“I’m not sure, but I think we lost him somewhere between here and about 10 miles back down the road.”
“Well, we thought taking him with us was better than leaving him at home alone.”
“When the pickup hit that bump it was all I could do to keep from swerving and hitting other cars when the dog went flying out of the truck in front of me.”
“We’ve always put Brutus in the back of the truck and this has never happened before.”
All of these statements have something in common. A dog flew out of the back of a pickup truck, was killed or lost. and the people making these comments were involved.
It has been estimated that at least 100,000 dogs die each year when tossed from pickup trucks, For your dog's safety, don't let it ride in the back of an open pickup truck. Even if it isn't killed, it could be lost and you might not even know where it fell out. It is very difficult to locate a lost dog between here and who-knows-where. It might also be seriously injured by falling, or the wind could blow dirt and debris into its eyes and ears. According to Dr, Todd Hammond, a Veterinary ophthalmologist in Colorado, "If a dog already has a pre-existing eye condition it could become much more aggravated from the wind." But eye problems are not the most common problems by far. Dr. Doug Teague of the Wheatridge Small Animal Hospital in Wheatridge, 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.” He also remembers a dog who suffered a tremendous loss of skin on his thigh. A long chain tied the dog in the back of a truck. He fell out and was dragged along the road.
If you do arrive at your destination safely, your dog is not necessarily in the clear. A stop in very hot weather could cause heatstroke when there is no shade to cool your dog. Also, anyone could come up to your dog and antagonize him. Even a well-meaning child who reaches toward your pet, invading its territory, may be asking for a bite from a usually loving pooch.
There are a few ways to make a pickup safe for a canine friend. The best is to buy a topper for the truck bed so your dog can ride in the now-enclosed back of the truck. protected from road and wind hazards. Another method recommended by some is cross-tethering. This is accomplished by fastening a rope on each side of the truck with a short leash attached in the middle for the dog. If the leash is too long, the dog could fall from the truck's rear and be dragged along the street. Of course, this still does not protect him from eye and ear debris. Corinne Clifford, Manager of the Jefferson Animal Shelter in Golden, Colorado, suggests another possible method. She says sturdy pet carrier crates such as those used by the airlines can be used successfully if the crate is securely tied to the sides of the truck so it does not slide around the truck bed floor. "They can provide shelter from some weather conditions but they must be a comfortable size for the animal-large enough for it to lie down and small enough so it doesn't fly around." Airline crates can be purchased at larger animal supply stores where they are priced from $40-95 depending on the size and type of crate you buy.
In many areas laws are being sought and passed that prohibit carrying pets in open truck beds. Donna Freeman. Program Coordinator at the Peninsula Humane Society in San Mateo, California. says San Mateo County has had an ordinance for about a year now regarding dogs in pickup trucks. The first penalty if caught is $50, the second is $100, and the third could be up to $200.
The ordinance states: (section 3330.45)(a) No person, other than an individual actually working a dog for ranching purposes, shall transport or carry, on any Public highway or public roadway any dog in a motor vehicle unless the animal is safely enclosled within the vehicle or protected by a cap or container; cage, cross tether or other device to prevent the animal from falling, being thrown from, or jumping from the motor vehicle. As herein "motor vehicle” includes, without limitation, automobile, pickup truck and trailer. (b) No person shall leave a dog or other animal in any unattended motor vehicle without adequate ventilation, sanitary conditions, or in such a manner as to subject the animal to extreme temperatures which adversely affect the animal’s health or safety.
Freeman says the main benefit of the ordinance was the publicity it generated. She says several newspapers cooperated by writing articles on the issue. Public awareness, explains Freeman, was an important result because many people didn't even think about the consequences of transporting a dog this way before and needed to know the dangers involved. However, Dr. Ken Reeves at the Jefferson Animal Clinic in Arvada, Colorado finds clients' attitudes a bit different. The people whose dogs he sees seem to take the point of view that it was their dog's fault, claiming their pet should have known better and that he must be dumb for jumping from a truck. He feels the more publicity generated to educate the public about this issue, the better.
But getting a state law passed on this issue is more than a bit of a challenge. You must expect opposition from groups such as farmers, ranchers, houndsmen, and the highway patrol (who often aren't crazy about enforcing a law such as this). There might be other opposition as well. Eleanor Ware, President of the Animal Rights League of New Hampshire proposed a bill prohibiting the transportation of dogs in open pickup trucks. The bill never got further than the judiciary committee. The committie Chairwoman said she felt there just wasn't a need for this kind of bill because, “you can’t legislate common sense.”
The state of Washington has a law which says: Any person who willfully transports or confines or causes to be transported or confined any domestic animal or animals in a manner, posture, or confinement that will jeopardize the safety of the animal or the public, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. However, a law like this receives opposition from farmers and ranchers since it doesn't take into consideration their needs as, for example, the California count ordinance does. Also, there unfortunately is a problem with interpretation of these laws no matter what they say. Oregon has a state law that prohibits a dog from being in the back of a pickup "unless the dog is protected from falling from the vehicle.” This can be interpreted so broadly that a six inch board around a flatbed truck can be considered adequate protection. Tracy Denley, President of the Oregon Animal Control Association and Director of Animal Control in Douglas County in Oregon, says the law is too weak and not sufficiently enforced. Lynne Smith at the Progressive Animal Welfare Society in Lynwood, Washington feels, "People; just don't stop to think what consequences could be in store for their dog" if he is not secured in the truck. When efforts at a state law don't pay off, try the local level, California would I not pass a state law but now has several local laws, "So far," Gail Willis, Executive Secretary of the State Humane Association of California says, "at least eight counties and three cities have ordinances on this issue.” The key, Willis explains, is persistence. Rich Ward, Director of the Peninsula Humane Society stresses the need to obtain "support from various groups active in the community,” and to try and approach ranchers and houndsmen who might oppose such an ordinance to rally their support.
The public needs more information regarding this important issue. If you have any statistical information about pet injuries or death resulting from a ride in all open truck bed. or know of any county, city or state ordinances. please let us know at American Humane. Send this information to Jennifer Orme. Staff Associate. American Humane. 9725 E. Hampden Avenue. Denver. Colorado. 80231.
Here are some excerpts from letters which appeared in The Denver Post recently here in Colorado which whow the concern may people feel regarding this issue:
“ . . . I had the misfortune of seeing a beautiful dog fly out of the open box of a pickup truck, roll over the concrete median and land in traffic. The animal was hit by no less than three drivers who could not avoid him, and narrowly avoided hitting each other. What a terrible death for an animal that was supposed to be part of the family. I say supposed to be because no truly loving pet owner would put his dog (or any other animal) in an open pickup. It is my understanding that each time this issue has come before the legislature: it has been defeated. Why? How many; animals must suffer a gruesome death caused by some careless owner because our legislators don't have the I courage to enact a bill preventing this cruelty? … My own animals are guarded very carefully, and I do not think it unreasonable to expect other pet owners to do likewise."
" Man’s best friend is more thatn willing to give his life to protect his master, yet far too many people won’t take one simple step to protect possibly the best friend they’ll ever have. A lonely friend left home is better than a dead friend on the highway.”
"I am frustrated and angry. Just this afternoon, I saw a man driving a small, dark red pickup truck. . . , Obviously, the driver hadn't realized that with the tailgate removed there was nothing to prevent the dog from sliding out of the back of the truck. The unfortunate dog was shaking with fear as it struggled vainly to keep from being thrown out. It finally did happen, and the attention of the driver was attracted by the sound of many car horns. He simply ordered the dog back into the truck bed and drove on. He had no idea of the poor dog's plight. . . . My frustration is twofold in the matter-first, that there is no law in Colorado that stops people from allowing or requiring their dogs to ride in the back of an open pickup truck and, second, that such people as that driver should be allowed to own pets.”