Keeping Your Dog Safe in a Truck
Why it is Not Safe to Ride in the Back of a Pick Up Truck
Actually, letting your dog ride, either restrained or unrestrained, in the back of a pick up truck is extremely dangerous. Serious injuries up to and including death, can occur from:
- Road debris
- Sliding around in the truck bed if the driver turns a corner too fast
- Being thrown from the truck bed if the driver brakes too suddenly or swerves to miss an object in the road
- Being run over by another vehicle after being thrown from the truck bed
- Exposure to the sun and heat or extreme cold
A Danger to Dogs
According to the Humane Society of the United States, "HSUS knows of no brand of harness that has been proven safe in this situation. In fact, there have been cases where dogs restrained by leashes or harnesses have been strangled or dragged after being thrown from a truck bed."
Many dogs across the country have suffered broken bones, severe road rash injuries, limb amputations, even death from being thrown from the back of a truck.
A Danger to Other Motorists
Not only is it unsafe for your four legged friend to ride in the back of a pick up truck, it is unsafe for other motorists. If your dog does happen to be thrown from the back of your truck, other motorists trying to avoid hitting your dog may be involved in a serious traffic collision.
Another common hazard is to leave a dog in the back of a pick up truck while parked in a public parking lot. While you might think that your dog poses no threat to others, there have been instances where normally docile dogs have attacked people, seemingly unprovoked.
City Ordinances
Some U.S. cities already have ordinances in place that prohibit dog owners from allowing their pets to ride in the back of their pick up trucks.
While many people are upset over what they call "petty" laws, these laws are for the protection for both the citizens of the towns and the pets.
A Simple Solution
The safest way to transport your dog is in the passenger portion of your vehicle with an animal harness, or in an animal carrier. Most dog owners think of their pet as a part of their family. Would you put your wife and kids in the back of your truck? Not likely.
It is always better to be safe than sorry. Help your dog to endure a long, and accident free, life.
See our other Dog Care articles to read more about taking care of man's best friend.
