South-East French town introduces new rule to protect dogs in cars

It is forbidden to leave a dog in a car during hot weather, even for a few minutes under the terms of a new decree issued by a town in the Alpes-Maritimes.

In order to prevent owners from doing so during the hotter months, when temperatures can quickly reach dangerous levels, the town of Vence has introduced a rule whereby it is completely forbidden to leave a pet in a vehicle, even for a few minutes.

“Because a few minutes can be enough to cost a dog its life,” the Vence authorities state on their website.

This measure applies from May 1 to September 30, whenever temperatures rise above 20°C or during periods of drought. When these conditions apply, law enforcement officers have the right to forcibly open a car if an animal is inside. 

Additionally, the owner of the vehicle may face fines under municipal regulations, and the situation may also fall under national animal welfare laws depending on the severity of the case.

“Leaving a dog in a car, especially in hot weather, can be considered neglect or animal abuse. The temperature can become fatal within minutes. A slightly open window is not enough. The dog can face immediate danger, being unable to regulate its body temperature effectively,” the Vence site explains.

While there is a national law protecting animals in such situations, it is more general and does not include a specific time period (such as May to September), nor does it set specific temperature thresholds. 

National law also does not set out the same practical enforcement system used at the local level.

Why leaving your dog in a car is dangerous

Dogs do not sweat like humans; they pant. As a result, rising temperatures inside a car do not allow them to cool down effectively, making it harder to regulate their body temperature and increasing the risk of heatstroke.

Inside a car, the temperature can reach up to 60°C in just a few minutes, especially during hot months and when the vehicle is left in direct sunlight.

For this reason, you should never leave your dog alone in a car, as even leaving the window ajar is not enough protection.

Even if you are running a quick errand and believe you will only be gone for five minutes, this is still enough time to put your dog at risk.

If conditions are not suitable to take your dog with you, it is better to leave it at home.

What to do if you see a dog in a car

If you come across a dog locked inside a car, the first thing to do is look for signs of distress (unconsciousness, excessive panting, frantic behaviour, dark-coloured tongue, or agitation).

If the dog appears fine, it is recommended that you quickly try to locate the owner or, if that is not possible, call the authorities (police, gendarmerie or fire service).

If symptoms of distress are visible, you may not have time to do this and may need to consider forcibly breaking into the car (for example, breaking a window).

It is advisable to have at least two witnesses present so they can attest that you acted in good faith, in case the vehicle’s owner decides to take legal action.

However, if it is clear that the animal is in distress, the law protects you (Article 122-7 of the Penal Code). This states that a person is not criminally liable if, faced with a present or imminent danger threatening themselves, another person, or property, they perform an act necessary to safeguard that person or property.

After removing the dog from the car, it can be cooled down with lukewarm water and given small amounts of lukewarm water to drink.