EDITORIAL
Leaving pets in locked cars is a fatal choice that demands legal accountability
The dictionary cites the meaning of the phrase ‘A dog’s life’ as an unhappy existence, full of problems or unfair treatment. The phrase in fact originated in the 16th century and is referred to the poor treatment of working or guard dogs. The golden retriever, which recently died in the city from heat and suffocation in a locked car while his owner spent over four hours at a casino, must have definitely faced such painful life during the final hours of its existence.
The horrifying end of the pet resulting from irresponsible behaviour of its owner left many animal lovers shocked to say the least. The owner had allegedly left the dog in the vehicle without keeping any of the windows partially open for ventilation. The summer temperature currently experienced by the city aggravated the situation. As per the field officer of the District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), North, the golden retriever tried to chew through the car mat in distress before suffocating to death. The field officer who was informed about the trapped pet by the Panaji Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said that by the time police arrived on the scene, the dog had died due to extreme heat estimated between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius and lack of oxygen.
According to a PAWS official, this is the fifth such case in the city, in recent times. In earlier instances, the animals were rescued in time, but this time around the unfortunate dog could not be saved. The organisation has already written to the city police, requesting them to register an FIR and secure closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage from the vicinity of the casino to identify the vehicle and have it seized, besides a post-mortem examination of the animal. It has also pledged to aggressively pursue the case to its logical end. The related complaint mentions that anyone keeping an animal as a pet is legally responsible for its well-being and that leaving the dog in the car is a “deliberate act of negligence that directly caused the animal’s death”. The organisation has further cited Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, stating that confining an animal in such conditions is a punishable offence.
Some of the similar recent incidents include death of a five-year-old Labrador after being left in a locked car by owners visiting a temple at Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh after the car reached extreme temperatures; and two dogs losing life in Linwood, United Kingdom after being left in a hot car, resulting in police reporting the owners to prosecutors. Both these incidents had occurred in July, last year. Again a dog had died in Oshawa, Canada in August 2025, after being left in a vehicle, resulting in the arrest of the owner.
The Monday incident has led to renewed calls by animal welfare groups for public awareness on the dangers of leaving animals or even small children inside vehicles in high temperatures. In fact, leaving a pet or a child inside a car for more than 10 minutes can be fatal in such conditions. American actress Linda Blair had stated, “The animals are right here, right in front of us. And how we treat these companions is a test.” Clearing this test successfully is a major responsibility on humans, especially the pet parents, so that pets become their family members rather than property.
