Hot Enough to Kill: The Legal Risk of Leaving Animals in Dangerous Summer Conditions
Every summer, the stories roll in. A dog left in a car "just for a minute" dies of heatstroke. A shelter kennel hits 95 degrees with no fans or ventilation. A chained backyard animal collapses from dehydration while no one notices. And still, the people responsible are rarely held accountable.
At LAW, we are tracking heat-related neglect cases across New York, and the reality is this: extreme heat is no longer a freak weather event. It is a legal risk, a welfare issue, and in many cases, a death sentence for animals left unprotected.
What the law says
New York law does have statutes that apply to animals in extreme heat. The trouble is in how rarely they are enforced.
New York Agriculture and Markets Law §353-d makes it illegal to confine a companion animal in a vehicle during extreme heat or cold if it places the animal in physical danger.
Officers are allowed to remove animals from vehicles if they believe the animal is in imminent harm, and owners can be fined or charged.
§353 and §356 cover more general neglect and cruelty, including failing to provide adequate shelter, water, or protection from weather.
In New York City, the Administrative Code §17-802 defines minimum care standards for animals, including temperature control. Some upstate municipalities have adopted similar ordinances.
Still, these laws are rarely used to their full extent. Officers are often unsure of when they can intervene. Prosecutors tend to downplay heat-related cruelty as "accidental." Judges hesitate to issue meaningful penalties.
The reality of summer danger
Let’s be clear. Heat kills animals. And it does not take long.
A car can reach 120 degrees in less than 10 minutes, even with the windows cracked.
Heatstroke in dogs can set in within 15 minutes, especially in brachycephalic breeds like pugs or bulldogs.
Outdoor animals in urban areas often have no shade, no water, and no escape. Asphalt burns paws. Tethering laws are routinely ignored.
Shelters and kennels without proper cooling systems become death traps in a heatwave.
In most of the cases we see, these deaths were preventable. Someone just chose not to act.
Who is responsible
Private pet owners who leave animals in cars, yards, or uncooled apartments without proper care.
Shelter operators who fail to implement heat protocols or ignore heat advisories.
Boarding and grooming facilities that pack animals into poorly ventilated rooms.
Rescue organizations that import or house animals without air conditioning, sometimes to save money.
If an animal dies or suffers due to one of these failures, it is not a tragedy. It is neglect. It may be actionable.
How LAW responds
We file civil cases for neglect, especially when dogs die in cars or shelters.
We work with prosecutors to push criminal charges where applicable.
We assist whistleblowers reporting shelter or kennel misconduct during extreme weather.
We help landlords, building managers, and even doormen understand their duty to report overheated animals.
We educate judges and city attorneys about how to treat heat cases as serious cruelty, not simple mistakes.
What you can do
If you see an animal in a car or suffering in the heat, call 911 and document what you see.
Take photos. Note the time. Get witness names.
Contact LAW if the authorities fail to act or if the case gets brushed off.
If you work in rescue, sheltering, or animal care, get your summer protocols in place now. If you don’t have them, we’ll help you build them. This isn’t just a summer PSA. It’s a legal warning.
Neglect does not have to look violent to be fatal. A forgotten bowl of water. A sealed van. A shaded area that disappears at noon. These choices kill animals every year, and in every one of those cases, someone is responsible.
At LAW, we do not accept heatstroke as an excuse. We see it as a pattern, a liability, and when necessary, a lawsuit.