” The one with the waggly tail.”
Whilst travelling here in Florida, I was rather shocked to see a beautiful Golden Labrador Retriever being transported on the back of a truck.
The dog was roaming around from side to side of the vehicle, and although it seemed to be quite enjoying the ride, I asked myself how safe is it to transport an animal in this unrestrained manner and is it actually legal? There are stringent safety belt laws for us humans, and surely an animal on the back of a truck is a hazard to both itself and other road users. If the dog had spotted something of interest on the sidewalk, such as a lady dog, might he not jump out of the truck to go and investigate? I was just reading a sad story of poor Niña, a Shepherd/Border Collie in Portland Oregon, who had to be put down after she was badly injured in such an incident. I’ve lived in South Africa where it’s quite common to see school children as well as workers being transported in this manner, and there are numerous reports of accidents where they are thrown out of the truck and killed or injured, and yet no law is implemented to stop this practice. I don’t know if there’s a law against it here in the US. What’s your opinion, and do you know what the law says about this?
It’s so sad to see this, and worrying too. Used to see it in California all the time, there should be a law against it, I agree Sylvia. Hope the poor doggy in this case was safe… xx
Me too, Sherri. It’s very irresponsible of pet owners to subject their trusting dogs to such potential danger.
i wish the owners would let this adorable dog ride in the cab of the truck or at least have a person attending it while riding like that…or have him leashed and secured or have a crate for him to ride in. no laws against this in Florida i guess?
Thanks for your caring comment, Sun. There has to be better and safer way for this gorgeous pet to travel.
I think it’s a law that people cannot be transported in this way. Not sure if it’s a law across the US or if it varies by state.
As for animals/pets – My Fenway is always in his harness & belted in.
Great photo of ‘safety first’ Fenway. He could be the Poster Boy for animal safety on the roads. 🙂 xx
I hate to see this Sylvia. Let’s hope the dogs have more sense than the drivers.
Me too, Carol. 😦
Aww people just don’t think. Sorry for the doggie in the pickup. Good post to raise awareness of safety for transport of man/woman’s best friends.
Thanks, Ruth. Dogs are so trusting, and his owner should have known better than to put him in danger.
I think it is as dangerous as it looks. Anything can happen…I wish people were more considerate, law or not.
Me to, Tiny.
I don’t like seeing this, and (in my opinion) it’s irresponsible.
My opinion too, Frank.
For everyone’s safety, including the pup, restraints are necessary.
Well said, Gemma.
I know the ASPCA is definitely against this practice. It’s very dangerous for dogs, no matter how much fun it looks like they are having. I remember being a young kid and riding in the back of a pick-up truck–also riding in cars without seat belts. I survived. Many of us did. But standards of safety have changed and so has the number of vehicles on the road. We didn’t know any better then. Now that we do, we should always err on the side of safety.
So true, Lorna. We should surely have learned something along the way. Cars also travel much faster these days, which of course adds to the danger.
And there is more travel on highways and super-highways–not just your back roads any more…
It seems pretty dangerous indeed ! Maybe dog owners are not aware of the danger ?
I agree that isn’t enough awareness of the dangers of carrying dogs in this way.
Great capture Sylvia. Have never seen dogs being transported like this here, but humans and cattle are a common sight. We can only hope he reached his destination without incident 🙂
Thanks, Madhu. I hope so too.
all I can say: its master is completely careless and irresponsible… poor dog! 😦
I so agree with you, Mélanie. Animals are such vulnerable creatures and deserve far better treatment.
Some people don’t deserve to own dogs. I haven’t seen dogs riding on the back of trucks like that in the UK, but I have seen them with their heads sticking out of windows, waiting to get poked in their eyes by twigs, or brained on low branches or numerous other dangers. If not this, they are left in cars with all the windows shut, to slowly asphyxiate/cook in the summer sun.
That’s so true, Sarah. Such people definitely aren’t responsible enough to be entrusted with the care of dogs. So sad.
Some people don’t deserve to own dogs. I haven’t seen dogs riding on the back of trucks like that in the UK, but I have seen them with their heads sticking out of windows, waiting to get poked in their eyes by twigs, or brained on low branches or numerous other dangers. If not this, they are left in cars with all the windows shut, to slowly asphyxiate/cook in the summer sun.
People aren’t allowed to ride in the back of a pick-up, but I don’t think there is a law for animals. There should be. I see quite a few dogs who are in the back and are restrained. Even with a leash or rope, they could hang themselves if they decided to jump out. A crate is the best bet.
Absolutely Marsha, but some people will always take the easiest option. 😦
i don’t know if such laws exist. but this is definitely dangerous!
Agree with you, Lola.
Look on the bright side, its Florida, be glad its not a 5 year old child.. 🙂
Always look on the bright side of life, Ed. 🙂
Not good at all!
I agree.
io avrei provato a fermare il camioncino e a dirgliene quattro…che cane bellissimo!
buongiorno Silvya
I think it might have been a good thing to do, but rather dangerous in all that traffic. 😦 xx
It has to be dangerous doesn’t it? I don’t understand why people would treat their dogs like this 😦
Absolutely, Gilly. Maybe they just don’t see the bigger picture. 😕
On the other hand, Sissy always rides in the car with me. Some say she shouldn’t be in my lap, but she’s small and doesn’t interfere with my driving.
I had a friend who always drove with her little dog on her lap. No harm came to it, but she was a very slow and careful driver.
I probably ought not jinx myself- though not a slow driver, I’ve driven many hundreds of thousands of miles with many cross-country trips and never an accident… except for that landscape rock I backed into. 😉
Dogs should be restrained in the center of a vehicle. I have seen a dog tethered on the back of a flat top ute. When tethered wrong, when the vehicle turns a corner the dog loses his balance and falls off the side. If they are lucky the rope breaks and the dog is free, if not the dog can be dragged along the road. It is cruel. I have seen two dogs tethered as it went past us. Further down the road I saw one dog running beside the road with the rope still attached. Everyone needs to care more for their dogs. Also the wind blowing in their face adds to the risk of dog going blind.
Absolute horror stories, Chevy! I shudder to think what would have happened to this dog if the truck had been involved in an accident, or had to brake very suddenly. 😦
Yes, thanks for commenting and its not something the dogs can do anything about.
There are laws against this sort of thing Sylvia, but it’s not enforced. Some people just don’t think and it’s true what you say. It’s very dangerous for the dog and the other drivers. When we see something like this here, we report it. 😀
No idea about the laws. Definitely looks dangerous!
Our SPCA code of welfare in NZ says ‘Except for working dogs at work, dogs
must not be carried on the open rear
of a moving vehicle unless they are
secured or enclosed in a crate.’
I have to pull over or change roads when this happens in front of me, Sylvia. I can’t bear to watch!
I know exactly what you mean, Lisa. It can put one’s heart in one’s mouth.
It’s a very common practice in the west. I’m always concerned for the animals.
That’s not good, Ingrid. It worries me when I see it.
I hear you! We always let our dog in the truck and car! They’re apart of the family…
Thanks, Kathy. Of course they are. 🙂
The law. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, California, Maine, Oregon, Washington, Florida and Rhode Island restrict dogs from trucks or open vehicles. I wonder if it’s enforced? Like Apple Pie replied, in the south it is a common practice and you don’t see those states having laws. Sylvia, the truck tag looks out of state. It doesn’t look like a Florida tag. Just wondering. Beautiful dog.
I haven’t seen it here before, Lynne. I wonder if the truck belongs to a snowbird from up north. If so, I hope the dog didn’t travel like this, all the way to Florida.
Yes, I often see this in Fl. I was wondering the same thing but I do not think there is a law in Fl. to regulate this.
I haven’t see it before, that’s why I thought it wasn’t allowed here.
Here in Canada, we rarely see it and in the cases that do happen the truck is in relatively slow speed areas or are covered by those mini awning things people put on in the back. 🙂
Well, that’s good to know, Andy. 🙂
I share your thoughts. What if it jumps? What if the truck brakes suddenly? I’m not for over protection, but in this case that dog should not be travelling loose in the open back like that.
Thanks, Jude. These concerns are very valid ones. I think some people don’t think the way we do about ‘what ifs’.
Darn! I don’t know… You do have a point but… maybe we are too concerned about safety? Or maybe it depends on the truck’s speed? Nice dog, though! 🙂
Thanks. Yes he was a gorgeous dog, and obviously very well cared for in other respects.
I hate to see that, Sylvia. In many or most states, it’s illegal for people to ride in the back of pickup trucks…why not dogs?
Me too, Jill. So many things could happen, and accidents happen in a split second.
In Australia it’s definitely illegal. But what a beautiful dog he is! 😀
That’s really good to know, Dianne. Nice to see you pop up here. How’s the writing going? xx
I’ve been on and off with the writing. I think my main problem at the moment is pure laziness! Plus, it’s been so hot that I can’t think 😉 I’ll be back blogging soon and hopefully that will get me into the full writing mood xx
I really don’t think it’s a good idea, no matter how well trained a dog is: A. it might jump off for a number of reasons, B, the wind blowing can harm his eyes [same reason why we shouldn’t leave our dogs with a window open in a moving car. While it is a cute picture seeing the ears waving, tiny particles can go into their eyes and harm them. C. in the event of an emergency braking, the dog might end up flying off the car! Really cute Labrador! 🙂
I so agree with you, Marina. I’m sure the owner would be really devastated if anything untoward were to happen to his beautiful dog.
When we moved to Florida in 1989, we saw lots of dogs traveling in that manner. I live near a rural area that has little traffic. They have their dogs ride like that all the time. I believe they passed a law about unrestrained animals or kids – sometimes, there would be kids in the back. They aren’t allowed to use collars with leads to keep them in the back because a few dogs hung themselves when they tried to jump out. It’s sad. It’s so hot for them, too. : (
What a sad story about the poor dogs, Issy. I wish people would be more sensible.
They aren’t sensible with a great many things. I’ve seen children barefoot when the weather is cold out. Common sense doesn’t always fit the plan. : o
Very sad and horrid stories, Issy. People really should know better, but I guess they do what is expedient for themselves. 😦
I wouldn’t put my pet back there.
Me neither, Nancy.
Growing up in Florida, my dog jumped out of the back window of our station wagon. It scares me when I see this.
Thanks for commenting, Jan. Dogs’ behaviour can be very unpredictable, however well they’re trained.
Think he’s ok and like feeling the wind in his hair
Yes, he was enjoying the ride, but I hope the driver doesn’t have to brake suddenly.
When I see this sort of thing I am always concerned that the dog will jump out! 😦
Yes, me too, and I don’t want to be the one to run over it. 😦
I was just reading these statistics a few days ago that 100,000 dogs die each year riding in truck beds in the US… and that doesn’t count the ones that are injured and survived… it makes me crazy whenever I see this and it is way too often. Of course I see children riding in the backs of trucks too…
That’s so shocking, Roslyn. I just looked at the article and post the link here for anyone to read if they are interested. http://www.tripswithpets.com/twp-blog/the-dangers-of-dogs-riding-in-pickup-truck-beds
In the south, especially rural areas, it’s a rite of passage for a dog to ride in the back. It’s very common where I live.
That’s not good. In Africa, It’s very common for whole families to travel this way, sometimes with dire consequences. 😦