City considering bylaw against leaving animals in hot vehicles

London city council will consider a by-law to fine people who leave animals inside hot cars.

Councillors want to crack down on Londoners who leave their pets inside hot vehicles.

A motion by Coun. Skylar Franke and Coun. David Ferreira aims to curb the alarming number of emergency calls made to the London Police Service (LPS) and animal control officers to rescue animals locked inside vehicles.

According to Franke, there were 114 calls to police in 2024 for pets locked in vehicles, and 60 calls by mid-July this year.

“If we are sending members of LPS or the animal control [officers], that we are able to recoup those costs,” she told the Community and Protective Services (CAPS) Committee. “But without some sort of bylaw we are not able to charge a penalty.”

“People understand that it’s wrong to leave an animal in a hot car, and yet they do it and they justify it. There have to be repercussions,” said Coun. Sam Trosow.

A letter from the Humane Society London and Middlesex warns, “Each summer, we are confronted with heartbreaking reminders that even a few short minutes inside a parked car in the heat can be fatal to an animal.”

It adds, “A cracked window or shaded parking spot offers little to no protection against the rapid increase in a car’s interior temperature.”

If approved by council next week, the motion would direct staff to develop recommendations that will protect animals left unattended in a motor vehicle including but not limited to amendments to existing or a new bylaw next spring (Q2 2026).

“Even though we do have provincial regulations with respect to that, there needs to be more teeth,” Ferreira explained after the meeting. “Also, there were some good comments made here at committee about how long it takes a provincial representative to get (to London).”