Give a dog a break
Jennifer Roblez
Friday, September 21, 2007
I was walking to the Gazette after the Emporia Recreation Commission meeting on Monday afternoon when I encountered two dogs in a pickup truck bed in front of Jumbo Storage.
They appeared to be Australian Cattle Dog puppies, probably about 6 months old. They practically fell out of the bed to be petted and give sloppy puppy kisses.
That’s when I remembered a call I received recently from Imogene McCosh of the Flint Hills Humane Society. She said she wanted to talk with Emporia city commissioners about the city’s leash law for loose dogs in pickup trucks.
She described several instances when a dog had fallen from a quickly-braking truck, including one case when the fallen dog was hit by a car.
Commissioners plan to discuss the Humane Society’s concerns and the leash law at a study session Wednesday at 10 a.m. at 521 Market St. in the city conference room.
Granted, in the big scheme of things, loose dogs in pickup truck beds may not seem like a key concern, but think again. I feared for those young dogs with their big paws overlapping the truck bed.
I don’t know if their owner planned to restrain them before driving off. Maybe so. But I just couldn’t shake the image of them falling out of a moving truck on West Sixth Avenue, perhaps. I imagined pavement burns and broken limbs.
When in doubt, I turn to the Internet and discovered: A report in the Canadian Veterinary Journal states that 21 of 70 dogs thrown out of pickups between 1982 and 1993 sustained multiple injuries. The other 49 had single injuries with fractures being the most common.
One Massachusetts worker for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals claimed they saw an average of one dog a week with a spinal fracture or broken neck from falling or jumping out of the back of a truck. The vast majority had to be euthanized.
Dr. Deb Zoran, a Texas A&M University veterinary professor, recommends crating or tying a dog down with some type of harness or restraint, adding, “There’s probably not a veterinarian in Texas who hasn’t treated a dog injured from riding in a pickup truck.”
I found that State Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, supports the banning of dogs riding in truck beds. He backs up his stance with statistics from a 1988 study in which 141 vets reported 592 dogs brought in after being thrown from truck beds that year.
California, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Rhode Island and Hawaii have all passed laws restricting the transportation of dogs in the back of a pickup. Other states have bills pending.
Should Emporia or the state of Kansas look into similar legislation? Yes!
Here’s what it boils down to: The safest way to transport a dog is inside a pickup truck in a secure carrier or with a harness and seat belt restraint. These methods prevent driver distraction and, in the event of an accident, minimize injury and prevent the dog from bolting into traffic.
If the dog must ride in the pickup truck bed, a secure carrier or, at the very least, a harness and short cross tie will protect the dog from being thrown out.
These common sense precautions take only a few moments and can prevent pet injuries and death, costly veterinarian bills and traffic accidents.
I never like to see government get involved in personal affairs, but if people can’t or won’t take care of their pet’s safety, then it’s worth the intrusion.
Jennifer Roblez may be reached by e-mail at newsroom@emporiagazette.com.
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
this is a good idea. it would keep dogs from falling out of truck beds, also, it would keep the drivers from being distracted when they drive.
September 22, 2007 at 2:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
brad (anonymous) says...
I have a dog that I keep tied up in the back of my truck. She wouldn't be able to jump out even if she wanted to. And she is much happier just coming along for a breezy ride than tied up in the back yard.
I take her to the park and she can't resist jumping in the pond for a swim and there is no way i would allow her inside my truck after that.
If this law is passed it would be very inconvenient for me and my dog.
September 22, 2007 at 5:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chicaliebehunds (anonymous) says...
As a vet tech I disagree with people tying their dogs in the back of their vehicles. I constantly see dogs who were tied in the back of a truck, and consequently hung by the same tie that was supposed to protect them. You cannot govern how people choose to transport their pets. Pets are a right not a privelege, and many people forget this. I am not in favor of letting pets ride in the back of any vehicle, I personally let mine ride beside me in the cab, but that's my choice. No matter how many rules or regulations we make about our pets, people are still going to do what they want to do. I just hope people can use good judgement when taking their pets along for a ride.
September 22, 2007 at 5:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I'm with trebuchet on this. We get all excited about protecting pets yet how many times have I seen people riding with babies in the front seat, or little kids sitting on the driver's lap. Just one example of many. Then there's the people who drive along with their dogs looking out the driver's window. Oh man, here we go again. WHO LET THE DOGS OUT???
September 22, 2007 at 6:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
brad (anonymous) says...
I have a rope that is stretched tight from side to side from the tie-down anchors in my pickup bed. Then I have a metal clip attached to her collar and slides across the rope.
Although her size makes it more convenient since her chin is almost parallel with the top of my truck bed when she is standing.
She can get her claws on the top of my truck bed(struggling) but that's about it.
I used this system for 3 or 4 years now with absolutely no problems.
September 22, 2007 at 6:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
As many problems as this city has and the city commission is spending time on this. It's mind boggling. It's meddling in areas where they shouldn't.
A couple of years ago I listened to NPR. There was an advocate from some naturalist society recommeding that people keep their cats inside. The reason? Cats were "murdering" birds. NPR was actually dumb enough to agree with him. One can only imagine the possibilities. Trials? Punishments for the criminal felines? Punishments for the owners who had been accessories to a crime?
Someone needs to tell the city commission to stop meddling and start taking up really important city issues
September 23, 2007 at 5:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
Rules are made to be broken. This is an issue dear to the heart of the flint hills humane society - as well as others that are more compelling, like helping pet owners get reduced-cost vaccinations. I agree that we should protect children more than dogs, of course. Society can't legislate good common sense, unfortunately.
September 23, 2007 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
I dont think a leash is a answer. I agree that they have a bigger chance of being hung than tossed out. We have enough rules and regulations. The land of the free is becoming the land of laws, laws, laws.
September 23, 2007 at 11:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Paccifier (anonymous) says...
There are enough un-enforced regulations as it is- Drive around and watch folks out Friday/Saturday going to garage sales and look at the number of times there are a bunch of kids in the back seat and cargo compartment of the familySUV or mini-van without any form of restraint- and nothing is done about that. Frankly, that should be a greater concern, yet it is ignored, even with the new restraint rules in Kansas. Looks like the City ought to worry about child restraint before we add, then ignore pet restraint.
September 23, 2007 at 10:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Brooke (anonymous) says...
Seat belts for dogs, cages to ruin a well-loved ride in the truck across town or out on the Refuge. Do these special interest-too much time on their hands busy bodies have nothing else to do other than stick thier noses into the private business of the citizen? If someone is violating the law to the harm of the animal, fine them or remove the animal from their possession. Other than that, MYOB, or better yet, take a trip to Puerto Rico and help the animal control officers that thought the solution to thier problem was to toss the unwanted animals over a bridge.
October 13, 2007 at 6:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )