Under Nevada Revised Statute § 202.487, leaving your pet in a car in dangerous conditions is a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. Law enforcement officers are permitted to break into your vehicle to rescue the animal without being responsible to cover car repairs.
These incidents are typically reported by overzealous “Good Samaritans” who jump to the wrong conclusion, and police often react prematurely when there is no real danger.
Here in Las Vegas, I have represented countless loving pet owners wrongly accused of leaving their pet in a hot automobile.1 I have a long track record of getting these charges dismissed while having your beloved dog or cat returned to you as soon as possible.
Is it ever legal to leave pets unattended in a car?
Yes, as long as the conditions do not present a significant risk to the health and safety of the dog, cat, or other domesticated pet in Nevada. 2 Examples of conditions too dangerous to leave a pet in may be:
- A heatwave,
- A frost,
- In the path of a flash flood,
- In the path of a tornado,
- In a location with frequent gunfire, and/or
- Any conditions where the animal is deprived of food, water, or other necessities for extended periods.
Temperatures inside of a vehicle can be up to 20 degrees higher than it is outside, so cars can become dangerously hot even on a mild summer day. Law enforcement refers to these “dog in hot vehicle” cases as “hot dogs.”
Note that NRS 202.487 applies not only to pet owners but also to:
- Pet sitters,
- Dog walkers, and
- Anyone else in permanent or temporary custody of the animal.3
How do I fight the charges?
If you are charged with leaving your pet in a car under dangerous conditions in Nevada, I would argue that the conditions were in fact safe and that the police were mistaken. What qualifies as hazardous is subjective, and the D.A. often has inadequate proof to convince a court of your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The most helpful evidence in these cases includes:
- Eyewitness testimony,
- Photos or video of the animal in the car and the surroundings,
- Weather reports,
- Veterinary records, and/or
- Expert testimony.
Another possible defense is that you were not the one who left the animal in the car, and that someone else put the pet in danger.
Finally, if you accidentally locked your pet in a car during dangerous conditions, you are not criminally liable under NRS 202.487. You just need to seek help to free the animal as soon as you realize your mistake.4
Will I lose my animal?
If local Animal Control arrives at the scene, it may try to petition the court for you to surrender and forfeit your pet.
However, in practice, this typically only happens if the dog, cat, or other pet is in dire condition. As long as your pet is unharmed, Nevada judges usually allow you to keep them with a warning.
If police do confiscate your animal, you are entitled to know where it is being sheltered. If you do not reclaim it and pay any sheltering fees within the required time frame, the shelter could then rehome your pet or even euthanize it.
Can I get a record seal?
Yes. If you have a conviction for leaving your dog, cat, or other pet in a vehicle under dangerous conditions, you can pursue a criminal record seal in Nevada one year after the case ends. If the charge gets dismissed, you can pursue a seal right away. 5
What if I see an animal trapped in a hot car?
Call the local public safety / animal control officers.
The number for the Clark County Animal Protection Services is 702-455-7710.
The number for the Washoe County Regional Animal Services Dispatch (WCRAS) is 775-322-3647.
After hours, phone 911. Police officers or first responders will arrive at the scene.6
Additional Resources
The following Nevada organizations help with pets in need:
- Southern Nevada Animal Rescue League – Organization that helps to limit overpopulation and educates the public against breed and size discrimination.
- The Animal Foundation – A high-volume single-site animal shelter in Las Vegas.
- Nevada SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) – Southern Nevada’s original no-kill shelter.
- Nevada Humane Society – Animal shelter that helps people adopt or foster their animals.
- Henderson Animal Control – The city bureau that helps reunite lost pets with their owners, shelters abandoned animals, and oversees pet adoptions.
Further Reading
See our related articles on:
- Nevada animal cruelty laws
- Is dog-fighting illegal in Nevada?
- Can I go to jail for killing a pet in Nevada?
Legal References
- NRS 202.487 (formerly NRS 574.195; NV Senate Bill 409 (2017)(“[A] person shall not allow a pet to remain unattended in a parked or standing motor vehicle if conditions, including, without limitation, extreme heat or cold, present a significant risk to the health and safety of the pet.“); the former statute made exceptions for hunting dogs during hunting season, or if the dog was undergoing training exercises or field trials.); see also Craig Fiegender, New Nevada law makes it a crime to leave pet in hot vehicle, KSNV-3 in Las Vegas, NBC (June 17, 2017).
- Same; see also Hot Car Rescues: What is the law in Nevada? KTNV-13 in Las Vegas, ABC (June 11, 2019); see also At what temperature is it ok to leave my pet in the car?, Washoe County Animal Services (“It would be advised to never leave an animal in a vehicle unattended in temperatures over 60⁰F”).
- Same.
- Same.
- NRS 179.245; NRS 179.255.
- Other states that have laws to protect companion animals trapped in parked cars include Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
