We've all seen dogs riding in the back of pickup trucks as the trucks fly down the highway. Many people see nothing wrong with letting their dog ride un-tethered in the open bed of a pickup truck.  Sometimes the dog seems to be enjoying this open air experience, while other times the dog looks terrified as he tries to maintain his balance.  Regardless of whether the dog is having fun or is frightened, transporting them un-tethered in the back of a pickup is placing them in a very unsafe situation. It not only endangers the dog, but other motorists who could have an accident when they swerve to miss the dog if he falls out.

A loose dog in a pickup truck bed can easily become a projectile if the driver has to slam on his brakes, swerve to avoid something in the road, or hits an unexpected bump.  A dog falling off the truck bed OR jumping out of the truck bed can result in broken bones, road rash, bruises and even death if they get hit by another vehicle. Even if the dog manages to survive falling out of an open truck bed, treating his injuries could incur a sizable vet bill.

This same logic applies to allowing pets to ride with their heads and bodies hanging out the car windows.  One of our Tri-County dogs jumped out of a car window on Franklin Blvd immediately after he was adopted. The car was stopped in traffic and the new owner thought it was cute for her new pet to have a in-your-face fresh air experience.  Thankfully we were able to find the dog after searching the busy road area for several hours.  The dog was not injured but the new pet owner was hysterical.  This was a hard lesson learned for this new pet owner …her new pet could have been killed just hours after adoption.

Please don't put your pet at risk. A responsible pet owner is one that makes sure their canine companion stays safe and healthy, both at home and on the road.