NJ now requires pets to be restrained while car is in motion

Maida said:
She would ride in the passenger seat with me going everywhere and just lie there calmly the whole time.
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That theory works right up until someone puts a Saab through your engine. Had my dog been in the front seat, he would have gone over the dash, into the windshield and been seriously injured or killed. As it was, he was in a crate in the back, physically unharmed (though two years later, he still refuses to get in the car on his own).

It doesn't matter if your dog lies there calmly or paces circles on the seat, they are the same 25 pound projectile sent through the windshield, or in an older car, smashed into the airbag and killed.

This is not a topic where we say "aww, my doggie might not like it". I wouldn't leave my child in the front seat unrestrained either, even if they don't like it or were uncomfortable.

The only mitigation here is if your dog lays in the footspace on the passenger side. The forward motion is minimal, and they are out of airbag/glass range.
 
Actually, it would probably be easier on a physically disabled dog if it didn't have to brace itself on the back seat during a sudden stop or a fast swerve. I would also worry about an airbag deploying if I had the dog on the front seat. I have always had my dogs in crates until Rhiannon and Tinsel. Rhi won't go in one since she soiled one 10 years ago and Tinsel won't come out, yet. I'm looking at getting him a safety seat with harness. Rhi has a harness but she panics when she is confined in any way in tight spaces. She went 3.5 hours to the cottage without laying down even for a minute and she jumps willingly into the car. I hate taking her loose so I have a barrier between her and us in my Blazer. It's the best I can do with the claustophobic Terv!.
 
Restraining dogs in car

Dear Rachael, I am sorry to hear about the bad accident you had. I am really glad your dog was not hurt. I don't want any dog to be hurt. I think God has always watched over me and my Shelties and I haven't been in an accident of any sort. You are right about the airbag. I hadn't thought of that.

And of course, as far as dogs riding in the back of a pickup, I do want them restrained. Every time I see one unrestrained I worry about them just jumping out to chase something or being hurt if the driver has to slam on the brakes.

I wish every pet parent would just use common sense. Maybe then we could avoid getting so many new laws.

Maida
 
I actually think this is a good law, actually! Though costly for pet owners and perhaps a little extreme.

I don't use harnesses or crates anymore for my dogs, but I do have a car hammock. What I like about it is that the dogs are able to move around, and heaven forbid, if I get into a serious accident, potentially escape on their own (i.e. not tethered to the car).

But neither can they easily jump to the front seat or fall into the seat wells and distract be from driving.

There are also barriers you can mount between your front bucket seats (made by Kurgo), and best, if you have an SUV is put the dogs in the very back with a metal barrier.
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clantyre_rachael/sets/72157630291406658/

I just want to emphasize the forces involved here. The pictures show the movement of junk in my car. I was making a left turn, so going less than 10 mph, the guy that hit me was probably doing 40. All walked away with minor injuries.

The black crates tore away from their bindings and moved about 4 feet forward, and actually were tipped against the drivers seat at an angle. Those were the crates he usually travelled in. I had him in a stacked crate for the first time since the accident this past weekend (two years later), and he actually got serious diarrhea from the stress. Dogs have long memories, I guess.

I actually still grieve over this car. It was perfect in every way. There wasn't a single thing I didn't like. Sigh. :cry:
 
ClantyreSheltie said:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clantyre_rachael/sets/72157630291406658/

I just want to emphasize the forces involved here. The pictures show the movement of junk in my car. I was making a left turn, so going less than 10 mph, the guy that hit me was probably doing 40. All walked away with minor injuries.

The black crates tore away from their bindings and moved about 4 feet forward, and actually were tipped against the drivers seat at an angle. Those were the crates he usually travelled in. I had him in a stacked crate for the first time since the accident this past weekend (two years later), and he actually got serious diarrhea from the stress. Dogs have long memories, I guess.

I actually still grieve over this car. It was perfect in every way. There wasn't a single thing I didn't like. Sigh. :cry:
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Thank you for sharing that, the photos included. Glad everyone walked away with minor injuries, from the looks of it alone it looked a lot more serious.
 
That night, while talking to my most awesome insurance company, I was convinced it was fixable. Look at the inside! Except for the airbag, it was perfect! Then I went and took those photos... We couldn't pry the hood open, and it lost every bit of fluid it had. It could have been worse for us, but the car did what it was designed to do.

This is why I so strongly object to loose dogs. Even a dog on the floor behind the drivers seat would have taken damage. Even a harness is better than nothing.
 
I think I would rather grieve over the car, than grieve over a pet or loved one :no:. I know that happened a while back, but I'm glad everyone made it out ok.
 
We just adopted Balto out to a couple from NJ. They had to bring a car harness with them for their ride home and every ride thereafter with him. I personally think it's a great idea and wish MD would pass a similar law. I also cringe when I see driver's with a dog on their lap, and half the dog is hanging out of the window. Not only is that a distraction, but should the driver get hit or rear end another vehicle then FIDO will become a flying trajectory or be killed by an air bag.

All three of our Shelties ride buckled in as do their humans. It just makes sense.
 
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