Jail time for leaving dogs in cars under broad changes

Owners who leave their dogs in hot cars or put painful collars on their pets could face jail time under proposed changes to animal welfare laws.

Under the proposals, offenders in NSW could be fined a maximum of $44,000 and jailed for a year, in line with other animal cruelty offences.

The changes will bring the state more in line with the laws in Western Australia and South Australia.

In WA, offenders can be fined up to $50,000 and imprisoned for up to five years. Similar fines apply in SA, but prison sentences are limited to four years.

The changes in NSW will also remove restrictions on animal welfare inspectors from offering painkillers, allow authorized staff to euthanize animals in emergencies and make it an offense to possess illegal glue traps that can trap native animals and cause slow, prolonged deaths.

The proposals are expected to be presented to the state parliament in the first half of 2026, following discussions with key stakeholders.

“Leaving dogs in locked cars on hot days and using prong collars around the necks of puppies and dogs is also unacceptable,” said NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty. he said.

“I have heard firsthand community feedback that has raised expectations that our government will take action and fix these problems.”

The reforms will also hit animal control by addressing potential loopholes and supporting police to address links to organized crime.

Those who facilitate animal fights can be fined up to $110,000 and imprisoned for up to two years.

NSW has already banned puppy farms in 2024, invested millions in animal welfare enforcement and updated legislation to prevent people convicted of animal cruelty from keeping and breeding animals.

Over the past six years RSPCA NSW has received more than 500 reports of pets being locked in cars.

Even mild conditions can cause life-threatening temperatures inside vehicles, the organization said.