Should Seatbelts For Pets Be Mandated? (to buy, cost of, dangerous)

[Pool0890]

I keep seeing people driving with their pets...usually dogs sitting on their laps & pets...usually protruding from open windows. Time for new legislation?

[kayfouroh]

Yes

[DawnSells]

Okay. I have a dog and I take him in the car when I take him for his haircut. I have him on a leash and he does stick his head out the window. i think the point that POOL0809 is making is that it is dangerous for the dog and he/she is correct. My brother was turning left onto Vets highway and his lab fell out the window from the back window and was standing on the divider. MY BROTHER DID NOT EVEN NOTICE until another driver brought it to his attention. I love my brother but what a moron!!!

In my case I do have Jack on a leash. I have though many times that by holding the leash I am not as well in control of the steering wheel. I really need to buy a car leash so both of my hands are free and Jack-Jack is also safe.

[Buckthedog]

I agree with the reasoning behind the OP's post. However the next piece of legislation passed should be that the cost of any new legislation that affects my wallet is paid for by the legislative body enacting the legislation.

[SadieLu]

I don't really think this is something that should be legislated. C'mon folks, use your common sense! If your dog is sitting nicely (and untethered) in the front passenger seat and you need to stop very suddenly (or crash), where do you think your dog will go? Crashing into the dash (if you're lucky) or worse, head-on through the windshield! And it's not really good for them to hang their heads out the windows...it's terrible for the eyes, all that dust and debris.
A dog held just by a leash and collar could very well try to jump out the window...my DS had a dog that was hanging outside the car door from doing just that! Luckily they were right there so no harm done but really, accidents can (and do) happen.
I have a harness for my dogs. It makes walking them a lot easier; pressure on the chest rather than the neck. I also have a strap that hooks onto the harness and onto the seatbelt. Keeps them safe and I can concentrate on driving w/o worrying about them!

[SouthBound47]

Who cares? If you can't help but take an animal around with you, which no one has to, and you wrap your car around a tree and the dog dies, that's your problem. I have a serious problem with seat belts for people... Of course I'm sure that our great state would take this "problem" as an excuse for more regulation.

[shiftymh]

My cat is nice and calm, he will sit calmly most of the time, i can toss him up in the air and catch him, but if you put him in some sort of restraint....he will eff you up.