Animals Left in the Cold: What is the law?
If you see an animal in distress, the most important action you can take is to report it.
Exposure to prolonged cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, and even death. An animal suffering from the cold may, among other things, be vocalizing or look visibly distressed; they may shiver, look lethargic and weak, or have pale or bluish coloration of skin affected by frostbite.
If you see an animal in distress, please call your local animal control or local police.
If you are unsure if what you are seeing is a crime, you can still contact your local animal control or local police and request a welfare check for the animal/s. The circumstance may be improved with a little bit of owner education, or a visit by the local agency may lead to seizure of the animal/s. Reporting what you see can be the difference between life and death for an animal.
If authorities do not respond to your calls, or if you have questions regarding how best to report a crime, Pasado’s Safe Haven can help. Please complete our cruelty report form, which will automatically be forwarded to our Cruelty & Investigations Department.
The law currently states in RCW 16.52.34016.52.340,
In regards to leaving or confining any animal in an unattended motor vehicle or enclosed space:
(1) It is a class 2 civil infraction under RCW 7.80.120 to leave or confine any animal unattended in a motor vehicle or enclosed space if the animal could be harmed or killed by exposure to excessive heat, cold, lack of ventilation, or lack of necessary water.
(2) To protect the health and safety of an animal, an animal control officer or law enforcement officer who reasonably believes that an animal is suffering or is likely to suffer harm from exposure to excessive heat, cold, lack of ventilation, or lack of necessary water is authorized to enter a vehicle or enclosed space to remove an animal by any means reasonable under the circumstances if no other person is present in the immediate area who has access to the vehicle or enclosed space and who will immediately remove the animal. An animal control officer, law enforcement officer, or the department or agency employing such an officer is not liable for any damage to property resulting from actions taken under this section.
(3) Nothing in this section prevents the person who has confined the animal in the vehicle or enclosed space from being convicted of separate offenses for animal cruelty under RCW 16.52.205 or 16.52.207.