Grave concerns for dogs left in hot cars as strong El Niño summer approaches

Every year, SPCA receives hundreds of calls relating to dogs that have been left inside hot cars. These calls make up approximately 10% of all welfare reports made over the summer months.

SPCA has long campaigned to raise awareness on this issue, as hundreds of New Zealanders continue to leave their canine companions sweltering in the heat – many assuming that cracking the windows, or parking in the shade, eliminates the risk.

With a particularly strong El Niño (a naturally occurring climate phenomenon) weather pattern confirmed for summer 2026/2027, temperatures in New Zealand are expected to be some of the hottest on record, and SPCA’s concerns are heightened.

“We’re in for an extremely hot and dry summer, and some dog owners simply aren’t grasping the dangers,” says Jason Blair, SPCA Inspectorate Regional Manager. “Even if a car is parked in the shade and the windows are cracked, temperatures can shoot up within minutes.

“Dogs don’t sweat like humans – they rely on panting to regulate their body temperature, which doesn’t work when they’re in a hot car. They can suffer quickly from heat stroke, and the mortality rate is between 50-64%. It’s that serious.”

SPCA has downloadable flyers and posters on its website, and is asking the public to print and use them to raise awareness.

“We hope that local businesses and shops especially will display these posters, as carparks are often a place where dogs are left waiting inside cars,” Jason says. “People think they’re only going to be a few minutes, not realising that that could be enough for their dog to suffer from heatstroke, or worse.”

In a recent case, SPCA Inspector Gawrav and his colleague attended a callout after two dogs had been spotted inside a parked campervan left in direct sunlight.

“We saw two adult dogs inside the van when we first arrived,” says Gawrav. “One was locked in the driver’s compartment without access to water. The other was in the back. Both dogs were panting and barking.

“We managed to get in touch with the owner on the phone, but at the same time a relative arrived. After explaining the dangers and urgency with them, they removed the dogs and gave them water.

“It was then that they showed us they also have three small puppies inside the van, who were being kept inside a small metal crate. The crate was covered in a thick blanket, and they had no access to water,” Gawrav says. “I’m so relieved we got them out when we did – the results could have been tragic.”

After further discussions, the three puppies were taken into SPCA’s care, where they were well looked after and eventually adopted.

“We can’t be everywhere at once. We need dog owners to take responsibility, and put their pets’ health and safety over convenience.”

It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress such as excessive panting, drooling, hyperventilation, and trying to seek shade. Pet owners whose animals are found in this state can be issued with a $300 infringement.

If you find a dog left inside a hot car, call 0800 SPCA NZ or the Police.