SB 1806 makes it a crime for a person to leave a pet unattended in a vehicle in a way that endangers the well-being of the animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or otherc ircumstances that could reasonably be expected tocause suffering or death.

Many pet owners are not aware that even moderately warm temperatures outside can quickly lead to deadly temperatures inside a closed car. For example, within one hour an outside temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit can cause conditions inside a vehicle that adversely affects the health, safety, or well-being of an animal. Even with the windows left slightly open, an 85 degree outside temperature can cause a temperature of 102 degrees inside a vehicle in 10 minutes, and can cause 120 degrees in just half an hour. A healthy dog, whose normal body temperature ranges from 101 to 102.5 degrees, can withstand a body temperature of 107 to 108 degrees for only a short time before suffering brain damage or death.

SB 1806 also allows a peace officer or animal control officer to remove a pet from a vehicle that poses dangerous conditions. Senate Bill 1349 by Senator Soto (D-Pomona) increases the penalty for causing any animal to fight with another animal to one year or less in the county jail or up to a $5000 fine, or both. The second offense for fighting animals or roosters can be a felony in some cases, which may result in prison time or a $25,000 fine, or both.