Plans to make it illegal to leave dogs in hot cars in NSW

The NSW government is proposing law changes to criminalise leaving dogs in hot cars.

It would be the most comprehensive reform to the state's animal welfare laws in years.

The government has drawn up a series of proposed changes to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

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Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said: "There's been over 7000 submissions over the last couple of years about what we can do to strengthen animal welfare laws.

"People across the community expect the government to do more."

The changes would criminalise leaving a dog in a hot vehicle and make it an offence to use or possess prong collars, a painful and discredited tool for dog training.

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Animal cruelty powers and penalties would also be beefed up.

But there are still questions as to how the laws will look in practicality.

"I'll be engaging with authorities about defining what the rules are for leaving the animals unattended," Moriarty said.

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The RSPCA in NSW identified more than 500 reports of dogs locked in cars in the six years to 2024/25.

Stephen Albin, from Animal Welfare League NSW, said: "They're constant companions, and one of the issues is you've got to ensure you look after them."

The government will present the bill to parliament in the first half of this year.