Seat belts required for pets in N.J. (doxie, illegal, cats)
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I think its great and should be nationwide. Too many times I've seen someones dog jump into their lap while they're driving... how could that NOT be distracting?
My dog gets harnessed into the back seat, otherwise she runs back and forth from window to window and it's highly distracting for not just the driver, but the passenger too. With the harness, she is restricted to one side of the backseat, one window, and there's zero chance of her seeing a squirrel and trying to get out of the window.
Dogs can jump out of moving vehicles, or even ones sitting at a red light. I've seen it happen before... it didn't end well.
Interesting. My doxie usually sits on my lap or he'll lay down on a blanket beside me. I'm sure it would be safer for him having a seat belt or being in a carrier.
I never see dogs in the backs of pickup trucks here, that is illegal, as it should be. Maybe if someone lives out in the middle of nowhere miles from civilization it wouldn't be so dangerous though, as long as they are driving slowly. But I do often see dogs on drivers's laps here, I think that should be a ticketable offense. Otherwise, I'm not so sure. My dogs have always ridden way in the back of our enclosed SUV, with no danger of hopping onto my lap. Belting them in might be safer for dogs, but I'm not so sure it should be a law.
I think the real question needs to be, Who Should the Rules Apply To?
Those who treat their pets as animals and interacts with them as animals, and deals with pet issues like animals, they should be allowed to travel with their pets as if they are animals. To this group, NO, the law should not apply to them.
The group that treats their pets as people, interacts with their pets as if they were a person or a child, and whenever an issue arises wants everyone to ralley behind the pet as if it was a child, well YES they need to continue that to how the pet travels.
If you accept that your pet is a animal, it's an animal, its a animal . But if you treat the pet as a child or human don't get all pissy when you get your wish!
I think it also has to do with driver's and passenger's safety, not just the dog's, even if the dogs are well behaved and always sit in the back. Think about it. An unrestrained dog is just a living projectile if the driver has to suddenly slam on the brakes or gets into an accident. The dog can go flying into the windshield or crash into another passenger. I imagine the damage gets worse if the dog is big.
A person who wore their seat belt and gets into a car crash may still end up having to go to the hospital if 50+ lbs of dog slammed into their head or neck.
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. But if you treat the pet as a child or human don't get all pissy when you get your wish! 
