Mandatory Pet Restraint in Vehicles?

[Gatord]

Originally Posted by jadabug

I saw this on our local news the other night. I am one of the few people I know in my town who uses a car seat or restraint of any kind.
We see it daily at the bank where I work...we give treats at the drive-thru window and the dogs are hanging out the window most times ready for their goody or in the back of the pick-up truck I am glad to see our state lawmakers trying to put this one in as law.

Oh the back of a pick up bother me badly.... Or how about the ones with the dogs on top of the hunting dog box. Give me a break. I'd like to put the driver back there like that and see how they like that .

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by Carmeow

I am guilty of letting my little one ride in my lap, with only her harness and leash attached to keep her safe. We're making the drive to Florida from TX next month and I want to invest in the proper restraint. I feel so bad! I agree this should be a law! Just like "click it or ticket" with humans wearing seatbelts, so too should pets get this protection!

There are lots of ways to protect your pet. You can use a regular pet carrier, a car seat, or they have special seat belt tethers. You don't have to spend a lot of money on any of these. Just make sure your tether confines the dog to being able to just sit and lay down. Anything more than that can result in serious injury to the neck or spine even with a harness. Of course all these different devices have varying degrees of effectiveness.

[Gatord]

Originally Posted by gracielove

There are lots of ways to protect your pet. You can use a regular pet carrier, a car seat, or they have special seat belt tethers. You don't have to spend a lot of money on any of these. Just make sure your tether confines the dog to being able to just sit and lay down. Anything more than that can result in serious injury to the neck or spine even with a harness. Of course all these different devices have varying degrees of effectiveness.

Someone on another thread posted a good idea, they had theirs in a laundry basket with a small pillow, seat belt thread through basket and pet was also attached to seat belt.

[Joyce Adams]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

You know, It is sad that we would even need a common sense law like, seat belts, helments and so on. (On principle the ol' hippy in me says NO MORE LAWS, Big Brother is to nosey already.) But perhaps pets and young children have to be protected from stupid parents ?

[concretegurl]

About time...bummed CA isn't one of the states.

Hopefully it will pass in TN & RI, then spread like wildfire to here.

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

You know, It is sad that we would even need a common sense law like, seat belts, helments and so on. (On principle the ol' hippy in me says NO MORE LAWS, Big Brother is to nosey already.) But perhaps pets and young children have to be protected from stupid parents ?

[ralphthepoodle]

I drove with Ralph on my lap and it was so distracting he was barking and scratching my arm, so i bought the car seat, does he love it? No, but he is finally used to it allows me to focus on driving, Ralph now sits in his car seat and chews his bully stick! So he is safe and I am safe!

[Schooby]

I hope it passes in these states and spreads all over! I was guilty of letting Chase ride in my lap when he was a puppy, but I was never driving. They have been in the carseat at all times when we go anywhere since we got it.

[susan lynn]

I think this would be a fantastic idea, my 4 are always in a car seat if they ride with me. Unfortunately it is like other laws, no texting while driving, no drinking and driving, but there always has to be those people that think they are exempt from these laws. Aggravates the fool out of me. Especially parents that can't put their children in a seat belt.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Can you see a policeman pulling a car over for a loose dog in it? I just don't think there are enough police to enforce the law except after the fact - ticket the driver after a wreck where the dog(s) is/are loose in the vehicle.

Our local cops will pull you over if you have a dog in your lap and cite you with "Distracted Driving". Just like (for most places) it's not illegal to eat while driving, play with the radio while driving, or reach for something in the vehicle, but if it interferes with your ability to drive you can be ticketed for distracted driving.

Having ZoE in a car seat got me out of a ticket! I was pulled over this winter cos my rear turn signal wasn't working, but the cop saw ZoE in her car seat & thought it was just the greatest thing that she was restrained. So he let me go & just told me to get my light fixed asap .

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

You know, It is sad that we would even need a common sense law like, seat belts, helments and so on. (On principle the ol' hippy in me says NO MORE LAWS, Big Brother is to nosey already.) But perhaps pets and young children have to be protected from stupid parents ?

It is sad that laws are created by well-meaning people in an effort to legislate what should be "common" sense. But, there appears to be no such thing, and most of the time, they miss the mark completely, prevent nothing, and merely provide enrichment of govt. coffers at the expense of the 'governed' populace.

While I agree completely that children and pets should be protected, I do not see evidence that legislators are qualified to decide how it should be done. Currently, children are being taken from caring parents who make a simple mistake or mis-judgement or in some cases just home-school their kids, in addition to parents who should never have had opportunity to breed although I do not know who is qualified to judge. Everyone suffers but no one learns from their mistakes...they 'pay their debt to society' instead...but at who's expense?

All people are fallible unless the govt. says they are not allowed to goof up now and again, and then they are labeled criminals for lack of knowledge or skill. Often, they are little more than children themselves. The parents go to jail and their children go into a foster care system that doesn't even always know where the children are.

I have friends who tried for years to adopt a child, and only finally got him when the foster parents up and quit fostering and the children had no place to go. All of the prospective adoptive parents picked up their children-hopeful so they had some place to go. The adoptions then happened as if by magic...when they couldn't have been completed in the previous 5 years. You didn't read about that in a newspaper, though. If stuff like this happens with our beloved children today, and 8-10 or more years ago, what do you suppose would be in store for our beloved dogs where govt.'s answer to lost dogs and cats already is a few days in puppy/kitty jail and a needle if no one finds them in time?

Stuff like this scares the bejeezes outa me...it's easy to say "make a law and make them" do whatever we want. However, every law takes a right away, and some day, it will be a right we have come to enjoy ourselves that is criminalized.

People do need to be responsible for their own, but putting the burden on the 'taxpayer' while punishing the 'mistaken' has already proved itself an incorrect solution since it has been in place for many, many years, but has not corrected the problems it is designed to punish.

I wish there was really a way to make certain children and animals are protected...and we do whatever we can at our own personal levels, but I am sorry to have to say that I fear more harm than good would come of it if laws like this get passed.

I hope my opinion is taken as just that...nothing more...no offense or disrespect is intended to anyone. I do not attempt by this to be the voice of reason, although these are the reasons for my voice.

Take care, all!

[Angelamarie]

Both my girls have car seats they ride to the office with me every day. I love my job it is great having them at work!

[southernbelle04]

Katie Scarlett is always strapped in her Snoozer. I think it is a great idea!

[AF pups]

In Germany it is law that pets need to be restrained in the back of the vehicle or they need to be crated. When my pups are not using their crates we have harnesses with seat belt restraints. It has just become second nature for us since we had to do this when we lived in Germany.

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

Our local cops will pull you over if you have a dog in your lap and cite you with "Distracted Driving".

Wish that was the case here,

I've been nearly run over crossing the street by a lady with ironically a Yorkie on her lap-and nearly side swiped by a guy with a chi on his I literally had to swerve and pull over.

I LOVE seeing pick up trucks with hard box kennels securely tied down in the bed these days-go pick up drivers who are responsible pet owners!