skidmark
03-29-2006, 05:44 PM
Dogs in the Back of Pickups
Just mention the words "truck ride" and our dog becomes your shadow. Like most dogs, she refuses to be left behind when someone is going for a drive. Being a lap dog, she rides inside and thinks that the right front seat is hers, although she will happily let people sit underneath her.
Larger dogs are often not granted inside status and ride in the back of pickups and other vehicles. As far as the Motor Vehicle Act is concerned living animals may be transported outside the passenger compartment of a vehicle if there is a suitable cage, carrier or guard rail that is attached adequately to protect that animal from falling or being thrown from the vehicle. Since pickup boxes have sides it would have to be a large animal to require more protection than that already there.
What about protection from the weather? Zooming down the highway in cold temperatures and pouring rain while sitting in the open box of pickup is not likely a preferred activity for dogs. Both the provincial Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the federal Health of Animals Regulations prohibit the causing of distress to animals, and the Regulations mention undue exposure to the weather specifically.
When you consider taking your dog for a ride in the pickup truck you must consider the animal's welfare and provide for it accordingly. Those drivers that fail to do so may be stopped and required to remedy the situation. They may also be subject to charge and could be prohibited from owning an animal as part of the penalty.
Reference Links (http://members.shaw.ca/behind.the.wheel/current.htm)
Just mention the words "truck ride" and our dog becomes your shadow. Like most dogs, she refuses to be left behind when someone is going for a drive. Being a lap dog, she rides inside and thinks that the right front seat is hers, although she will happily let people sit underneath her.
Larger dogs are often not granted inside status and ride in the back of pickups and other vehicles. As far as the Motor Vehicle Act is concerned living animals may be transported outside the passenger compartment of a vehicle if there is a suitable cage, carrier or guard rail that is attached adequately to protect that animal from falling or being thrown from the vehicle. Since pickup boxes have sides it would have to be a large animal to require more protection than that already there.
What about protection from the weather? Zooming down the highway in cold temperatures and pouring rain while sitting in the open box of pickup is not likely a preferred activity for dogs. Both the provincial Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the federal Health of Animals Regulations prohibit the causing of distress to animals, and the Regulations mention undue exposure to the weather specifically.
When you consider taking your dog for a ride in the pickup truck you must consider the animal's welfare and provide for it accordingly. Those drivers that fail to do so may be stopped and required to remedy the situation. They may also be subject to charge and could be prohibited from owning an animal as part of the penalty.
Reference Links (http://members.shaw.ca/behind.the.wheel/current.htm)