Animals

Animal shut in a car

What to do if you find an animal shut in a hot car?

Back to all situations

The summer months bring not only high temperatures but, sadly, also situations in which people leave their pets in parked cars. Even when it seems like a quick stop, the temperature inside the vehicle can climb to dangerous levels within a few minutes. For the animal this can mean overheating, collapse or even death. 

So what should you do if you find an animal shut in a hot car? 

1. Stay calm and assess the situation 

  • signs of overheating (excessive drooling, rapid breathing, collapse)

2. If your concerns are confirmed, call the municipal police and describe the situation 

  • the exact location
  • the type of vehicle and its registration number
  • a description of the animal and its condition

3. Record what you see 

  • photograph the car, the animal and the surroundings - this documentation may matter in any subsequent proceedings

4. At a shopping centre you can have the registration number announced 

  • often the quickest solution

5. If the animal is demonstrably in danger of dying

and you are in a remote part of Karlovy Vary where it may take the municipal police a long time to arrive, the law allows you to intervene under the rules on EXTREME NECESSITY (krajní nouze) – but wherever possible, discuss the situation with the police first.

Before you break a window:

  • call witnesses over
  • record the situation on video
  • act in a way that makes it obvious your aim is to save a life

Always rescue the animal with care, and bear in mind that damaging someone else's property is lawful only in a case of EXTREME NECESSITY (krajní nouze).

6. Helping the animal once it is out

  • move it into the shade
  • offer it water – NOT ice-cold
  • cool it down gradually and slowly

In conclusion

Do not expect the situation to resolve itself. An animal in a hot car is always potentially in danger of dying. The safest and most responsible course of action is to contact the municipal police or the Police of the Czech Republic immediately. Breaking a window is the last resort, but when a life is at stake it is better to act than to look on.