#164 Buckle Up Pup

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Your dog's adorable excitement for car rides could be putting both of you in serious danger. Despite religiously buckling ourselves in, many of us let our four-legged companions roam freely in our vehicles without considering the potentially devastating consequences of this common oversight.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Let's talk about car rides with your dog.
Most of us buckle up withouteven thinking twice, but when it
comes to our dogs, we oftenjust let them hop in and go.
Maybe they ride shotgun, maybethey pace in the back, maybe
they wedge themselves betweenyour seat so you can't move.

(00:23):
But here's the truth.
Unsecured dogs are a serioussafety risk, for themselves and
for you, and here's why, if youslam on the brakes or get into a
crash, your dog becomes aprojectile.
Even a small dog can do majordamage at 30 or 40 miles per

(00:48):
hour and beyond the physicaldanger, an unsecured dog can
distract you while you'redriving.
They might jump in your lap,block your view or even
interfere with your steering.
In fact, some insurancecompanies will deny claims if
they determine that the accidentwas caused by a pet distraction

(01:10):
.
That's why it's not just safer,it's smarter to secure your dog
when traveling.
Crates, seat belt harnesses oreven secured barriers in SUVs
will help.
But now let's touch on thelegal side.
Most states don't have specificseatbelt laws for dogs, but a

(01:34):
few do, and the rules vary.
In New Jersey, for example, itis the law Dogs must be secured
with a harness or in a cratewhile traveling.
If you're caught with anunrestrained dog, you could be
fined between $250 and $1,000.
And it's actually enforcedunder the animal cruelty laws.

(01:59):
Hawaii is another one.
It's illegal to have a dogriding on your lap or in the
driver's immediate area.
That can get you a ticket too.
Connecticut and Maine havedistracted driving laws that
include pets, so if your dog'sbehavior contributes to

(02:20):
distracted driving, you could bepulled over.
Meanwhile, states likeCalifornia have rules for pickup
trucks.
Dogs must be in a crate or havecross tethering if they're in
the bed of the truck, and RhodeIsland requires a harness, crate
or seat belt.
If you're transporting a dog,fines can run up to $200.

(02:44):
But even if your state doesn'thave a specific law about it,
you could still be cited if yourdog causes an issue.
Bottom line, whether it'slegally required or not,
securing your dog in the car isjust common sense.
Securing your dog in the car isjust common sense.

(03:05):
Use a crash-tested harness ortravel crate, especially for
those longer rides, and neverlet them ride in the front seat
or loose in the bed of a truck.
That's not freedom, that'sdangerous.
So the next time you load up,take that extra 30 seconds to
strap in your dog.
They're counting on you to keepthem safe and you'll drive a

(03:30):
little easier knowing everyoneis secure.