It is illegal to leave your dog unattended in a vehicle in California under certain circumstances that may bring harm to the animal. This law aims to protect pets from potential harm caused by extreme temperatures and other hazardous conditions inside a parked vehicle.
While there is no statewide law explicitly prohibiting leaving a dog in the car, several cities and counties in California have enacted local ordinances addressing this issue. Additionally, under California’s animal cruelty laws, leaving a pet in a car under dangerous conditions can be considered animal neglect or abuse, resulting in criminal charges.
Learn more about when it is illegal to leave your dog in the car in California and how a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer can help.
California Laws for Leaving an Unattended Pet in a Vehicle
Leaving your pet in an unattended motor vehicle in California is illegal, but only if the conditions could endanger it. Endangering an animal is considered animal abuse under Penal Code 597 PC in some circumstances. Some of the conditions stated in Penal Code 597.9 that can endanger an animal include:
- Excessive heat or excessive cold
- Lack of ventilation
- Lack of food or water for the animal
- Other circumstances that may cause the animal to suffer or die
It’s important to note that this law is not only limited to dogs but will apply to all animals. If you’ve been charged with animal cruelty for leaving your pet in a hot vehicle, our firm can review your case and may be able to help you avoid harsher punishments.
For a free legal consultation, call (310) 896-2723
Penalties for Illegally Leaving Your Dog in the Car in California
There are penalties for leaving an animal in a vehicle under conditions that can endanger its health or life. For starters, if you violate this law but your animal is unharmed, you will be charged with an infraction. The fine for an infraction is around $100.
However, if this is your first offense, then you may not even have to pay a fine. Your consequences will solely depend on the circumstances, your past record, and the health of your animal.
On the other hand, if you are charged and your animal suffers or experiences bodily injury, you can be charged with a misdemeanor. Your penalties for this crime are up to six months in jail or a maximum fine of $500.
Defenses You May Have
Though it is illegal to leave your dog in the car under harmful circumstances, there are some defenses that you can try to prove. By having a skilled defense attorney at your side, you will be able to quickly finish your case and with luck, drop the charges held against you.
The three most common defenses that one can have include:
- No harmful conditions were present: As previously stated, this law will only apply if there are harmful conditions present for the animal left in the vehicle. Therefore, if none of the conditions are present and you can prove that the animal was not in danger or harm, the charges can get dropped.
- Being falsely accused: Similar to that mentioned above, you can claim that law enforcement officers have made a mistake and wrongly believed that the conditions were harmful to the animal in your vehicle. You would have to prove that the conditions present weren’t of any danger to the animal.
- You were experiencing an emergency: Of course, emergencies can occur, and a number of situations might make you rush, causing you to leave an animal in the car. On the other hand, you could have also made a quick errand and got held up or hurt while inside, leaving your pet in a vehicle for an extended period of time. If this is the case, then you may be able to use your emergency situation as a defense.
Penalties for Violating the Law
Violating California Penal Code 597.7 can result in serious consequences. Depending on the severity of the situation and the harm caused to the animal, penalties may include:
- Misdemeanor charges
- Fines
- Potential jail time
- Restrictions or prohibitions on future pet ownership
In cases where the animal suffers great bodily injury or death, the offense can be elevated to a felony, carrying more severe penalties.
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How Can a California Defense Lawyer Help You?
If you have been suspected of leaving your pet in the car unattended, a skilled attorney can assist your case. With one of the defenses and a solid legal team behind you, it is much easier to fight the charge, reduce the charge, or have the case dismissed altogether.
With anything in life being possible, no one truly will know why your pet was left unattended. However, with the help of the Simmrin Law Group, we can fight to ensure that you face no serious consequences. We offer free consultations, so you will know all that is involved with defending your charges.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form