Should Pets Be Required to Wear a Seat Belt?

When an animal is loose in the car/truck you are not only putting the animal in danger but the other occupants in the vehicle and possibly other vehicles and pedestrians. The animal could get into your line vision, under the brake ( if small enough ), and distract you in other ways. You may like to think that your animal is well trained but can you promise yourself beyond a shadow of a doubt that your animal will not act like an animal? If you multiply the weight of the animal and the speed you are going that will be the result of the pounds of force your animal would be hitting what is in front of it be it you, the windshield, back of the front seat, or whatever else. Thinking that holding the animal in your arms makes it safe is a fallacy because the human body instinctively protects itself and not an animal and you could crush it while your body works at stabilizing itself and if the animal wants to get out of your arms or car/truck it will. If an animal gets out it could bite someone else, attack another animal, run away, get hit by another car, or break its legs or another part of its body. If you are in an accident and the paramedics can not get to you because your animal will not let them a police officer will be forced to shoot them. "My animal will hang itself", "will not be comfortable", "will not see out of the window", or "whine" are not good excuses. There are many types of restraints that work for any type of animal of all sizes they are in pet stores and on line and yes you will have to do a little training ( if you can't or won't then leave your animal at home. It is less expensive financially and emotionally if you purchase some type of restraint than have to pay for a fine or lose your pet. I almost lost my service dog from doing a simple sudden stop and he came near to breaking and/or dislocating his shoulder and he was sitting like a well behaved dog in the back seat and he still almost got hurt or killed. I went home and did research on line and found a good quality car harness and it has proven its worth several times. I have a crate for my cat for when I take her to the vet and either I buckle the crate on the seat or wedge it between the front seat and back seat on the floor. Think about more than yourself and think about the animal and others.