Pet restraint laws and a question for all our NJ members

[Joe R.]

Saw this on our local news today.  Since it's in New Jersey I thought I get everyones opinions. I personally think it's a great idea. Also does anyone know if they are actually enforcing it.

 

http://wusa9.com/news/article/207053/283/State-Drivers-Should-Buckl...

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I seem to recall a member whose husband was just running to Petsmart and put their doodle in the backseat.  There was a quick stop involved and the doodle flew onto the floor and if I remember correctly broke a leg!  This is one of things I worry about a lot when traveling with the girls.  Also, if I'm in an accident and I'm unable to take care of them I don't want them to be able to get out of the car when the responders arrive.  They are very good in the car and are asleep before we are out of the driveway, so they aren't a distraction, I just want them secure in the event something happens. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Those are good points, Sheri. I never thought about what would happen if I was incapacitated and JD was loose in the street.

(Although I once went down on the ice pretty hard while walking him, and lost his leash, and he stayed right by me, very concerned, until I was able to get up, lol.)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do keep the emergency leashes right on the back window ledge, maybe that would help.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

 

The same set of laws protects our dogs from being in hot cars

[F, Calla & Luca]

Protecting dogs by educating people on how fast a car can heat up makes a lot of sense.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Does this law mean that anyone traveling on New Jersey roadways must have their dog(s) restrained?  How is the state informing out-of-towners about the regulations?  If my brother hadn't told me about this issue and if I hadn't also learned about it via DK, I would have been unaware.  I'm heading to N.J. later in the summer to visit family, and I'm assuming that I will need to tether Wally.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't know what it means for out of towners. I live here and I had no clue.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

What made me buy Daisy's restraining system:

Daisy was 9 months old - probably 40lbs, she always rode in the back of the SUV, depending on where we were going she would either lay down or hang over the front back seat from the cargo area. This particular time we were headed to DoggyDaycare, which at the time was her favorite place to go. What told her what we were doing is if we turned left that meant DDC, right meant work and she would just lay down.

Well I was traveling at about 30 miles per hour when some yahoo cut over from the right and then proceeded to stop dead right in front of me to turn left - I remind you we were not traveling fast. I had to apply my breaks, not stomp on them but apply, the next thing I know my adorable 40lb fur ball hit my right arm as she flew over the seat and into the arm rest area of the front. I was so upset. The DDC was about one block up and when I got there I just sat in the car and cried with Daisy looking at me like I was nuts.

That evening I went on line and with much direction from others, bought our system. There is never a reason not to do it.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Here is a follow up from the Bergen Record Road Warrior.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/158024725_Pet_lovers_find_they_have...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So they are talking restraints of some kind.

The air bag point was a good one, and something I hadn't thought about, although JD is never in the front seat.

Now I'm wondering about the rear side air bags.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Oh, since I don't have rear side air bags, the doodlemobile is a 2003, I never thought of that.

They are talking restraints but the law is still an animal cruelty statute and not often enforced. I was not happy to think of a zipline, or any anchoring restraint being attached to a collar. Surely that would be a way to suffocate a dog or break it's neck.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yeah, that sounded terrible to me, too.