General News
18 December, 2025
Don’t let your dog suffer in the heat
WARMER weather is starting to take hold, and dog owners have been reminded to take care with their furry friends and farm co-workers.
Leaving dogs in cars for even a short time is strongly discouraged, even on mild days, as temperatures can rise very quickly, leaving them in distress.
When left in a car, smaller animals can quickly suffer severe heat exhaustion and die.
Regulations also exist covering dogs on the back of utes, as uninsulated metal surfaces can reach over 70 degrees Celsius on a 35ºC day in the sun, with paw burns almost certain at that temperature.
Dogs are not equipped to handle extreme heat, especially in the confined space of a car.
Unlike humans, dogs don’t regulate body temperature by sweating through their skin – they rely on panting and limited sweat glands in their paws to cool down.
In a hot, enclosed space – particularly if they don’t have access to water – panting quickly becomes ineffective.
In the time it takes to pick up a few things at the supermarket and get through the checkout, a dog left in a hot car could have already died an agonising death.
Pets can overheat even with the windows down or the car in the shade.
The deadly mathematics of hot cars
On a sunny 29°C day, the temperature inside a car can reach 40°C in just 10 minutes, 46°C in 30 minutes, and a staggering 49°C or more within an hour.
Eighty per cent of the temperature rise happens within the first 10 minutes.
• Outside vs. inside temperatures:
It’s a common misconception that a mild day is safe. In reality, the inside of a car can be 11-22°C hotter than the outside air. For example, if it’s 24°C outside, the car’s interior can hit 38°C in less than 20 minutes.
• Factors that accelerate heating:
Dark interiors, poor ventilation, and direct sunlight all accelerate the process. Cracking the windows has a negligible effect – studies show it only reduces the temperature by 1-2°C, not nearly enough to prevent heatstroke. The small amount of airflow from a cracked window is insignificant compared to the rapid temperature rise. For dogs in hot cars, even a few minutes can be fatal.
• Why dogs are more vulnerable than humans:
A dog’s normal body temperature is 38-39°C. When the air around them heats up, their body temperature can rise rapidly. Once it hits 41°C, organs begin to fail. At 43°C, death can occur within minutes.
• Progression from discomfort to death:
The signs of heat stress escalate quickly – excessive panting, drooling, restlessness, vomiting, collapse, seizures, and ultimately, death. In hot cars, this progression can occur in as little as 10-15 minutes.
• Breed-specific vulnerabilities:
Flat-faced breeds (such as Bulldogs and Pugs), puppies, seniors, and dogs with thick coats (such as Labradoodles) are at even higher risk. These dogs overheat faster and have a harder time cooling down.
Prevention Strategies and Alternatives
The best way to protect your dog is never to leave them in a parked car.
• Planning errands:
If it’s likely you can’t take the dog out of the car, leave them at home with plenty of water. Plan your day so your dog isn’t left waiting in the car, even for a few minutes. Make certain any leads and adequate water are easily accessible.
• Safe transportation methods:
If you must travel with your dog, bring a family member or friend to stay with them, or use drive-thru and kerbside services. Never rely on parking in the shade or cracking the windows.
• Emergency backup plans:
If you’re delayed unexpectedly, have a backup plan – such as a trusted friend or pet sitter nearby who can help. Save local animal control and emergency numbers in your phone.
• Technology solutions and reminders:
Use smartphone reminders, car seat alarms, or pet temperature monitors to prevent accidental forgetfulness. Some vehicles now offer rear-seat reminders to check for pets before locking up.
• Car heat safety for dogs:
Prevention is always better than rescue. Make pet car safety a non-negotiable rule in your household.
• Dogs on the back of utes:
Dogs need to be tied up, have insulating material to stand and lie on, and should not be left on the back of a ute without adequate shade, shelter, and water.
The law
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTAA) and Regulations include several mandatory requirements for travelling with dogs in or on a vehicle:
It is illegal to:
- put dogs in the boot of a sedan-type car.
- Leave an animal unattended inside a car for more than 10 minutes when outside temperatures are at or above 28ºC.
- Transport a dog if it is not appropriately tethered or caged on the back of a ute or trailer.
- Secure a dog on the metal tray of a ute or trailer when outside temperatures are at or above 28ºC without the dog having access to an area of insulating material protecting the dog from contact with the metal surface.
Causing animals to suffer can be a criminal offence, and if your pet suffers as a result of being left in a car, you can be fined up to $77,730 or face two years imprisonment if found guilty.
Agriculture Victoria officers, Victoria Police and RSPCA Inspectors all have the authority to issue a notice to anyone in the community who commits or is likely to commit a cruelty offence – not just the owner of the animals.
Bystander emergency guide – call 000
If you find a distressed dog left in a car, call the Victorian Police on 000 immediately!
The police are equipped to dispatch officers quickly from the nearest police station which is critical under these circumstances.
Police officers have the power to break into a vehicle to rescue an animal suffering from heat exposure.
Animals left in these conditions can quickly suffer from severe dehydration and heat exhaustion.