We've all seen the pickup truck driving down the road with the dog running around in the bed. The dog seems so happy, taking in all the smells with the wind blowing in his face. But what if that dog sees something he wants NOW and jumps out the back of the truck and gets hit by a passing truck? Or even worse, if you thought you were being responsible by tying him in with a rope and he jumps out, now you're dragging him behind as you speed down the road. It is never OK to drive with an unrestrained pet in the bed of a pickup truck.
"When you drive with a loose dog in the back of your truck, you’re taking a huge risk and placing your dog and other motorists in danger,” says Chuck Mai, a vice president with AAA Oklahoma. “Even if a dog is trained, we’re talking about an animal who responds to stimuli on impulse. This irresponsible decision can start a deadly chain reaction on the road.”
In the majority of towns and states, there are no laws preventing people from letting their pets ride unrestrained in pickup truck beds, so it's important that you make smart decisions on your own. (In fact, most states do not have laws preventing people from riding there either) If you have a dog that needs ride in the bed, secure a large crate in the bed so that it will not shift during turns. The dog should remain in the crate at all times. If you can avoid having a pet in the bed of your truck, that is best.
If you see an unrestrained pet in the back of a moving pickup truck, try to obtain a license plate number and contact your local police.
