Leaving your dog out on 80-degree days? Michigan city will cite you (original) (raw)

June 4, 2026, 10:53 a.m. ET

Eastpointe is done asking nicely.

That’s what the city’s animal control department said about pet safety just ahead of a series of more than 82-degree days expected in metro Detroit.

Eastpointe has an ordinance that makes it unlawful to house or leave a dog outside when the temperature is above 82. It also requires owners to provide sufficient shelter for an animal’s health.

An owner on Tuesday, June 2, failed to do their part, said the Eastpointe Police Animal Control Division in a Facebook post Wednesday, June 3.

“Yesterday, a dog was left in the sun when the ambient temperature was just 73°F,” the division stated in the post. “The ground and air inside that sun exposure read 115°F. That is not ‘a little warm.’ That is life-threatening! That is animal neglect. And that is a crime in Eastpointe.”

The post included a photo of a brown and white dog in the sun against a house with its mouth open, seemingly panting. A thermometer in the photo showed the high temperature of 115 degrees.

The owner is facing multiple misdemeanor citations for failing to provide adequate care and having the dog improperly tethered and unable to reach shade, according to the division. There was another dog present, too, and the owner faces citations for neither dog being microchipped or licensed. A misdemeanor charge related to mandatory spaying or neutering was also filed against them.

It doesn’t matter what an owner’s schedule is, according to the division. Also, if someone's dog supposedly enjoys the heat, the owner better be out there with them.

“Be the owner your pet thinks you are,” the division stated.

In Eastpointe, those who witness a welfare concern are asked to either call non-emergency dispatch at 586-777-6700, call to report 586-445-5100 ext. 1035 or message the division’s Facebook page.

Witnesses are asked to have an address for the welfare check and as many details as possible regarding the time the animal was outside and the length of time they were there. Additionally, witnesses are asked to take photos or video, or both.

Not all municipalities have such temperature-specific ordinances, but some, like Detroit, disallow tethering a dog “without access to shade when sunlight is likely to cause overheating.”

It is against state law to fail to provide a dog with adequate care such as sufficient water and shelter to maintain good health.

Violation of the state law is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a fine of $1,000. The penalty can rise to a felony with more time behind bars and bigger fines in the case of repeat offenses or the involvement of multiple animals.