Carrying Dog in Truck
Don’t let this happen to your dog. Did you know that transporting your dog loose in the back of a pickup truck is illegal? Middletown Animal Hospital recently saw a dog on emergency who had fallen out of the back of a truck and shattered the back leg, leading to amputation. A lot of people are not aware that dogs must be restrained.
California DMV code pertaining to unrestrained carriage of dog in back of truck makes narrow allowance for agricultural situations. Otherwise, in all other situations when dogs are carried in back of truck, such dogs must be restrained. This is for the dog’s protection as well as for other drivers’ protection.
V.C. Section 23117, Carrying Animal in Motor Truck:
23117. (a) No person driving a motor vehicle shall transport any animal in the back of the vehicle in a space intended for any load on the vehicle on a highway unless the space is enclosed or has side and tail racks to a height of at least 46 inches extending vertically from the floor, the vehicle has installed means of preventing the animal from being discharged, or the animal is cross tethered to the vehicle, or is protected by a secured container or cage, in a manner which will prevent the animal from being thrown, falling, or jumping from the vehicle.
(b) This section does not apply to any of the following: (1) The transportation of livestock. (2) The transportation of a dog whose owner either owns or is employed by a ranching or farming operation who is traveling on a road in a rural area or who is traveling to and from a livestock auction. (3) The transportation of a dog for purposes associated with ranching or farming.
Added Ch. 224, Stats. 1987. Effective January 1, 1988.
CA DMV VEHICLE CODE - CARRYING ANIMAL IN MOTOR TRUCK
Pet Vehicle Laws Overview
Parked Vehicles:
Most laws about pets in vehicles pertain to leaving them in parked cars. Cars heat up quickly, even in relatively mild weather. With rising temperatures and improper ventilation, your dog can die within minutes. Owners or guardians can be punished for leaving pets in parked vehicles under laws specific to the situation or under laws addressing cruelty to animals.
Pickup Trucks:
Transporting your dog in the bed of a pickup truck is dangerous. The animal is at risk of being hit by a flying object, incurring an eye injury, jumping or being thrown from your moving vehicle. Any of these eventualities will seriously injure or kill your pet and may cause a traffic accident. In California, Oregon, Minnesota, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, pet guardians are often required to have pets caged or cross-tied in open pick-up truck beds. Nevada bans cruel and inhumane methods of transporting dogs. Washington bans dog transportation methods that pose a risk to public safety, but these methods are open to interpretation.
Distracted Driving:
Several states, including Hawaii, Arizona, Connecticut and Maine ban driving with your pet on your lap. Rhode Island has proposed a similar measure. In New Jersey improper pet