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Leaving a pet in the car might get you in hot water with your state, especially if the car gets hot enough to endanger the animal’s life. What you might not know is that your car reaches that threshold much faster than you’d think. Keep your four-legged friends safe by leaving yours at home and helping pets in danger — as much as you legally can.
| State | Pet car law | Good Samaritan law | Restraint law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | None | No | No |
| Alaska | None | No | No |
| Arizona | Class 1 misdemeanor | Yes | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Arkansas | None | No | No |
| California | If the animal suffers great bodily injury, drivers face a fine up to $500 or imprisonment up to 6 months. | Yes | Yes, pets must wear a harness or other device that prevents them from falling, being thrown or jumping from the vehicle. |
| Colorado | None | Yes | No |
| Connecticut | None | No | Yes, dogs transported in an open truck bed must be in a crate or cage or secured to prevent them from falling, jumping or being thrown from the vehicle. |
| Delaware | Warning for a first offense. Subsequent offenses are Class A Misdemeanors | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Florida | None | Yes | None |
| Georgia | None | No | None |
| Hawaii | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Idaho | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Illinois | Class C misdemeanor. Second or subsequent violations are Class B misdemeanors. | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Indiana | None | Rescuer is liable to the vehicle owner for half of the damage caused by the forcible entry. | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Iowa | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Kansas | None | Yes | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Kentucky | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Louisiana | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Maine | None | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Yes, dogs being transported in an open truck bed must be in a crate or cage or secured to prevent them from falling, jumping or being thrown from the vehicle. |
| Maryland | $70 fine | Yes | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Massachusetts | Civil infraction with a fine up to $150 for a first offense, up to $300 for a second offense and up to $500 for subsequent offenses. | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Yes, dogs being transported in an open truck bed must be in a crate or cage or secured to prevent them from falling, jumping or being thrown from the vehicle. |
| Michigan | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Minnesota | Petty misdemeanor with a fine of $25 | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Yes, dogs being transported in an open truck bed must be in a crate or cage or secured to prevent them from falling, jumping or being thrown from the vehicle. |
| Mississippi | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Missouri | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Montana | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Nebraska | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Nevada | Misdemeanor | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| New Hampshire | Misdemeanor for a first offense, and a class B felony for a second or subsequent offense. | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Yes, dogs being transported in an open truck bed must be in a crate or cage or secured to prevent them from falling, jumping or being thrown from the vehicle. |
| New Jersey | Constitutes cruelty with penalty of $250 to $1,000. | No | New Jersey is the only state where driving with pets loose in the car is a violation of animal cruelty law. |
| New Mexico | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| New York | First offense with a fine up to $100, second offense up to $250. | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| North Carolina | Cruelty provisions may apply. | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| North Dakota | Civil infraction | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Ohio | None | Yes | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Oklahoma | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Oregon | None | Yes | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Pennsylvania | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Rhode Island | Imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to $1,000. | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Yes, dogs being transported in an open truck bed must be in a crate or cage or secured to prevent them from falling, jumping or being thrown from the vehicle. |
| South Carolina | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| South Dakota | None | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Tennessee | Cruelty provisions may apply. | Yes | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Texas | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Utah | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Vermont | Imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to $2,000. | Yes | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Virginia | None | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Washington | Class 2 civil infraction | Law applies to police officer, animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator or firefighter. | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| West Virginia | Misdemeanor with a fine up to $2000 or up to 6 months in jail. | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Wisconsin | None | Yes | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
| Wyoming | None | No | Distracted driving laws may apply for pets in laps. |
Every year, hundreds of pets die from heatstroke in cars. Although any pet can suffer in a sweltering car, a few types of pets have even more difficulty cooling themselves down. Pets with these characteristics may need a closer eye to make sure they’re not overheating:
While you might think a car ride beats your dog getting bored at home, leaving a beloved pet inside your car can get dangerous fast. Your car’s interior can reach temperatures up to 20 degrees higher than outside in as little as 10 minutes.
That means your car can get up to 90 degrees on a nice day outside in the 70s, or above 100 degrees during mid- to late summer. And that includes when you’re parked in the shade with the windows cracked.
There are no nationwide Good Samaritan laws protecting you from legal repercussions if you break into someone’s car, although some states offer protection.
These laws encourage you to help pets in danger and will likely protect you from liability and damage. When Good Samaritan laws aren’t in place, you could be liable for any damage incurred.
If you choose to rescue a pet, keep in mind that some owners don’t realize the danger their pet is in, especially in mild outdoor temperatures. They may simply need awareness about the heat.
So far, 25 states have Good Samaritan laws to help you or rescue personnel come to a pet’s aid. Those include:
Your first instinct after seeing a locked up pet in distress might involve smashing through the car’s window. But incurring property damage could have you sweating over a civil lawsuit, even in states where you’re protected.
Instead, you could rescue the animal in a less intrusive way by:
You can keep your furry friends safe when they do tag along by making sure you:
Overheating in pets can include similar signs to other actions they may have throughout the day. The main thing is to take even small signs like panting seriously and keep your pet comfortable. Symptoms of heatstroke include:
An unattended car can turn into a dangerous place for pets because it can heat up quickly, even in mild weather. Since pets can’t regulate body temperature well, it’s best to keep them safe at home.
You can also look into pet insurance providers so you can keep your furry friend in the best of health.
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