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Safety is a
concern for pets in vehicles
December 27, 2007
A reader, concerned about pets in moving vehicles, wrote, "We have laws
for children in a car; however, it seems people don't think their dogs
need to be in a safe place. . . . I know there are also laws about dogs
riding in the bed of a pickup truck. I have seen dogs unrestrained and
pacing in the back of a truck while the owner is driving 70 mph on the
interstate. There's also the person who drives with their little dog in
their lap. I can't imagine the horror if the air bag is deployed." That
reader is absolutely right. It is a very disturbing trend. When you
consider that 84 percent of pet owners say they travel with their pet in
automobiles, it's a concern that we don't have national guidelines
governing their safety.
In Orleans Parish, the practice of having a dog in the bed of a pickup
while driving falls under Section 18-2 of the animal cruelty ordinance.
The specific code states that: "It shall be unlawful to transport any
animal on a public road in any vehicle unless the animal is safely and
humanely restrained (at a minimum by a harness with double tethering for
dogs) so that the animal is unable to jump or fall out of the vehicle."
Unfortunately, like many laws protecting animals, ordinances vary from
municipality to municipality, and this is not against the law in many
surrounding parishes, including Jefferson.
Experts agree that a pet is safest either in a carrier or restrained
with a car harness or pet-designed seatbelt. Make sure the harness is
designed for travel and never attach a restraining device to a collar as
that can lead to the animal being choked.
In a truck bed, dogs are in danger of being injured by obstacles or
projectiles that can cause serious injury or even death. They can also
be projected from the vehicle. Even inside a vehicle, an unrestrained
pet faces the risk of causing severe injury to the pet and others. As a
safety expert with Pet Travel Center points out, "An unsecured, 25-pound
dog in a 40 mph crash becomes a 1,000-pound mass (half a ton) flying
uncontrollably inside the vehicle."
Consider the dangers, and look at your own practices. No loving pet
owner would ever willingly put their pet at risk, but unless it is
safely restrained, you risk doing just that.
- Gloria
Dauphin
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