Every winter, freezing temperatures threaten the lives of dogs and other companion animals left unattended in parked vehicles. In Kentucky, there is no state law preventing this—despite the fact that over 30 other states have already taken action.

Extreme cold can cause hypothermia, frostbite, and death in a matter of minutes. Yet under Kentucky law, leaving an animal in a freezing car isn’t illegal. Even more concerning: while rescuers can act to save a child from a locked car, there are no legal protections for citizens who try to rescue an animal in distress. That means even a compassionate bystander could face legal trouble for doing the right thing.

This winter is forecast to bring historically cold temperatures to much of the U.S., including Kentucky. The danger is not hypothetical—it’s real, predictable, and entirely preventable. Dogs, cats, and other pets have no way to escape once they are trapped in a sealed vehicle. And the stress, confusion, and physical suffering they experience—whether in the dead of winter or the peak of summer heat—can be extreme.

Some Kentucky cities, like Louisville, have local ordinances offering limited protection. But this patchwork of rules isn’t enough. Animals deserve safety everywhere in the state, not just in specific zip codes.

We call on the Kentucky General Assembly to pass legislation that:

• Prohibits leaving animals unattended in vehicles when temperatures or other conditions endanger their health or safety
• Defines this act as cruelty to animals under Kentucky law
• Grants civil immunity to first responders and good Samaritans who rescue animals in distress, provided they follow proper procedures

It’s time for Kentucky to catch up with the 32 other states that already recognize this as a matter of life and death. No pet should freeze to death in a car because our laws failed to protect them.

Please sign and share this petition. Together, we can speak up for those who can’t.