Is It Legal In North Dakota to Let A Dog Ride Unrestrained?
I was coming home from the lake recently when I witnessed something I've always wondered about.
A dog riding in the back of a truck bed unrestrained on the interstate going 80 miles per hour. There's no way that could be legal right? One quick tap on the brakes and that dog is flying onto the interstate and is dead meat.
I followed behind this truck for several miles, when I finally couldn't take it anymore. I didn't want this dog flying through my windshield at 80 miles per hour, so I passed the truck.
As I went by the driver, I couldn't help but give him a WTF look as I showed him how you should be traveling with your dog. Mine were secured in their pet containers in the bed of my truck bed.
This isn't the first time I've witnessed something like this and I'm sure you have too, but is it legal? According to Michigan State University and its Animal Center, only a few states have laws concerning transporting a pet in a pick-up bed unrestrained.
Unfortunately, North Dakota ISN'T one of them!
Only 6 states have laws against letting your pet travel in the back of a pick-up truck bed unrestrained.
The laws read something like this in Connecticut. "No person operating a pick-up truck, as defined in section 14-1, on a public highway of this state shall transport a dog in the open rearward compartment of the pick-up truck unless the dog is secured in a cage or other container or otherwise protected or secured in such a manner as to prevent the dog from being thrown or falling or jumping from the pick-up truck."
ALL states should have a law like Connecticut in my opinion.
How does this not make it to the Capital with all the stupid bills introduced into the legislature every couple of years?
I sure hope you're not one of those people who do this with your dog. Not only is it bad for your dog, but it could cause another vehicle to have an accident trying to swerve quickly to avoid your pup flying onto the highway. Spend the 50 bucks for a pet container and be safe.
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Gallery Credit: Sabienna Bowman