Dogs In Pick Ups

[Virgo10]

ARG! My next door neighbor just took his two American Bulldogs out in his pick up. They aren't even restrained and, as far as I know, this is the first time they've been in the truck. The wife isn't too happy about it and I made up a story about seeing a dog hit after jumping out of a truck just to see if the bozo husband would get the drift.

Even restrained, what chance would an animal have if there's a accident? What is wrong with people??

 

[perdidobay]

I too get mad when I see this. The only exception is farmers or ranchers who take their dogs in the back of the pickup when its not on a paved road and the driver is going slowly.
So many times I've seen pickups doing 60+ down the interstate. with an unrestrained dog in the bed. It would take only a minor thing to make the dog fly out the back and be hit by a car doing 60+.
I try to get in front of them if I can, I would not be able to stand it if I were behind them and couldn't stop in time

 

[happygirl]

Most dogs that ride in pickups are trained not to jump out. I see nothing wrong with a dog riding in the back of a truck

 

[Nynaeve]

Most dogs that ride in pickups are trained not to jump out. I see nothing wrong with a dog riding in the back of a truck

That doesn't help if they are in an accident though.
And, I've read in the papers of accidents where the dog was tied in the back of the truck, and was flung from the back of the truck in the crash and it's neck was broken. Horrible.

 

[happygirl]

so what do you think we should do with them?? put them in a seatbelt

even if they are in the inside of the car and you have an accident they are going to be thrown more then likely throw the windshield

For whatever it's worth I have never seen anyone taking a dog in a back of a vehicle going long distances and never at 60 miles per hour

 

[NikiM20]

so what do you think we should do with them?? put them in a seatbelt

even if they are in the inside of the car and you have an accident they are going to be thrown more then likely throw the windshield

My dogs go in crates when they are in the car except for my dane. He sits on the back seat.

 

[Nynaeve]

so what do you think we should do with them?? put them in a seatbelt

even if they are in the inside of the car and you have an accident they are going to be thrown more then likely throw the windshield

For whatever it's worth I have never seen anyone taking a dog in a back of a vehicle going long distances and never at 60 miles per hour

I have a seat belt for my dog, and a crate that fits in the back of our SUV. The safe way to have a dog in a truck is either belted in the front seat, or in a crate securely tied down in the bed of the truck.

And, the accident that I had read about in my town of the dog dying, was not going 60 MPH. The guy was driving through town, at about 30-35 MPH.

 

[yearbook50]

When I was 16 & living in Jacksonville, I was driving to UNF to go the library for some research for my high school Theory paper.

I will never forget seeing a Golden Retriever Puppy jump out of his owner's truck at 50 mph on the other side of the road from me & seeing that puppy die because the car behind the truck hit it. .

It was sad.

 

[Acklander]

I don't think a day has gone by where I didn't see a dog (usually a Lab) in the back of a pick up truck. I think it's an accessory here. I never thought of it as anything horrible or cruel, I guess because it's such a common sight. We live in an area without highway though, so maybe that's the difference.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Our super smart dog Q jumped out the car window! But we were stopped at a light neat the dog par. She knew it and decided she did not want to wait for the light to turn green. Hehehehee

But she barely made it out the window because ofthe harness she had on.

Mikeeee

 

[Lanshark]

In metro Atlanta I hate seeing dogs ride in the back of pickups.

I don't care for it but don't have as much of a problem in rural areas.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I don't like to see it either!

Once watched as a dog jumped out of a truck and was dragged by the leash that was caught some place in the bed. Luckily, the driver had just started up. The moron got out, grabbed up the injured animal roughly by the neck and THREW the dog back into the truck - all the time spewing obscentities at those of us walking by in shock.

I would say more, but some would take MHO as a personal attack - and I don't care to get banned ...so will leave it at this.......

 

[Pea-n-Me]

In some states it's against the law.

http://www.mspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=petowners_Travelling_Safely__Dog

The law. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, California, Maine, Oregon, Washington, Florida and Rhode Island restrict dogs from trucks or open vehicles. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 22H states that no person shall transport any animal in the back of a motor vehicle in a space intended for any load on the vehicle on a public way unless:

the space is enclosed or has side and tail racks to a height of at least 46 inches extending vertically from the floor;
the animal is cross-tethered to the vehicle (simple, inexpensive cross-tethering devices are sold at pet-supply stores for $15-$40);
the animal is protected by a secured container or cage;
or the animal is otherwise protected in a manner that will prevent the animal from being thrown or from falling or jumping from the vehicle.
Violation of this law is punishable by a fine not less than $50. In addition, transporting your animals in an unsafe manner may also, in certain circumstances, constitute criminal animal cruelty pursuant to Mass. General Laws Chapter 272 Section 77.

Prior to this law passing in 1998, in a statewide survey, 71 percent of Massachusetts veterinarians reported having treated animals (mostly dogs) injured as a result of riding unsecured and unprotected in the back of open-bed vehicles. This resulted in more than 600 dogs being injured while transported in this unsafe manner.

If truck bed transport is necessary,
use a pet harness that encircles shoulders and rib cage (not just a neck collar). Attach the harness to a cross-tether, which hooks to a truck anchor on each side. Most pets will actually feel more comfortable and secure when they are restrained.

 

[Feralpeg]

I refuse to follow behind a truck with a loose in the back. I saw a horrific accident several years ago and it is something I will never get out of my mind. A truck had three large dogs loose in the back. One of the dogs was laying on the top of a tool box near the back window of the truck. Sadly, someone pulled in front of the truck. The driver had to stop suddenly. The dog on the tool box was thrown from the truck and hit by another car.

 

[donald&daisy]

I think it should be against the law to transport a dog in the back of your truck. I have seen 2 such accidents, one where the dog jumped and one where it was thrown. Stick it in the cab.

 

[lulugirl]

It bothers me too, unfortunately I see it frequently here in Az.
....and don't get me started on children sitting in the back of the truck

 

[binny]

I dont think there is any safe way to transport a dog in the back of a truck without a crate.

My best friend lost her beloved dog when her dad didnt secure the gate of the crate. Snoop figured out how to get out and jumped for it. The dad stopped right away and got him back in the front seat of the truck but he was really hurt. He lingered for a couple of days and it was just heartbreaking.

I once sawa flatbead with a dog on the back I actually said something to the driver of that truck.

 

[Virgo10]

The dogs and owner are back safe and sound. I noticed that he did indeed secure them inside the back of the truck. It was interesting to read there's a law against doing this is Florida. I doubt if he knows (or probably cares ) that there is. Don't get me wrong, he's a nice guy but I sometimes think he puts his animals right up there with his boat and various other inanimate toys that he has.

 

[binny]

It bothers me too, unfortunately I see it frequently here in Az.
....and don't get me started on children sitting in the back of the truck

Yep. I saw a truck once with a couch in the back of the pick up and there were kids sitting on it driving through downtown. I actually pulled over and called 911 the operator said "Im sorry unless there is a child under the age of 5 back there it is perfectly legal"


the seatbelt law changed right after that TG

 

[MushyMushy]

It's very common around here. We live in a rural area though. The main time you see it is on Thursdays during the livestock auction. It's just a way of life.

I'd never do it (even if I did own a pickup). My dad lost a couple of dogs that way. He ran over one accidentally and it broke his heart. That was way before I was born, though -- sometime in the 50s.