When we see dogs riding in the back of the truck, we typically don’t think of just how dangerous of an act that it truly is. However, there are some rather compelling statistics that show that it is in fact — a super dangerous thing to be doing.
You can’t argue with facts. A dog being transported in the unsecured cargo area or truck bed of vehicles is at risk of injury since they can easily jump out or get thrown from the vehicle.
KHQA ABC News interviewed Steve Scherer from Quincy Animal Control, who confirmed the risks of having a dog in the bed of a truck is just too great of a risk.
“The dog could see something and jump. Most dogs are smart enough not to, though, but I would worry about getting in an accident – the dog’s going to be a projectile then. I would also worry about a dog being tethered in the back of a truck because it could jump over the side of a bed and hang itself,” Scherer explained.
Basically, the whole point is to not put your dog in the bed of a truck. The American Humane organization further detailed the facts of why it’s so dangerous:
- Any sudden start, stop, or turn could potentially toss your dog onto the highway where it can get hit by oncoming traffic – an estimated 100,000 dogs die this way each year.
- Open truck beds provide no protection from the weather. The hot sun can heat the metal floor of a truck bed enough to burn a dog’s paw pads. A dog left sitting in the broiling sun without water or shade can easily suffer heatstroke.
- Putting a leash on your dog inside the truck does nothing to change their safety – in fact, many dogs have been strangled when tossed or bumped over the side of the truck and been left helplessly dangling.
In short, the bed of a truck is no place for a dog to be riding in, that is, if you are a responsible pet owner.
Depending on the state in which you live in, it may actually be against the law to have a pup riding in the back of a truck.
Most state laws that addressed the problem, have made it illegal to transport a dog “on a public road in the back of an open bed vehicle,” meaning any transport of a dog in a truck bed via a private road or driveway would not be outlawed in these states. As of 2019, there are only six states – CA, CT, ME, MA, NH, and RI –have such laws.
Riding in a truck bed can also place dogs in contact with items that may move around and shift during the ride, which can cause injury. Also, the dog itself could get injured by shifting around quickly and violently depending on how rough the ride is. If the truck bed is uncovered, can also expose them to road dust and debris.
Keep your dogs safe folks. Be smart.
