Should Pets Be Required to Wear a Seat Belt?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/06/11 19:39:13

Related Topics: Pets, Seat, belt, Car, Pet, Dogs, jail, Animals, Cars, American, Driving, News, Dog, New Jersey

747 votes
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	Yes	278 votes	37%
	No	469 votes	63%

Hmm ... we've never really thought about this one before. Should owners have to buckle up their pets in the car, or face a hefty fine? In New Jersey, penalties for driving with an unrestrained pet range from $250 to $1,000 and as much as six months in jail, NorthJersey.com reports.

"That’s for each offense," Col. Frank Rizzo, police superintendent for the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, told reporters. "So, if you have more than one animal loose in your car, just do the math…"

The New Jersey statute defines unrestrained pets in cars as animal cruelty. Some pet owners use small cages, but most buy seats and harnesses that attach directly to existing seat belts, NorthJersey.com reports. However, a 2010 survey conducted by the American Automobile Association showed that 20 percent of those polled allow their dogs to sit on their laps while they drive. And nearly one-third of the respondents admitted that unrestrained pets are distracting.

“Some people tell us they like to let their pets hang their heads out the window to take in the fresh air," Rizzo said, "but dogs and cats become projectiles in a crash." Do you think people should be forced to buckle up their pets?

+33

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glass_butterfly ~YSU~ 2012/06/11 21:28:33 (edited)

Yes

+19
I tie my dog up in the passenger seat or the back seat cause she'll try and jump in my lap (this is no purse dog, this is a 65-70lbs adult black lab, who still thinks she's a puppy) She could obstruct my view! Very dangerous. And for the safety of the dog too, if in a car accident I'd hate to think of my poor girl to fly out the window and getting hurt worst!
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More polls by SodaHead Living

Jo 2012/06/12 19:51:45

Yes

this animal lover likes this idea:)) I know people that wont take thier dogs/cats in cars unless they have to because of they're afraid of what will happen to them in the event of a collision.

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DanOman 2012/06/12 19:48:41

No

+2
Oh cut me a break what else do THEY want to govern. WAKE up we are losing freedom one little thing at a time. Seems like a silly thing but it all ads up.

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Jo to DanOman 2012/06/12 19:52:57

why "silly"?

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Inquisitve Kat 2012/06/12 19:15:43

Yes

+1
It's irresponsible and downright dangerous to have an unrestrained animal in your car. If you love your pet, you should take proper care of it.

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Rob Williams 2012/06/12 19:12:10

Yes

+1
In a crash an unrestrained pet would be horribly injured if not killed. That's as well as being a lethal weapon as far as any one else in the car is concerned.

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phil 2012/06/12 19:10:11

Yes

But i don't think my dog will wear it

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bob'45 2012/06/12 19:01:15

No

+6
Only if they're driving.

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DizziNY to bob'45 2012/06/12 19:08:32

+2
Lol, ok, that is cute :)

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bob'45 to DizziNY 2012/06/12 19:12:35

+1
Thank you...it was just for fun. :-)

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AngelaDuke 2012/06/12 19:00:09

No

+1
I think that if they are in the back of a truck they should be secured to where they can't jump out but a seat belt is going a little too far. It does posse me off when i see a dog running around in the back of someone's truck without some kind of harness though. All it takes is one time for the dog to jump into traffic and be killed.

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Jo to AngelaDuke 2012/06/12 19:53:58

you worry about him jumping out onto traffic but you dont worry about what woulod happen to them in an accident?

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/12 19:57:17

I've rode in the back of trucks a number of times.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/12 20:42:10

what does that have to do with anything? can you not figure out what happens when ANY living being unrestrained is in an accident?

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/12 21:03:14

If I can ride around unrestrained, then so can any animal.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/12 21:36:48

of course you can ride around unrestrained, the issue is not whether or not one is capable of riding around unrestrained, the issue is in reference to what may happen should there be an accident while riding around unrestrained. you cant figure that out?

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/13 09:20:25

Nothing more than would happen to me. So...no problem.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/13 15:28:55

+1
did you even make it through the 8th grade? what would happen to you einstein if you're in the back of a truck unrestrained and the driver hits a tree while going 65 mph? let me guess, you think you;d just get a splinter, right? Lol!!

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/13 15:56:48

Perhaps nothing. Perhaps the people I ride with won't have an accident.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/13 16:59:44

you didnt make it past the eight grade, did you?

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/13 17:08:07

I have a Bachelor's in Business Management.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/13 17:10:11

I dont believe that for a second; sorry, but theres no way that you can be this dumb and be college educated as well; besides, I read some of your other responses to questions, and educated men arent afraid of women the you are, sweetheart. Hey, nice try, though:)

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/13 17:32:21 (edited)

You realize that the chances of getting into an accident, especially with a decent driver, are slim, right? Then again, men *are* more intelligent than women in general, and particularly, this man.

I have nothing to fear, except dangerous drivers. Women can't drive.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/13 18:14:17

lol! more proof of what a moron you are:)) the chances of an accident are MUCH higher, and have little to do with "a decent driver"; oh, and please remember that the only reason you feel the way you do about women (and oh, please, sweetheart, women are 10 x more intelligent than men, always have been and always will be---you know this already, and its the reason you feel so threatened by them) is because of how weak and fragile you are; a strong man doesnt feel the need to try (with complete futility, I might add) and make women inferior to him. You should lend serious consideration to losing the yellow stripe going your back. But then again, cowards like you put us a at very distinct advantage, so by all means, continue to nuture your weakness:)

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/13 19:18:17

Statistics don't bear you out. On either subject.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/13 22:20:01

guess again:)

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/14 09:22:16

I don't have to guess. I know. Seems it's you who needs to research this a little more.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/14 16:23:09

riiiiiiight.....

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/14 21:00:10

Well, I'm right, and you're wrong. All you'd have to do is look it up.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/15 02:06:53

you're nowhere near being "right"

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/15 11:02:23

I know differently. Like I said, all you have to do is look it up.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/15 16:52:42

and I know differently:)

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/15 20:39:47

Because you ignore the facts and research done on it.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/16 08:20:22

wrong:)

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/16 09:42:12

you haven't even bothered to look...

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/16 16:37:36

again, wrong:)

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/16 17:20:49

Then you would know I was right. Since I've done the research and it backs me up. You just refuse to admit it.

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Grandpa to Jo 2012/06/13 13:08:42 (edited)

+1
What wrong with you people ?? Do you load your dog or kids in the car and drive around looking for an accident to get into ?? Get off the cell phones and above all pay attention to the road around you >> Forget the radio station and the freinds in the back seat and BS each other when you get to where you are going >> Spend a little more time training your pet and you will not have a problem

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Jo to Grandpa 2012/06/13 15:27:40

omg.......how dumb can you be? you think a car crashing into a tree at 65 mph would NOT propel an unrestrained animal through a windshield? and more than that, you actually think "training" an animal will somehow prevent that from happening? whats wrong with YOU?

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TKramar to Jo 2012/06/13 17:09:15

No, he thinks training the driver will keep them from getting into an accident. But with people like you on the road, it might be a little more difficult.

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Jo to TKramar 2012/06/13 18:16:16

oh, yes, you know soooo much about my driving......intelligent people dont go around making assertions with no prior knowledge. Keep talking, please---you continue to show how incredibly stupid you really are.

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