California Law for carrying dogs?

What are the laws for carrying dogs in the bed of your truck.

 

I dont know but I always ride with my dog in the bed, unchained, and havent had a problem.

Try googling if theres a law.

 

23117. (a) No person driving a motor vehicle shall transport any animal in the back of the vehicle in a space intended for any load on the vehicle on a highway unless the space is enclosed or has side and tail racks to a height of at least 46 inches extending vertically from the floor, the vehicle has installed means of preventing the animal from being discharged, or the animal is cross tethered to the vehicle, or is protected by a secured container or cage, in a manner which will prevent the animal from being thrown, falling, or jumping from the vehicle.

(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) The transportation of livestock.

(2) The transportation of a dog whose owner either owns or is employed by a ranching or farming operation who is traveling on a road in a rural area or who is traveling to and from a livestock auction.

(3) The transportation of a dog for purposes associated with ranching or farming.

 

It used to be the same here in B.C. until a guys dog jumped out of his truck bed hanging by his leash and he drug the dog so long he almost killed it. Now you can get a fine here if your dog isn't tethered in to your truck bed or in a kennel. I just move my bed cleats to the front of my bed and run a ratchet strap through my dogs collar and synch it tight. Works good and keeps it legal

 

So if I'm driving around the city with it going to the dog park. Should I be ok?

 

According to the laws, no. It all depends on if the cop feels like being an asshole, some might hassle you and some might not. It's just a safety thing, my dog did jump out of the back of my truck once going 50 km/h when i didn't have her strapped in, i will never deal with it again. lol she's a crazy rottweiler though

 

You've got a DC. Use it.

 

IMHO i would never let my dog ride in the back of my truck unsecured. Even a small fender bender at low speeds could thrown them out of the bed and cause injury

Even people shouldn't ride back there and they have opposable thumbs to hold on with

 

My dogs all have seatbelts and get strapped inside the cab.

 

If you care enough about your dog to take it to a park you should care enough to not put it in the bed. Like somebody else said, even a minor fender bender could kill your dog.

 

Can't agree with that. I have my dogs in the bed of the truck because they love being there. They are beagles (and a chocolate lab), I use them for hunting (not the lab), they are kept in the house with me, well trained, and do not jump out. I will always carry them in the bed, and I care more about my dogs than 99% of people out there.

I do care enough about my chocolate lab to NOT take him to a park (wouldn't take hunting beagles there anyway). That requires trusting that all other dog owners are up to date on shots and dogs are virus free. I care too much for my dog to expose him to that possibility.

 

The problem isn't what you or your dogs do. Your dogs that you love so much will very like die or be seriously injured in the event of an accident. While those don't happen every day...I'd rather secure them somewhere they'll be protected if it does.

 

specifically in California, if your dog is riding in an open bed, you have to have a short strap to prevent them from going further than the edge...I have seen many owners that have a bed width strap at floor level, then a short lease, it still allows your dog to move side to side and allows for head out in the open wind, but they can't jump out and stay fairly contained in an accident...


I just let my dog ride inside, he is part of the family...

 

My dog rides in the bed if we are in the country and going slow(5-15 mph). otherwise he is in the cab.

He is family and getting thrown out of the bed because I didnt want dog fur on my seats would be devastating.

 

I put mine under the tonneau once for about a mile because he dove in a mud hole. Worried the whole way. Now I have a cap and let him ride in there from time to time, mostly when extremely dirty, but most of the time he is in the back seat.
I'm not in Cali, but I don't think it would be any different if I were.

 

Lol. Dove in a mudhole - i can see that!! Dogs can be dirty when they come out of the woods for sure.

I usually have one or two of my dogs in the cab with me. Sometimes there's enough fur in my truck to make another dog (not in my new truck yet though).

Look, a dog that's in the bed of a truck, or even the cab of a truck, is at risk of injury if not strapped in. How much risk do you want to take? I've been carrying them untethered for 35 years with zero incidents. I train my dogs young, and they won't jump out. In the event of a fender bender, I'm not sure I want them bringing up solid at the end of a tether with a collar around their neck. Yeah sure, I may have an incident tomorrow where an injury occurs to one of my dogs. However, how about a rollover - do you want your dog tethered in your bed or tossed away from the vehicle. There are risks to everything. How many of you let your dogs put their head out the window when you're driving? I had a dog almost lose an eye like that years ago - vet figured it was a bumble bee. When I mention that to people it's something they've never thought of. They would NEVER let their dog ride in the bed, but have no problem with their dog's head out the window at 55 mph. Make your own choice. But don't EVER take the stance that someone who lets their dog ride in the bed does not care about their dogs. I have people bring cut dogs to me to heal them up because they can't afford the vet bills. They know I care and will do what I can. And I will continue to care immensely about my dogs, and I will continue to carry them in the pan of my truck - hopefully incident-free for another 35 years.