog was rescued from a hot car while their owners were at the zoo.
7/2/2023Kennesaw, Georgia1A dog was rescued from a hot car while their owner was shopping at Costco.
7/1/2023Oklahoma City, Oklahoma1A dog was rescued after being abandoned on the steps of an animal adoption center in the heat.
7/1/2023Spring, Texas1One dog died and another recovered after being left outside for hours at a boarding facility.
7/1/2023Cleveland, Ohio2A man was arrested after allegedly leaving two puppies in a hot car outside an apartment building.
6/30/2023Monrovia, California38Thirty-eight cats were rescued from a trailer without air conditioning.
6/30/2023Marshall, Wisconsin1A dog was rescued from a hot car after being locked inside for a whole day.
6/30/2023Tulsa, Oklahoma2A guardian brought two dogs to the vet to be treated for heatstroke.
6/29/2023Houston, Texas28Twenty-eight animals were rescued from “an unsheltered … area” during a heat wave.
6/27/2023Spring, Texas1A dog was rushed to the vet after being left out in the heat at a boarding facility.
6/26/2023Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada1An unresponsive dog recovered after being rescued from a hot car.
6/26/2023Atlanta, Georgia1Firefighters gave a puppy water after rescuing the animal from a hot car.
6/26/2023Chehalis, Washington1A dog was found in distress in a hot car.
6/26/2023Houston, Texas6Seven dogs were found in a backyard during sweltering heat.
6/26/2023Cambridge, Ontario, Canada1A dog was rescued from a hot car in a Walmart parking lot.
6/25/2023Roanoke, Virginia1Four dogs were confiscated after a man left two of them in a hot car. One died.
6/25/2023Madison, Wisconsin2A police officer saved two dogs from hot cars during one day.
6/25/2023El Paso, Texas2Two dogs were rescued after escaping from a yard and becoming exhausted during a heat wave.
6/25/2023Houston, Texas6Twelve cats and one dog were found dead and six cats were rescued after the animals were left in a vacant apartment during a heat wave.
6/22/2023Austin, Texas7Eight puppies were found in a trash bag outside during a heat wave, and one later died.
6/22/2023Windsor Heights, Iowa9Two adult dogs and seven puppies were rescued after they were left in a hot car for over an hour.
6/22/2023Houston, Texas1A panting dog with no water or shelter from the sun was rescued from the back of a truck parked next to a county jail.
6/20/2023Helotes, Texas1A dog was found barking in a storage locker on a hot day.
6/20/2023Houston, Texas1A dog wearing a sweater in triple- digit temperatures was taken to the emergency room with heat-related issues.
6/19/2023Houston, Texas1A dog was rescued from a cage under an extremely hot table and was given a cooling bath.
6/19/2023Colorado Springs, Colorado1A dog found vomiting from heat exhaustion was rehabilitated and returned home.
6/19/2023Cleveland, Texas7A homeless mother dog and her six puppies were rescued from the heat.
6/16/2023Houston, Texas1A dog in heat distress was rescued from an outdoor kennel.
6/16/2023Agua Dulce, California1A dog was rescued after becoming too hot and dehydrated to walk during a hike.
6/11/2023Van Buren, Arkansas1One dog died and another was rescued after being kept in a backyard without shade.
6/9/2023Austell, Georgia2Two dogs were rescued from a hot car in a Six Flags parking lot.
6/5/2023Oklahoma City, Oklahoma35One dog died and 35 others were rescued after being left for eight to 10 hours inside a U-Haul truck in a Walmart parking lot.
6/5/2023Oroville, California1Three dogs are dead and one is being treated after being left in a hot car outside an apartment building.
6/3/2023Aiken, South Carolina1A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car while their owner was working.
6/2/2023Athens, Georgia1Police took a dog from a homeless man after finding the animal tied to a gearshift in a hot car nearby.
6/2/2023Auburn, New York2Two dogs were rescued from their tarp-covered crates in the heat.
6/2/2023Paducah, Kentucky1A dog was rescued after being left in a car overnight with no food or water.
5/11/2023Lee County, Florida1A sheriff’s deputy rescued a dog from a hot car.
5/10/2023Port Charlotte, Florida1A dog was rescued from a hot car in a mall parking lot.
5/8/2023Fayetteville, Arkansas13Thirteen dogs were dewormed and vaccinated after being rescued from a hot SUV.
4/23/2023Clayton, North Carolina1A puppy was rescued from a hot car outside a Walmart store.
4/13/2023Niles, Illinois1A dog was rescued from a hot car outside a Walmart store.
4/11/2023 Dedham, Massachusetts5 Police officers rescued five dogs from hot cars.

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:

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.

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