Leaving a dog, cat or any other animal in your car in Michigan could soon be escalated to a felony, MLive.com reports.

Lawmakers are considering joining 16 other stares with similar legislation that would make keeping an animal in a car (in endangering conditions) a serious offense.

Michigan, however, would impose among the nation’s strictest penalties:

“A first offense would be punishable by up to a $350 fine and/or up to 45 days in jail. A second violation would be punishable by up to a $500 fine and/or up to 90 days in jail. If such confinement causes serious harm to an animal it’s punishable by up to a year in prison and/or up to a $1,000 fine. And if the incident results in the death of an animal the punishment could be up to a $5,000 fine or 5 years imprisonment.”

The complimentary bills have been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.