Secure your pet when driving, please!

I really didn’t want one of my first posts to be about this, but I have to speak out to do some good for the canine set. One of my pet peeves is to see dogs loose in the bed of a pick up truck. In my state, this practice has been illegal since 1988, and yet, I saw a beautiful golden retriever loose in the bed of a white Ford Ranger just this morning. Legal Reference: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc23117.htm

So why do folks insist on engaging in this behavior if they truly love their pets?  A loose pet can become a projectile in the event of a sudden stop or accident and cause injury to itself, its person or others! 

And why aren’t police departments enforcing this law in my state and other states with similar restrictions?

The options are simple for pet owners:

1 – Leave your pet at home.

2 – Transport your pet INSIDE the passenger compartment with you. If the animal is smelly, give it a bath for goodness sakes.

3 – Invest in a proper crate for the back, secure it to the bed of your pick up and then secure your pet in the crate.  

4 – If you’re unsure about safe travel practices with your pets, check with your vet!

And don’t assume that your pet is safe if you leave him or her in the crate while you go to lunch or shop or in the case I saw, church!  Someone may steal your beloved pet.   Plus, your pet should have access to shade and water while in the crate, as well as, be able to turn around and lie down.

What can we do to encourage folks to appropriately secure their pets when travelling?  Will vets and pet shops help spread the word?