Lapdogs Allowed
In California you better not be caught driving and talking on your cell phone, unless wearing a headset.
But you can still take Rover for a ride on your lap and go cruising. Lapdogs are legal, big and small.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a proposal to fine drivers with animals on their laps. The governor says he only wants to sign the highest-priority bills, and this isn’t one of them.
I wouldn’t think one would need a law to tell them not to let their 150 lb. Newfoundland sit on their lap while driving. Or any dog, because it really is dangerous for both dog and owner. However, I wouldn’t think there needs to be a sticker on a hair dryer telling people not to use in the shower, but there is.
Come to think of it, how about the “do not use orally” warning on a toilet bowl cleaning brush, or the sticker on the iron box reminding us “not to iron clothes while wearing them.” Of timely importance, since Halloween is fast approaching, a Superman Costume with a label reminding everyone “this garment does not enable you to fly.”
Hmmm…..maybe there is a reason for laws, even ones that appear rather frivolous.
Oh my dog, you have got to be kidding! That is a serious issue when a dog is on your lap or even moving around the car to distract you! Lets see, loose dog in the car, car crash, driver hurt, whoever they hit hurt or worse, and a dog being ejected from the car, yup sounds serious to me! My Shetland Sheepdog Binx always has a seatbelt on in the car, ALWAYS! And he is very used to it and loves going for both short and long rides. And for anyone that says that their dog freaks out if they get buckled, so did Binx at first. But since I am the boss or “pack leader” it is my way or no way and he got the hint with persistence and we are all a happy and seatbelted family here, all of us! It is not worth losing a human or furry companion just because I didn’t want to bother to secure him because he didn’t like it or it was not convenient at first!
I cannot believe that someone hasn’t rallied for a law to be enforced making it manditory for all pets to be “buckled up”. These are our “babies” too. They may have 4 legs unlike the 2 legged ones but they deserve the same safety rules. Today, you have so many options to choose from in the way of doggie seats, straps, and kennels. I’m going to start carrying them on my website soon; so, check back to see the different choices you’ll have. Remember, our pets are special cargo too! They deserve the same safety rules as the ones set forth for our children….they are a children too!
Sadly, saving the lives of pets is not important for the Governator.
That really is a shame <how long could it take him to have signed it???.
Pets in laps, along with cell phones and the like all contribute to many accidents and for the poor pets many injuries or death could be avoided. Thye can easily be crushed or become projectiles just by hitting the brakes even with out a crash.
That is so sad, I can’t believe DogFancy decided that California is Dogtown USA! I ALWAYS have my dog in a crate or buckled in a seatbelt. I sometimes think about letting him sit loose in the back of the car, but then I decide his safety is more important than my convienece, and buckle him up or crate him. I won’t go so far as to say dogs are our children, (They aren’t furry humans after all) but I do think they should pass a law that they at least need to be buckled, or better yet, crated. I live in south Texas and it makes me angry how many people leave their dogs loose in the back of a pickup! Don’t they know that the dog will almost certainly DIE in a serious crash? At the very least it burns the dogs feet standing on a hot truck bed. My dad said he even saw someone, driving a truck down the highway (How fast do you think a dog going 80 can stop?) with a Shepherd in the back of their truck, suddenly the dog jumped out and rolled down the highway like a piece of litter! It INFURIATES me that the owners didn’t even seem to care if their dog was OK or not, they just stopped the truck, let the dog jump back in and then continue on their way! PEOPLE! we NEED a law to keep our dogs safe!