no dogs on pick-up truck

Every once in a while I see dog owners let their dogs ride in the back of their pick-up and I am always scared and worry for the dogs. A few times I even see dogs riding on a pick-up while their owners drive on or onto the highway. That always terrifies me. With the weather warming up, more and more people want to go out with their dogs and enjoy the sun, and therefore more and more people are letting their dogs ride in the back of a pick-up.

STOP IT! More than 100,000 dogs die each year as a result of riding on a pick-up without protection. American Humane Association's article titled
It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog! shows dog owners it's a BAD idea to let your pet ride on a pick-up without protection, and offered helpful hints to safely ride with your canines:

It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog!

DON'T let your dog travel unsecured in an open pickup truck bed. Dogs can't "hold on" the way humans can, and any sudden start, stop, or turn can toss your pet onto the highway. If the impact of hitting the road at a high speed doesn't kill him, oncoming traffic probably will. It is estimated that at least 100,000 dogs die this way each year.

There are other hazards to consider. Most dogs love the feeling of wind blowing past their ears at 60 mph, but that wind can seriously irritate mucous membranes and blow pieces of grit into the animal's eye. It may require veterinary attention to remove the foreign material, which could cause permanent damage to the eye. Insects or flying debris can also lodge in the nasal passages or get sucked up into the windpipe.

Open truck beds provide no protection from the weather. Rain, snow, and freezing temperatures are obvious problems, but even warm days have their dangers. Hot sun can heat the metal floor of a truck bed enough to burn a pet's paw pads. And once the truck has stopped, a dog left sitting in the broiling sun without water or shade may suffer from heat stroke before long.

It is safest to allow your dog to ride inside the truck cab, or leave him at home. If he must ride in the back of the truck, put the pet inside a crate that will give him some protection from the wind and weather, and tie the crate securely to the walls of the truck bed, so it cannot slide about or be tossed out of the truck. Do not leash your pet inside the truck bed, as many a dog has been strangled when tossed or bumped over the side of the truck and been left helplessly dangling. Special harnesses are available to prevent this kind of horrific accident.

Provided by the American Humane Association