We’ve all driven down the road and seen dogs sitting in the back of pickup trucks. I don’t know about you, but it scares me to death.
Once in the while, the owner will be smart enough to create a contraption to make sure the dog is leashed to the truck, but more often than not, this isn’t the case.
IT IS NEVER SAFE TO DRIVE WITH AN UNRESTRAINED PET- especially a dog in the back of a pickup truck.
What if the dog gets scared and jumps out?
What if the dog sees another dog or something of interest and jumps out?
Dogs respond to things and situations on impulse. When a dog gets in the car, they can be very excited and probably don’t stop to think, “Hmm, if I jump out of this truck, I’ll get hurt and I’d probably cause a major car crash as people try to swerve to avoid hitting me. I’d better just stay in the back of this truck as we fly down the freeway at 80 miles an hour.”
According to the ASPCA, transporting unrestrained dogs in low sided truck beds has been banned in several states, including California. Sadly enough, in most jurisdictions, it’s not even illegal to transport kids in the back of trucks, so we must hope that people use common sense before putting their children and animals in the back of trucks.
So, what do you do if you see a dog in the back of an open truck? Try to get the license plate and call the police.
Here are a few tips on keeping you, your dog and other drivers on the road safe while traveling with your pets.
1. Put your dog in a Dog Seat Belt.
2. Create a barrier between the front and back seat.
3. Put your dog in a crate. In the state of California, it’s mandatory your dog is in a crate if traveling in the open portion of a pickup truck.
It is very important to think of your dog’s safety while traveling. If you are in an accident and your dog is in the front seat of the car, they can be severely injured or killed when an airbag deploys.
For all dog lovers, keep your eyes open! If you see someone with their dogs in the back of a truck, don’t get mad. Einhorn Insurance believes in giving dog owners a chance to be responsible. The dog owner may not know what they are doing is illegal. Try to educate people about the laws and give them an opportunity to do the right thing.
Einhorn Insurance hopes this article keeps dogs and motorists safe out there.
If you have other safety tips or great dog related info, please email us at agent@einhorninsurance.com, call us at 858-336-4644 or visit www.EinhornInsurance.com. We’d love to hear from you!
