Cheers to officers from Harris County Precinct 1 in Houston, Texas, for rescuing Odin, a Husky mix, who was left in a hot car in downtown Houston for two hours. Even though a window was cracked, the heat inside the vehicle had climbed to 113 degrees, with the roof of the car measuring 120 degrees. The windows were coated in dried slobber, a sign of prolonged distress.

“The dog was slobbering everywhere and really, really in a desperate situation. Somebody left the dog in the car while they went inside to go to court,” Constable Alan Rosen told KHOU 11. “This is not something that is legal. This is not something that is going to be tolerated. Thankfully, we had a citizen that saw this and took action,” Rosen said.

The dog is now in the care of the Houston SPCA and is reported to be doing well. An investigation by Harris County Precinct 1 is underway. At this point, it’s not been determined if charges will be filed.

This incident a reminder of the dangers of hot cars for pets and people. On a 75°F  day, the inside of a car reaches 94°F in just 10 minutes and 109°F in 30 minutes. Dogs can suffer brain damage or die at body temperatures over 106°F. 

Dogs can’t cool down like we do. They primarily cool themselves through panting, which becomes ineffective in hot, humid, enclosed spaces. They overheat far faster than humans do.

Cracking a window won’t help. Studies show partially open windows have little to no effect on interior temperature. The greenhouse effect traps solar radiation inside the vehicle regardless.

Not only can leaving an animal in a hot car lead to fatal heat stroke, but it is also illegal in several states!

As of 2025, 32 states and the District of Columbia have laws that address leaving an animal unattended in a confined vehicle under dangerous conditions, such as intense weather conditions. Some of these laws involve legal action against the vehicle owner, while other laws provide immunity to those who may use forcible means — such as smashing a window — to rescue a vulnerable animal in a car.

Here is a list of the state laws concerning animals left in unattended vehicles: https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-laws-protect-animals-left-parked-vehicles