“Dog in the oven”: balance of the summer of 2026

49 four-legged friends had to be rescued from hot cars and four dogs died

Eschborn. Cases of dogs being left in hot cars in summer temperatures are increasing across Germany. Thanks to the quick intervention of the police and fire brigade, the worst was usually prevented and the four-legged friends were freed from the oven on four wheels. For some dogs, however, any help came too late and they died as a result of overheating. The animal protection organization TASSO has counted the “dog in the oven” cases and once again came to an alarming conclusion: it is often a lack of insight and a lack of sense of responsibility on the part of the owners that puts the four-legged friends in life-threatening situations.

From April to mid-August, at least 48 dogs and one cat in 40 cities had to be rescued from an overheated car. The car became a death trap for four dogs. They were rescued lifeless or died as a result of overheating despite subsequent emergency medical care in a veterinary clinic. The number of unreported animals left in the car will be much higher because TASSO only considers the cases that have been reported in the press. In order to make the dramatic conditions inside the vehicle tangible, a TASSO employee started a self-experiment and sat in a car when the outside temperature was 25 degrees Celsius. After just three minutes the heat became unbearable and the experiment had to be stopped after 14 minutes. The employee was exhausted and bathed in sweat. For four-legged friends, such a situation can become critical much more quickly: unlike humans, dogs and cats can hardly sweat. They cool themselves primarily by panting, but lose a lot of fluid in the process. In the worst case, there is a risk of heat stroke, in which vital organs fail.

Dog in emergency situation:
Help! TASSO provides legal tips
Whether due to ignorance or irresponsibility – it is a clear violation of the Animal Welfare Act and the Animal Welfare Dog Ordinance to let a four-legged friend suffer in a hot car. “Depending on the severity and degree of fault, the owners face significant fines, a fine or possibly a prison sentence of up to three years. A temporary or lifelong ban on keeping and caring for animals can also be imposed,” says lawyer Gianna Chiappa, who works for TASSO. She explains what measures animal-loving people can take if they spot a dog in an emergency situation in the car on a warm day:

• First, you should try to locate the owner, for example by making an announcement in the business parking lot.
• If the owner cannot be found, the police or fire department should be contacted immediately.
• It is also important to note down all relevant data such as date, location, time, car make, color and license plate number of the car and to document the incident with photos.
• In addition, witnesses should be sought to confirm what happened
  To be on the safe side, criminal charges should be filed for violating the Animal Welfare Act.

If the dog's condition worsens dramatically, it may be necessary to free the animal from the car yourself. However, there is a risk that the vehicle owners will file criminal charges for damage to property. “In such a situation, helpers can invoke a justifiable emergency,” says Chiappa. This makes it all the more important to call in witnesses, notify the police and only intervene if it is no longer justifiable to wait any longer for the police or rescue workers.