Hate Elon Musk or not, he was onto something with 'dog mode' Teslas
Pet owners have three months to use the expiring $7,500 tax credit for new EVs and up to $4,000 tax credit for used EVs
Pet owners don’t have to like billionaire Elon Musk. They don’t have to like SpaceX or X (Twitter) or xAI or The Boring Company or The Neuralink Corporation. They can ignore Grok altogether because ChatGPT and Copilot are within easy reach. They damn sure don’t have to join the “America Party” or follow his Epstein attack-retract statements about his former BFF Trump. He is responsible for the “Big Beautiful Bill” getting enough people to write and vote for it, along with the clown show in the White House and Congress.
But the one thing dog owners may actually be equally frustrated about is how the recent budget bill (Trump coined it “One Big Beautiful Bill”) slashed everything that sustainable homeowners and eco-friendly car lovers could’ve gotten a discount on — cancelling Section 25D tax credits and restricting tax credits for Sections 45Y and 48E, which would give a 30% consumer solar tax credit to people who bought residential solar systems; repealing the investment tax credit and production tax credit for solar and wind projects; and ending federal tax incentives (up to $7,500 for new EVs, up to $4,000 for used EVs) for electric vehicles after September 30.
Recommended Read: “Chicago in Top Five for Hybrid Car Sales (Page 1, 2)”
Why do EVs matter to pet owners?
Unlike traditional gas cars, Teslas have "dog mode” in the cars. This feature means pets can have a safe cabin temperature when they are left unattended. Although 26 states have laws that either prohibit confining animals in cars or provide legal protection for those who try to rescue a distressed animal from a gas-fueled vehicle, and pet owners may have good intentions when they think they can “run in a store for just a second,” animals are dying.
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PETA reports that in 2024 alone, 111 reported animals endured heat–related deaths and another 388 were rescued from the heat. At the time of publication, 49 cats, dogs and other animals have died from the heat. So being able to save a few bucks on buying a car with “dog mode” is something to be disappointed about with the Big Beautiful Bill — regardless of whether you like Trump or Musk.
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Then there are other added perks. While most dog crates these days can easily fold down — be it collapsible polyester or metal — having a built-in pet crate in your car and climate control is a dog owner’s (and a dog’s) dream for road trips or quick rides.