Is it me or would you feel the same way?

Question

My husband and I were on our way home from a trip yesterday and we were driving on a busy major highway, driving the speed limit (65), when an open back pick up truck drove past us going about 80 miles an hour, and there to my horror was a big chocolate lab in the back of the bed. The whole situation has bothered me since yesterday, is it me? am I over the top with feeling so bad about this situation? I was in another state so I did not know the State Police Number-if it were in my state I would have reported it.

Answer 1

I'm with you all the way. I hate it when I see dogs in the backs of trucks particularly when the driver is in the cab alone. I have seen poor pups riding in the back in the rain. How cruel is that?

If a person has to ride their dog in open back of a truck at least secure the dog with a three point tie down.. or secure it in a crate that is tied down.

No one ever knows when they may be involved in an accident, has to swerve to avoid an accident or brake hard...or may be a roll over. Then what?

I have seen many dogs brought into the shelter I worked at dazed, confused, broken and covered in road rash because they some how were ejected from the back of a truck.

And where was the owner? Some 50 plus miles away trying to figure out WHEN and WHERE they lost their dog.

In most states it is illegal...as it should be.

Answer 2

No, you have every right to be bothered by this. I don't understand why people think it is perfectly all right for their dogs to ride in a truck bed without any sort of safety equipment. There are many instances of a dog falling out of the truck bed and being killed either by the impact when they hit the road or because they were hit by another car. Also, dogs do jump out of truck beds; I read a book by a vet where a dog jumped out of the truck when it was stopped at a light and attacked a dog that a person was walking down the sidewalk.
Ideally, if there's not room in the cab, then put the dog in a crate. Why risk the dog's life? At the very least, attach a strong cable to run across the bed, and then attach the dog to this cable on a short line to a harness (never by the collar!). This will protect the dog from falling, prevent him from jumping, and keep him much safer in the event of an accident.

Answer 3

I feel the same way as you do. I have seen some horrific accidents involving dogs in the back of pick up trucks. In the state I live in their isn't currently a law against it, which sucks. I don't know what the laws are in other states though. Tethering them in the back is just as bad because they can still hang themselves and get injured. IF you are going to put a dog in the back of a pick up truck, it should be put in a plastic crate, not wire ones as debris can still fly up and hit them, in the plastic ones their is less chance of that happening. Not only that but ratchet straps should be used to secure the crate in place so that it doesn't slide around in the bed, or worse fly out if you hit a bump. I remember hearing a while back about a state that was pushing for laws concerning this issue, but I'm not sure what became of it. Anyway, you're not the only one that feels that way so don't feel like you're alone.

Answer 4

You are absolutely right to feel the way you do... What the pick-up driver was doinf was absolutely dangerous - for the dog and for other vehicles on the road. No matter how "well trained" a dog is, there is no telling when the dog will suddenly decide that bolting from a flatbed truck to chase something is a good idea. Accidents have happened that way. I am CERTAIN that if a cop sighted that pick-up, the driver would have been stopped, booked and the driver ordered to leash his dog or put him inside the cabin. Dog owners that do this should be fined a load of money for endagering their dog and the public!

Answer 5

I don't like to see that, too. Every time I saw a pick up in front of me with a dog in it at the back, I change lane as soon as I could, cause I don't want to be the one to bump into the truck or even run over the dog when it get fallen out.

Answer 6

That bothers me as well. I've heard of people who tied their dog to the bed of their truck while driving. The dog either jumped out or bounced out while on the highway and ended up being dragged. Not cool.
If you have to put your pup in the truck bed, keep it locked in a pet taxi or crate that can be secured to the truck.

Answer 7

Honey I with you all the way, I see it in Florida all the time and I cringe. My Fiance bought a new truck and said " Now Tiny ( my 130lb Rotti) can ride in the bed". Needless to say he slept on the couch for the next few night and promised me never to but the dog in the Bed. Unfortunately in alot of States its not against the law to do this.

Answer 8

You had a right to feel the way you did and I would have felt the same way, people{idiots} treat animals so badly and have no feelings for the animals feelings, being in another state you did probably all you could, pray that the dog would not fall out of the truck.......

Answer 9

I'm in horror just hearing about your experience, so no it's just not you. Things like that just get under my skin so bad!! There should be like a hotline number so regardless of what state a person is in you can call a toll free number and it connects you to that state's highway patrol/police to report things (not just careless pet owners).

Answer 10

I can't believe people are so stupid to put their dog in such a dangerous situation. I would have gotten their tag # and called 911 & reported them. I don't know about where you were but when I've had to use 911 from my cell it takes me to the nearest police department.