Dogs Riding in Pickup Beds
The Dangers of Transporting Loose Dogs in Vehicles
Common sense and statistics dictate that a loose dog can be easily jolted out of a vehicle and cause an accident.. Learn safe ways to transport your dog.
A dog riding loose in the back of a pickup is a fairly common sight but this practice can be dangerous for the dog as well as motorists. A swerve, bump, or sudden stop can jolt the dog out resulting in his injury or death or cause an accident by a driver trying to avoid hitting the fallen dog.
What Animal Authorities Say
Dr. Deb Zoran, a Texas A&M University veterinary professor, says, “We see numerous cases of injured dogs who have been hurt because they were riding in pickup trucks. And very often, the dog is killed or has to be put to sleep." She recommends crating or tying the dog down with some type of harness or restraint, adding, “There's probably not a veterinarian in Texas who hasn't treated a dog injured from riding in a pickup truck.”
Dr, Todd Hammond, a Veterinary ophthalmologist in Colorado, claims, “If a dog already has a pre-existing eye condition it could become much more aggravated from the wind.”
Dr. Doug Teague of the Wheatridge Small Animal Hospital in Colorado says, "Orthopedic injuries are the most common if the dog is lucky enough to still be alive. I see a lot of broken legs and joint injuries.” Dr. Teague also told of a dog tied in the back of a truck by a long chain who fell out and had a tremendous amount of skin scraped from his thigh as he was dragged along the road.
A report in the Canadian Veterinary Journal states that 21 of 70 dogs thrown out of pickups between 1982 and 1993 sustained multiple injuries. The other 49 had single injuries with fractures being the most common
One Massachusetts SPCA worker claimed they saw an average of one dog a week with a spinal fracture or broken neck from falling or jumping out of the back of a truck. The vast majority had to be euthanized.
What’s Happening in Politics
State Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville supports the banning of dogs riding in truck beds. He backs up his stance with statistics from a 1988 study in which 141 vets reported 592 dogs brought in after being thrown from truck beds that year.
California, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Rhode Island, and Hawaii have all passed laws restricting the transportation of dogs in the back of a pickup. Other states have bills pending.
The Solution
Transporting dogs loose in a truck bed or tied to the truck bed is dangerous. Common sense dictates that a bump, swerve or sudden stop can jolt the dog out onto the pavement, into traffic or hanging by the tether. The safest way to transport a dog is inside the vehicle in a secure carrier or with a harness and seatbelt restraint. These methods prevent driver distraction and, in the event of an accident, minimize injury and prevent the dog bolting into traffic. If the dog must ride in the truck bed, a secure carrier or, at the very least, a harness and short cross tie will protect him from being thrown out. These common sense precautions take only a few moments and can prevent pet injuries and death, costly veterinarian bills, and traffic accidents. Be smart and secure your dog!
