Every summer, hundreds of pets suffer heatstroke or die after being left in parked cars. The statistics are grim: in 2024 alone, over 100 dogs and companion animals died from heat-related causes in vehicles, while nearly 400 more were rescued. These deaths are preventable.
But the danger doesn’t disappear when the weather turns cold. A parked car in winter acts like a refrigerator, losing heat rapidly once the engine is off. Pets left in cold vehicles face hypothermia, frostbite, and other cold-related emergencies that most owners never think about.
The common thread in both scenarios is the same: a parked car is not a safe environment for your pet, in any season. Here’s what every pet owner needs to know.
The Summer Problem: How Fast Cars Overheat
The speed at which a parked car heats up is the part most people underestimate. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the temperature inside a vehicle can rise about 20 degrees Fahrenheit in just 10 minutes and almost 30 degrees in 20 minutes. After an hour, the interior can be more than 40 degrees hotter than the outside air.
That means a 75-degree day (comfortable enough to leave the windows down) produces an interior temperature above 100 degrees within minutes. On a 90-degree day, the car can reach 130 degrees. At those temperatures, organ failure can begin in under 15 minutes.
Why “Cracking the Windows” Doesn’t Work
Studies from the AVMA show that a car with cracked windows heats up at nearly the same rate as one with the windows fully closed. The tiny gap doesn’t create enough airflow to offset the greenhouse effect of sunlight hitting the dashboard, seats, and glass. Parking in the shade helps slightly but does not prevent dangerous heat buildup. Research from Consumer Reports found that both dark and light-colored vehicles still exceed 90 degrees inside within 30 minutes and pass 100 degrees within an hour, regardless of where they’re parked.
Heatstroke Signs in Dogs and Cats
Dogs and cats can’t cool themselves the way humans do. They sweat only through their paw pads and rely primarily on panting to regulate body temperature. When the air around them is hotter than their body, panting stops working. Heatstroke can begin when a dog’s core temperature reaches 103°F. At 106°F or above, it becomes life-threatening.
Early signs include excessive panting, drooling, restlessness, and rapid heartbeat. As the condition worsens, look for disorientation, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, weakness, and collapse. Brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs like Pugs and Bulldogs, and cats like Persians) are at higher risk because they can’t pant as effectively. Elderly pets, overweight animals, and those with heart or lung conditions are also more vulnerable.
What to Do If You Find a Pet in a Hot Car
If you see a pet in distress inside a parked vehicle, take down the car’s make, model, and license plate number. Check nearby businesses and ask them to make an announcement to find the owner. If the owner can’t be located and the animal shows signs of distress, call 911 or local animal control immediately. Currently, 32 states have laws that either prohibit leaving pets in vehicles under dangerous conditions or provide legal protection for people who rescue animals from vehicles. Know your state’s law before taking action on your own.
If you’re caring for an overheated pet, move them to a cool, shaded area. Offer small sips of water but don’t force them to drink. Apply lukewarm (not ice-cold) water to their skin. Get them to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
The Winter Problem: Cold Cars Are Dangerous Too
The AVMA specifically warns that cold weather can also threaten pets left in vehicles. Once the engine is off, a car loses heat quickly. On a 30-degree day, the interior of a parked car can drop to near-freezing within 30 minutes. On a single-digit day, it happens even faster.
Unlike overheating, cold exposure in vehicles gets almost no media attention. But the risks are real, especially for small dogs, short-haired breeds, senior pets, puppies, kittens, and animals with health conditions that affect circulation.
Hypothermia Signs in Pets
A dog’s normal body temperature ranges from about 101°F to 102.5°F. When it drops below 99°F, hypothermia begins. Symptoms include shivering, lethargy, shallow breathing, stiff muscles, and a slow heart rate. In severe cases, pets may become unresponsive. Cats show similar signs, though they tend to hide discomfort longer, which makes early detection harder.
Frostbite is another risk, particularly affecting ears, tails, and paw pads. Skin that appears pale, gray, or bluish and feels cold or brittle to the touch may be frostbitten. If you suspect frostbite, warm the affected areas slowly with lukewarm water (never hot) and contact your vet.
The Simple Solution: Leave Your Pet at Home (Comfortably)
The safest choice in both extreme heat and extreme cold is to leave your pet at home when you’re running errands or going somewhere that isn’t pet-friendly. But "leave them at home" only works if home is comfortable for them.
Keeping Pets Warm at Home in Winter
If you lower the thermostat while you’re out (or your home runs cold in winter), your pet needs a warm spot to settle into. Heated pet beds with built-in dual thermostats maintain a surface temperature of about 102°F when your pet is lying on them, matching their natural body temperature. When the bed is unoccupied, the surface stays 10 to 15 degrees above room temperature. This means the bed warms your pet without any risk of overheating, and it draws just a few watts of electricity.
For dogs that spend time in garages, porches, or doghouses, outdoor heated dog beds are designed to withstand the elements with chew-resistant cords and waterproof construction. They’re vet-recommended for year-round use and provide the kind of consistent, safe warmth that a blanket or regular bed simply can’t match in freezing temperatures.
Cats are especially sensitive to cold, and senior cats with arthritis benefit from the gentle heat that promotes circulation. Heated cat beds come in a range of styles, from open pads you can place inside any existing bed to three-walled nesting beds that give cats the enclosed, warm space they instinctively seek out. Outdoor versions with rigid enclosures are also available for barn cats and feral colonies.
What About Traveling with Pets in Winter?
If your pet does ride along during cold months, keep the car heated while driving and never leave them in a parked vehicle with the engine off, even for a few minutes. For longer trips, a microwavable pet bed warmer (no electricity needed) can provide up to 12 hours of safe warmth in a crate or carrier. It’s a smart backup in case of breakdowns or unexpected stops.
Keeping Pets Cool at Home in Summer
In summer, make sure your home stays cool enough for your pet before you leave. Close blinds, run fans or air conditioning, and provide plenty of fresh water. Cooling mats and elevated mesh beds allow air to circulate under your pet. If your home doesn’t have AC, consider keeping your pet in the coolest room with a fan and a bowl of ice water.
What the Law Says About Pets in Vehicles
As of 2024, 32 states have laws addressing pets left in vehicles under dangerous conditions. The specifics vary. Some states make it a civil infraction with fines ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Others classify it as a misdemeanor that can include jail time. Many states also provide civil immunity to bystanders or first responders who break into a vehicle to rescue a distressed animal, though the exact requirements (like calling 911 first) differ by state.
Even in states without specific pet-in-vehicle laws, animal cruelty statutes may apply. The bottom line: if a pet is left in a vehicle and suffers injury or death due to temperature, the owner can face legal consequences in most of the country.
A Quick Checklist for Every Season
Summer
Never leave your pet in a parked car, even for a few minutes, even with windows cracked, even in the shade. If your errand doesn’t allow your pet inside, leave them at home with air conditioning or cooling solutions. Exercise your dog in the early morning or evening when pavement is cool. Watch for hot asphalt, which can burn paw pads quickly. Keep fresh water available at all times.
Winter
Never leave your pet in a parked car with the engine off. A vehicle loses heat fast and provides no insulation against wind. If your pet stays home during cold months, make sure they have a warm resting spot. Heated pet products like thermostatically controlled beds and warming pads give your pet a safe, consistent heat source that runs all day on minimal electricity. For outdoor dogs and cats, heated shelters and doghouse heaters keep enclosed spaces at a livable temperature even in severe cold.
If you travel with your pet, keep the vehicle warm and never leave them unattended. Carry a microwavable pet warmer in case of emergencies on the road.
Your Pet Depends on You to Get This Right
A parked car is a temperature trap in every season. In summer, it becomes an oven in minutes. In winter, it becomes a freezer. Neither is a place for a living animal. The good news is that the solution is simple: when in doubt, leave your pet at home in a comfortable, temperature-controlled environment. When that means keeping them warm through winter, the right heated bed or warming pad does the job safely, affordably, and around the clock.
Your pet can’t open the car door. They’re counting on you to make the call that keeps them safe.
Keep your pet comfortable in every season.
Browse our full selection of heated and cooling pet products at CozyWinters.com, or contact our team to find the right bed, pad, or shelter for your pet.