Ruff News: Proposed New Law To Keep Dogs Heads In The Car
Some dogs love to take a ride in the car.
Sticking his head out of the window while riding is pure pleasure for a dog. Scientists say the reason for this is simple. Dogs have a much stronger sense of smell than we do. When they put their head out the window, the rush of air is like total sensory overload.
Dogs enjoy smelling new scents, and sticking their head out of the car lets them experience many fresh aromas.
We all love to keep our pets happy, but are there dangers to letting your dog stick his head out the window while you drive? There are three main dangers.
One, the dog might fall out of the car. This is most true for smaller dogs.
The second danger is that your dog might be hit by flying debris. So many Texas windshields have rock dings. Imagine if a rock hits your dog's head at high speed. It could be devastating. Your dog could also be crushed in the event of a wreck.
The third danger is ear damage. Repeated exposure to sweeping air can cause damage to the flaps of your dog's ears.
With all this in mind, should it be against the law for a dog to ride with his head out the window? In Florida, a new law has been proposed that would make that and many other things pet owners routinely do illegal in Florida. Senate Bill 932.
Along with prohibiting dogs from riding with their head out the window, this law would prohibit declawing for cats. It would also outlaw letting a dog ride in your lap while you're operating a vehicle. It would also prohibit transporting a dog at any time on the running board, fender, hood, or roof of a car, trunk, or enclosed cargo space.
So far, no one has proposed a bill similar to this Florida measure here in Texas.
Some of the provisions of this proposed Florida law might make sense, but I am quite sure Texans would reject a bill like this. As hard as I looked, I couldn't find that many cases of dogs being injured by riding with their head out the window.
Perhaps it is a decision best left up to a pet owner. I won't let my dog stick his head out the window unless we're on a slow residential street. There are ads online for doggie goggles. If you make your dog wear them, don't take them anywhere they might see their doggie friends.
It would have to be embarrassing for them.