Proposed changes to the law will see that Queenslanders who leave their dog in the car could face jail time and large fines.
The state government wants to amend existing laws to make it clear that leaving a dog in a car that could get too hot is an offence.
The changes would mean that people would be charged with animal cruelty in cases where animals are harmed or when people are breaching their duty of care - even when no heat stress has actually suffered.