Hot Car Safety
How You Can Help
Every year, children and animals tragically die when they are left in hot cars. One death is too many, and now the Good Samaritan Law is aiming to end hot-car deaths. AHS and its partners led efforts to pass the law, which allows Good Samaritans to take action without risk of civil liability if they rescue a child or a pet from a hot car.
If you see a child or pet in a hot car and believe they are in imminent danger of physical injury or death:
- Call 911.
- Determine if the vehicle is locked.
- If unlocked, open a door to enter the vehicle.
- If locked, you may break the window. Do not use more force than is necessary.
- Remain with the child or pet until the authorities arrive.
- What Is the Samaritan Hot Car Law?
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Governor Doug Ducey has signed into law HB2494. The bill was sponsored by Senator John Kavanagh, a longtime animal-welfare advocate who drafted the legislation with the support of the Humane Society of the United States.
A person who uses reasonable force to remove a child or domestic animal from a locked motor vehicle is not liable for damages in a civil action if they comply with the following conditions:
- The rescuer has a good faith belief that the confined child or pet is in imminent danger of suffering physical injury or death unless they are removed from the vehicle.
- The rescuer determines the car is locked or there is no reasonable manner in which the person can remove the child or pet.
- Before entering the vehicle, the rescuer notifies the proper authorities (defined).
- The rescuer does not use more force than is necessary under the circumstances to enter the vehicle.
- The rescuer remains with the child or pet until the authorities arrive.
Click here for more details on the bill.
- How Hot Can a Car Get?
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Your car can become a deadly oven in just minutes.
It takes just minutes for temperatures inside your car to rise to extremely dangerous levels. Even on a cool day, temperatures can become deadly.
- Read Stories and Tips
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Learn more about keeping pets safe during the heat, and share these clips with your friends and family to help inform our community on the importance of summer safety.
2021
Summer & Hiking Safety
Fox 10: Summer & Hiking Safety2020
Protecting Pets in Excessive Heat
ABC 15: AHS Provides Tips for Protecting Pets in Excessive HeatExcessive Heat
12 News: Bring Pets Indoors During Excessive HeatUnivision: AHS Ofrece Consejos Para Proteger a Las Mascotas Del Calor Excesivo
2019
Hot Car
3TV, CBS 5, 12 News: MCAO’s Don’t Leave Me Behind CampaignHeat Ride Alongs
FOX 10: AHS Rescue Ride Along with an Animal Cruelty InvestigatorHiking Ban
FOX 10: Phoenix Hiking Ban for DogsPet Heat Safety
3TV & CBS 5: Pet Heat Safety - Dog Safety on the Trail
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Phoenix Trails are CLOSED to all dogs when temperatures reach 100° and above.
The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and the Parks Board have adopted this policy in an effort to protect your dog’s health and safety on high temperature days.
Thank you for protecting pets during extreme heat.
Under PCC 24-54 (Failure to Comply), violators could be subject to a Class One Misdemeanor that could include a fine of up to $2,500 and six months jail time.
Know the Signs of Heat Stroke
Help Us Spread the Word
Please share these graphics on your own social media channels or Nextdoor to save more pets! Be sure to tag the Arizona Humane Society on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!
Attention Hikers social graphics
Text links: Low-Res JPG | High-Res JPG | PDF
Excessive Heat Warning social graphics
Text links: Low-Res JPG | High-Res JPG | PDF
Don’t Leave Pets in Hot Cars social graphics
Text links: Low-Res JPG | High-Res JPG | PDF
Don’t Fry Our Feet social graphics
Text Links: Low-Res JPG | High-Res JPG | PDF