Who let the dogs out (of their seatbelts)? Florida bill bans dogs sniffing out of car windows

[brooklynite]

Palm Beach Post

A bill filed with the Florida Legislature would allow drivers to be ticketed for allowing dogs to stick their heads out of moving vehicles.

This is bound to be very unpopular with dogs, perhaps the worst news ever, unless there’s some anti butt-sniffing provisions buried in some other canine bill.

The dogs-in-seat-belts legislation has been filed by Florida Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, as part of an animal welfare bill that also bans the declawing of cats, except for “therapeutic cases.”

I've long considered the impulse of dogs to stick their heads out of moving vehicles as a kind of therapy. Aroma therapy, maybe.

[Walleye]

1. Man, they don't want anybody to have any fun down there

[Tetrachloride]

2. this won't end well

[Vinca]

3. I never ever want to step foot in Florida again. If I want beach, I'll fly to Hawaii.

[MiHale]

3. Wow are they busy taking care of people...

No sarcasm tag needed it’s obvious.

[Emile]

5. Well that will take the fun out of me barking at them!

[milestogo]

6. Dogs should not be sticking their heads out of moving vehicles.

Would you drive with your child's head sticking out the car window?

Dogs can be harmed, and people can be harmed.

They are more likely to jump out the window, in which case they can be hit by a car. Accidents can be caused by people slamming on their brakes to avoid hitting the dog.


Dogs should ride in a crate or wearing a harness/seat belt. You can put the window down for them to enjoy.

[bedazzled]

16. Honestly. Most of the dog is out of the window sometimes

It's terrifying. We're not talking just the nose here. I always think, they don't like that dog much

[Tickle]

21. ok, glad I am not alone NT

[bedazzled]

25. Maybe they haven't seen what we have

I know speed sniffing is fun for dogs. Jumping out and getting hit by another car not so much

[phylny]

40. You are not alone.

Our dogs are either in a crate, or in a harness attached to a seatbelt in the car.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Florida. Where freedom goes to die. . . . nt

[Biophilic]

8. I think this is a really dumb move by the Democrats in Florida.

Yes, I know dogs shouldn't stick their heads out of car windows, but right now doesn't seem a useful moment to antagonize voters. A lot of people will see this as Democrats, once again, trying to legislate personal lives. Yes, I know it's what the Republicans are doing big time in Florida, but if I were Republican I would use this to get people's minds off the numerous legislation they were putting through to legislate and outlaw personal choices. "Look what the Democrats are doing, they won't even let dogs have the joy of sticking their heads out of car windows. The Democrats are always into legislating personal lives." What can I say, it's what I would do if I were a Republican in Florida right now.

[Chipper Chat]

10. There are Democrats left in Florida?

How woke.

[Biophilic]

14. Yes, there are a few of us.

Actually, there are more than a few, but there is a lot of 'my life is good and I don't want to know anything that will puncture my balloon.' I honestly don't know what it will take to get things moving, but it won't be someone like Christie. What a miserable mistake.

[Chipper Chat]

22. Lawton Childs

Please come back and help us.

[milestogo]

20. What kind of people are going to be antagonized by this?

This isn't a partisan issue. Its an animal welfare issue and a traffic issue. Whoever is proposing this is spot on.

[Biophilic]

24. I agree this shouldn' t be a partisan issue, but this is Florida right now.

The person offering the legislation is a Democrat per the article.

[d_r]

35. I agree

[Geechie]

9. Maybe it's a neat bit of theater

designed to hold up a mirror to the always-legislating-private-lives Republicans.

Then again, probably not, based on what little I know about Rep. Book.

[Johnny2X2X]

11. Police state

The “freedumb” loving red states are quickly becoming police states. Every day they seem to become more like North Korea.

[Hortensis]

34. This is an animal welfare bill filed by a Democratic member.

As the article points out, may not be the kind of oppression the Republican dogs representing "the free state of Florida" are likely to support.

[jcgoldie]

12. The cat declawing provision is good and humane

The dog seatbelt thing not so much.

[Chainfire]

13. My dog will bite someone over that!

Is is good for animal welfare? Certainly, but I wonder how many dogs come to harm poking their noses out of windows?
What disturbs me is seeing dogs wandering around in the back of pickup trucks, balancing on the side rails or on top of tool boxes.

How about we prioritize the stripping of school libraries, and attacks on sexuality, before we move on to dog vehicle safety.

[milestogo]

23. Talk to an emergency vet

and see how many animals end up with eye infections, crush injuries, or getting hit by a car because their head was hanging out the window.

Find out how many car accidents are caused by unrestrained animals in vehicles. A loose dog is also a projectile that can kill you if you are in a high speed MVA.

[WarGamer]

37. thank you.

[milestogo]

38. I had a dog class teacher who was also an EMT.

She was at an accident scene where an unrestrained golden retriever was thrown into his owners head and neck. Both died. Gruesome, but it made the point.

[Raine]

44. I saw a dog jump out of a moving car thru the window

they were directly in front of me. I managed to avoid hitting it, so did a string of other cars.The guy keep going didn't even notice at first his dog had jumped out till he heard cars honking and people yelling. Finally he stopped and grabbed up his crying scared dog, the dog's owner was crying and so we're the rest of us who saw it. The dog was injured with a broken leg but still alive, thank goodness. It could've been worse with car wrecks, people injuried and a dead dog. It's a sight I'll never forget though.

Whats a priority for some might not be for others but the morons running the state should be able to do more then one thing at a time!

[friend of a friend]

15. I am in favor of this bill. I wish all states would do the same.

I adopted a three-legged dog that jumped out of a car and was hit.

[bedazzled]

26. Ii hope he survived...

I always fear for the animal when it's 3/4 out of the car...

[friend of a friend]

30. Yes, thank you, he was a small dog and lived to a ripe old age.

We moved to North Carolina 22 years ago and have adopted or stolen 12 old or starving dogs. We never adopted any cats, but so far 4 adult cats have adopted us, the latest was a few months ago a female with 2 kittens.

[bedazzled]

32. You are so lucky to have pets...

My husband has allergies, alas. It's a big hole in your life

[hippywife]

17. I agree with this.

Pets can be thrown - very quickly and very forcefully- when a vehicle comes to a panic stop. And, let's face it, we've all had panic stops happen to us.

They should be protected in a moving vehicle every bit as much as a child should be.

Now, if they're in a belt or harness to prevent them from harm, and can still reach the window to stick their noses out, go for it!

Also agree with the cat declawing. It's just cruel. People need to learn to train their cats on a scratcher if they want to save their furniture.

[NYC Liberal]

18. Mitt Romney won't like this bill.

[ripcord]

19. I have no problem with this bill

[dsc]

27. It is a good bill

I used a harness with my dog and he seemed to like it just fine. He was able to look out the window and fresh air came in via the vent. I honestly didn't trust my dog around an open window. But even if I did, I didn't trust other drivers.

[Ilsa]

28. Don't they have more important things to legislate,

like building on the beaches or something?

[friend of a friend]

31. No. But they can legislate more than one thing.

[ProfessorGAC]

29. My Dog Wears A Seatbelt

He is excited to put the harness on, too.
Then the belt slips through a loop (made of seatbelt material) on the harness. He can stand, sit, lay down. And, there's a bit of side to side freedom to move.
The most he could stick out the window is the tip of his nose. But, unless the top is down, that window is up.
I'd be perfectly fine with a low requiring safety restraints for pets in cars.

[milestogo]

39. Your dog is a lucky and well loved dog.

[ProfessorGAC]

41. Shhhh!

He'll hear you! I always tell him he's an ugly boy & nobody likes him.
Of course, I'm rubbing his belly while I'm saying it.

[kskiska]

33. We had a coonhound

who loved to stick her head out the sunroof of our jeep with her ears flapping in the wind.

[WarGamer]

36. Dogs hanging out the window equals bad pet parent.

[EX500rider]

42. Part of the bill says no dogs riding on motorcycles either

That I don't like my dog rides with me all the time in a harness in the tank bag, harnessed in it in with goggles.

[Raine]

43. Good!👍 Dogs should not have their heads sticking out of car windows

it's a safety issue. If people don't have the good sense to know better then apparently a law is needed.