SPCA Issues Urgent Warning: Dogs Can Die in Hot Cars Within Minutes

Webfit News | 24 November 2025
Source: SPCA, Scoop Media

The SPCA is urging people across Aotearoa to never leave their dogs inside vehicles during warm weather, after another heartbreaking case where a dog was found struggling for its life inside a hot car. The organisation says this problem happens every summer and is completely preventable.

A Distressing Incident That Sparked the Latest Warning

Earlier this year, SPCA Inspectors were called to a vehicle in the Wellington region where a large crossbreed dog had been trapped in a locked car for at least one hour. The car was parked in full sun and even though the outside temperature was only 22 degrees, the temperature inside the car was much higher.

When the inspector arrived, the dog was:

• Panting heavily
• Drooling
• Trying to hide in the footwell to escape the heat
• Showing clear signs of heat stress

Despite the windows being slightly open, the animal was struggling. The inspector tried to contact the owner through registration details, but no matching dog owner information existed.

As she prepared to remove the dog from the vehicle, the owner finally appeared. Witnesses say the owner insisted the dog was “fine” even though it desperately tried to get out and immediately drank an entire bowl of water offered by the inspector. The owner then put the dog back into the hot car and drove away. A $300 infringement notice was issued.

Why Hot Cars Are Deadly for Dogs

The SPCA explains that cars heat up extremely fast, and dogs cannot cool themselves the same way humans can.

How fast can a car heat up?

• On a 21-degree day, the inside of a parked car can reach more than 31 degrees in ten minutes.
• It can reach over 40 degrees in thirty minutes.
• On a truly hot day, temperatures inside vehicles can climb past 50 degrees.

At these temperatures, dogs can suffer:

• Irreversible brain damage
• Organ failure
• Heat stroke
• Death

Why are dogs more at risk than humans

Dogs pant to cool down.
Panting does almost nothing in a hot, closed environment with limited airflow.

Even small temperature changes can overwhelm them quickly.

A Simple Example for Everyday People

Imagine sitting in a car on a warm day with the engine off. Even if the window is slightly open, the air feels thick and hard to breathe. Now imagine wearing a thick fur coat and being unable to sweat.

That is what a dog experiences.

A dog can go from normal to life-threatening heat stress in less than fifteen minutes.

SPCA’s Message: This Is a Preventable Tragedy

Every summer, the SPCA receives hundreds of calls about dogs left in hot cars. Many cases end with animals suffering because owners underestimate the danger.

SPCA CEO Todd Westwood says the rule is simple.

“You would not leave a child in a hot car. Please treat your dogs the same way. If you cannot take them with you, leave them safely at home.”

He also encourages owners with dogs who struggle with separation anxiety to ask friends or family for help when they need to run errands.

What To Do If You See a Dog in Distress

If you spot a dog trapped in a hot vehicle:

• Call SPCA on 0800 SPCA NZ
• Or contact the Police immediately
• Do not break the window yourself
  (It can be dangerous for the dog and for you)

Every minute counts, especially on warm days.

SPCA Provides Free Awareness Resources

To help spread the message, SPCA has created posters, flyers, and social media graphics that anyone can download and share. These are available on the SPCA website under “Dogs Die in Hot Cars”.

Conclusion

Hot car deaths are entirely avoidable. A few minutes of caution can save a dog’s life. The SPCA is urging New Zealanders to take this issue seriously as summer approaches.
A small decision like leaving your dog at home in the shade instead of inside a parked car can prevent a tragedy.