Laws about leaving dogs in cars

[Lovetodream88]

How can I find the laws for my state or county about leaving dogs in cars and what number to call? I tried googling it but I never can find anything out about actually leaving them in the car and my mom says there is one for sure in her county because she was on that board a few years ago. Any ideas?

[KazzyK810]

Here's a link to laws state by state.

https://www.animallaw.info/topic/tab...arked-vehicles


Below applies to Maryland:

Transportation. Title 21. Vehicle Laws--Rules of the Road. Subtitle 10. Stopping, Standing, and Parking.
§ 21-1004.1. Domestic animals left in vehicle

(a) A person may not leave a cat or dog unattended in a standing or parked motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the cat or dog.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a person may use reasonable force to remove from a motor vehicle a cat or dog left in the vehicle in violation of the provisions of subsection (a) of this section if the person is:

(1) A law enforcement officer;

(2) A public safety employee of the State or of a local governing body;

(3) An animal control officer under the jurisdiction of the State or a local governing body;

(4) An officer of a society or association, incorporated under the laws of this State for the prevention of cruelty to animals, authorized to make arrests under the provisions of § 10-609 of the Criminal Law Article; or

(5) A volunteer or professional of a fire and rescue service.

(c) A person may not use force of any kind to remove from a motor vehicle:

(1) A dog used by the State or a local governing body for police work while the dog is on duty; or

(2) A cat or dog in the custody of an animal control officer.

(d) A person described in subsection (b) of this section may not be held liable for any damages directly resulting from actions taken under the provisions of subsection (b) of this section.

CREDIT(S)

Acts 1987, c. 611; Acts 1988, c. 296. Amended by Acts 2002, c. 213, § 6, eff. Oct. 1, 2002.

[Doodlebug]

I'm not sure, but next time I see a dog in a hot car I am going to report it to the police. The last dog I saw in a hot car was a yorkie in distress. Windows barely cracked and no water. Car parked on a crowded hot asphalt lot with no shade. The pup was frantically jumping front to back seat and then went and laid still on the back floor and didn't move. I was so scared. I went in a store and had person paged by license number. A furious young woman came out and said I bothered her as she was in the dressing room trying on clothes. It was an ugly confrontation with a lot of screaming on her part. I asked if she didn't care about the dog, if I could take her. She was furious, got in the car and drove somewhere. I still don't know if she just moved the car and went back in the store. Yes, it will be a call to the police next time.

[matese]

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

I'm not sure, but next time I see a dog in a hot car I am going to report it to the police. The last dog I saw in a hot car was a yorkie in distress. Windows barely cracked and no water. Car parked on a crowded hot asphalt lot with no shade. The pup was frantically jumping front to back seat and then went and laid still on the back floor and didn't move. I was so scared. I went in a store and had person paged by license number. A furious young woman came out and said I bothered her as she was in the dressing room trying on clothes. It was an ugly confrontation with a lot of screaming on her part. I asked if she didn't care about the dog, if I could take her. She was furious, got in the car and drove somewhere. I still don't know if she just moved the car and went back in the store. Yes, it will be a call to the police next time.

Last summer in Wal-Mart parking lot 2 dogs in car, no windows open. I had pulled into an empty spot next to that car, saw the dogs, also a crowd of ppl had gathered around the car, I got out and asked did anyone go into wal-wart to have owners paged, answer was yes, 15 minutes and no one came to car, I called the police, I stayed waiting for the police, I had given them the plate number, make, model, color of car and location where car was parked with in the parking lot. 10 minutes later the ppl came out, shopping cart full of groceries and 2 young children, I went off on them, asked would they leave their young children locked in a hot car with no windows open. I told them how fast dogs can die from heat build up, they said they didn't know that, I was trying to detain them, wanted the police to come to read them the riot act so they would know it's against the law to leave dogs in hot cars so they would never do it again. Well they left before the police came, but I told the man trying to scare them, said you can leave, but police have your plate number and will trace it to your house, said, expect a knock on your door and pray the police don't take your dogs away. Hope that comment scared them, hope they have never left these dogs in hot car again, they were 2 big dogs, panting profusely, not a pleasant sight to see. What I couldn't believe, with 15 to 20 ppl gathered around the car, 15 minutes owner never showed up, yet no one in that crowd called the police. Just blows my mind.

[Wylie's Mom]

This is always in the library if you need it: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/eme...-vehicles.html

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by matese

Last summer in Wal-Mart parking lot 2 dogs in car, no windows open. I had pulled into an empty spot next to that car, saw the dogs, also a crowd of ppl had gathered around the car, I got out and asked did anyone go into wal-wart to have owners paged, answer was yes, 15 minutes and no one came to car, I called the police, I stayed waiting for the police, I had given them the plate number, make, model, color of car and location where car was parked with in the parking lot. 10 minutes later the ppl came out, shopping cart full of groceries and 2 young children, I went off on them, asked would they leave their young children locked in a hot car with no windows open. I told them how fast dogs can die from heat build up, they said they didn't know that, I was trying to detain them, wanted the police to come to read them the riot act so they would know it's against the law to leave dogs in hot cars so they would never do it again. Well they left before the police came, but I told the man trying to scare them, said you can leave, but police have your plate number and will trace it to your house, said, expect a knock on your door and pray the police don't take your dogs away. Hope that comment scared them, hope they have never left these dogs in hot car again, they were 2 big dogs, panting profusely, not a pleasant sight to see. What I couldn't believe, with 15 to 20 ppl gathered around the car, 15 minutes owner never showed up, yet no one in that crowd called the police. Just blows my mind.

That is just like our case. When we pulled into the parking lot there was a crowd of people gathered around the car with the yorkie in it. No one was doing anything. It was in a strip mall with several stores. I just took a wild guess that the person was in the department store because it must have taken a little while for a crowd to gather so thought they would be in the biggest store doing a lot of shopping. When I said I was going to go find the owner, everyone left. No one took any initiative to do anything at all. Just standing around talking about how awful it was. I don't get people at all. This wasn't even near my home.

[Lovetodream88]

This was a too cold issue. It was in the low 20's and the dog was left in the car.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

This was a too cold issue. It was in the low 20's and the dog was left in the car.

(a) A person may not leave a cat or dog unattended in a standing or parked motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the cat or dog.

As written, the law appears to cover any manner that endangers the animal. The question is: does being in a wind sheltered area in 20 degree weather constitute endangerment. I would hazard a guess not, as dogs are routinely provided with kennels in such weather and that seems to appear to be adequate care (although i dont personally agree with it).

[Lovetodream88]

Who are you supposed to call when you want to report it?

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Who are you supposed to call when you want to report it?

I'm not sure but I saw a neighbor who left his dog outside in all weather with no shelter. The day I saw it sleeting on the dog I called the Humane Society. They must have paid him a visit because I never saw that dog left out like that again.

[matese]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

This was a too cold issue. It was in the low 20's and the dog was left in the car.

intense summer heat,intense winter cold matters not to me, I see, I call 911. With this Wal-Mart incident it was after 5:30PM I call 911, they sent the police. I am sure if 911 does not handle it they will give you a number to call. Another incident, where I live they do not deliver mail to individual houses, we have cluster mail boxes as soon as you enter the community. There is a house next to my community that have pit bulls, they let the out for ??????? But, they are beautiful, friendly pits. I had always looked forward to seeing them, however, a ,lot of ppl walk to their mail boxes with their dogs, also we are off a main highway where the dogs could be hit by cars, I have seen many ppl scared to get out of their car when the pits are by the mail boxes. I am against opening your house door and letting your dog out to roam and return home when they feel like it. I called 911 on 2 occasions when I saw now my fav. red one had a baby with her and both were near the mail boxes, My concern was for the baby getting hit by a car. When I called 911 the police knew the house, they gave me the color of the house, they sent the police, so I have to assume in my county 911 can be used. I do have the number for the dog warden, but I fear they will take the dogs away. I just want the owner to not let these beautiful roam free. I guess others filed complaints as I no longer see the pits. If I were you I would call 911, if they don't handle it I am sure they will give you the correct number.

[Lovetodream88]

It ticked me of because it was at a restaurant and I thought maybe the person was picking up food but he was still there when we left. I was ticked but didn't know who to call or even if it was illegal. Why the heck do people do that and not just leave the dog at home.

[gemy]

TAylor you need to look at the law which was posted earlier. But 20F is nothing for my Blackies - they luxuriate in 20F in fact in -10 F they will roll in the snow and lay in it. But they were bred to survive Siberian winters, and not many dogs are! Not just to survive but to be out in them for eight or so hours a day.


No 70F is a different kettle of fish for them....