Maps of States that have Laws to Protect Animals in Parked Cars

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Label code (short name, no spaces)Label descriptive nameColor (Hex code, e.g. #80BFB9)
Label-1State with "Good Samaritan" rescue law#01665E
Label-3State with law enforcement rescue law#5AB4AC
Label-4State law but no rescue provision#D8B365
Label-2State without a law#8C510A
Map data: 
StateURL (relative path, e.g. /statute/name-of-page)Label code (must match Label code from Label creation table)
AlabamaLabel-2
AlaskaLabel-2
Arizona/statute/az-cruelty-consolidated-crueltyanimal-fighting-statutes#s0Label-1
ArkansasLabel-2
California/statute/ca-cruelty-§-5977-animal-endangerment-confinement-unattended-motor-vehicle-violations-andLabel-1
Colorado/statute/co-vehicle-animal-%C2%A7-13-21-1084-persons-rendering-emergency-assistance-locked-vehicleLabel-1
Connecticut/statute/ct-vehicle-%C2%A7-52-557u-entering-passenger-motor-vehicle-another-remove-child-or-animal-vehicleLabel-1
Delaware/statute/de-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s1325Label-3
Florida/statute/fl-cruelty-humane-slaughter-consolidated-cruelty-statuteshumane-slaughter-laws#s768_139Label-1
Georgia/statute/ga-vehicle-animal-%C2%A7-35-1-7-law-enforcement-officers-limitation-liabilityLabel-3
HawaiiLabel-2
IdahoLabel-2
Illinois/statute/il-cruelty-generally-consolidated-cruelty-statutes-humane-care-animals-act#sec70_7_01Label-3
Indiana/statute/vehicle-chapter-30-immunity-removing-domestic-animal-locked-motor-vehicleLabel-1
IowaLabel-2
Kansas/statute/ks-vehicle-animal-60-5401-immunity-damage-motor-vehicleLabel-1
KentuckyLabel-2
Louisiana/statute/la-vehicle-animal-%C2%A7-17381-immunity-liability-gratuitous-emergency-care-domestic-animalLabel-1
Maine/statute/me-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s4019Label-3
Maryland/statute/md-dogs-consolidated-dog-laws#s21_1004_1Label-3
Massachusetts/statute/ma-dog-consolidated-dog-laws#s174FLabel-1
MichiganLabel-2
Minnesota/statute/mn-dog-consolidated-dog-laws#s346_57Label-3
MississippiLabel-2
MissouriLabel-2
MontanaLabel-2
NebraskaLabel-2
Nevada/statute/nv-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s202_487Label-3
New Hampshire/statute/nh-cruelty-cruelty-animals#s8aaLabel-3
New Jersey/statute/nj-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s26Label-4
New MexicoLabel-2
New York/statute/ny-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s353dLabel-3
North Carolina/statute/nc-cruelty-article-47-cruelty-animals#s3633Label-3
North Dakota/statute/nd-cruelty-chapter-36-211-humane-treatment-animals#s212Label-3
Ohio/statute/oh-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s133Label-1
OklahomaLabel-2
Oregon/statute/or-vehicle-unattended-animal-30813-entrance-motor-vehicle-remove-unattended-child-orLabel-1
Pennsylvania/statute/pa-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s8340_3Label-3
Rhode Island/statute/ri-cruelty-chapter-1-cruelty-animals#s32Label-3
South CarolinaLabel-2
South Dakota/statute/sd-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s40_1_36Label-3
Tennessee/statute/tn-good-samaritan-dogs-carsLabel-1
TexasLabel-2
UtahLabel-2
Vermont/statute/vt-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s386Label-1
Virginia/statute/va-vehicle-%C2%A7-32-65041-civil-immunity-forcible-entry-motor-vehicle-remove-unattendedLabel-3
Washington/statute/wa-cruelty-chapter-1652-prevention-cruelty-animals#s340Label-3
West Virginia/statute/wv-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s19Label-4
Wisconsin/statute/wi-vehicle-895484-civil-liability-exemption-entering-vehicle-render-assistanceLabel-1
WyomingLabel-2
Summary:

Thirty-two (32) states and the District of Columbia have laws that concern companion animals left unattended in parked vehicles under dangerous conditions as of 2025. In some states, leaving an animal in an unattended vehicle under dangerous conditions is a crime. Many states also give immunity to law enforcement or other first responders who forcibly enter vehicles to rescue animals. Recently, several states (AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IN, KS, LA, MA, OH, OR, TN, VT, and WI) enacted laws giving civil immunity to any individuals who break-in to vehicles to remove pets (or vulnerable persons like children or incapacitated individuals) in imminent danger, provided they meet other conditions under these laws. To view these laws, click on the teal states. For more detailed information on these laws, please visit our comparative table on the topic.