Dogs object to Bill Making it Illegal for Dogs to Stick Their Heads out of Car Windows

Dogs object to Bill Making it Illegal for Dogs to Stick Their Heads out of Car WindowsShow more

There are many ridiculous laws being proposed recently (see, for example, "Bill Would Establish Official State Aroma" (Feb. 15, 20,23); "Montana Bill Would Ban Teaching Science” (Feb. 10, 2023); but this just means that the state legislatures have returned to session. The new Florida SB 932 addresses several "animal welfare", issues. It is generally fine. My dog was furious to learn that his Florida brethren, and sistren, would be prohibited from looking out of cars windows if the bill becomes law. He pooped right away after I told him, and he does this sometimes if he's angry about new legislation....

There are many ridiculous laws being proposed recently (see, for example, "Bill Would Establish Official State Aroma" (Feb. 15, 20,23); "Montana Bill Would Ban Teaching Science” (Feb. 10, 2023); but this just means that the state legislatures have returned to session. The new Florida SB 932 addresses several "animal welfare", issues. It is generally fine. My dog was furious to learn that his Florida brethren, and sistren, would be prohibited from looking out of cars windows if the bill becomes law. He pooped right away after I told him, and he does this sometimes if he's angry about new legislation. These two events seem to be connected, I think. Florida Sen. Lauren Book filed SB 932 on February 17. It seems to be okay, at least to my knowledge. It would, for example, prohibit the use of animals to test cosmetics (with some exceptions), declawing cats and tethering a pet (or dog) outside during a hurricane or similar event. This last one may already be covered under the general animal cruelty statute, but I don’t see any problem with making it explicit. Similar to the above, I think most of section 316.20045 (Transportation dogs in motor vehicles), is acceptable. For example, a person shouldn't "ride with a canine companion while operating a motorcycle on public roads," which is what people in Florida seem to be doing. The only way to properly transport a dog on a motorcycle is to put him in a pair of funny glasses and strap him into a sidecar that has flames or shark teeth painted on it. Although the bill does not specifically require this, I believe that it is the intention. Also, anyone transporting dogs on the running board, roof, fender, or hood of a motor vehicle should take it off. I don't object to them. Section 316.20045(1)(c) makes it illegal for a dog's head to be extended outside of a motor vehicle window, while the driver is driving on a public road. This aggression is not allowed to stand. One report on the bill mentioned a pet-travel blog, whose authors stated that canine head protrusion was "a very dangerous behavior" and should be avoided. They write that it exposes dogs' eyes to dirt, rocks, dust, and other debris, which is too dangerous to be tolerated. The first automobiles didn't have windshields. Their top speed was 45 mph. Drivers used goggles to protect their eyes in those early days. You wouldn't think of putting your head out the window at 45 MPH without windshields protecting you. Don't let your dog out of the window, then! Although I wouldn't go at 45 mph, part of my hesitation stems from watching Hereditary. If you find the implications of this movie disturbing, I strongly advise that you not watch it. It would be a good idea to consider it for me and my dog at slower speeds. The bill as it stands is applicable regardless of speed. Concerning the danger to dogs' eyes from travelling at 45 mph, I would like to point out that dogs can run that fast (and animals that run faster), and that their eyes seem to have adapted even without the new goggles humans invented. That's why I don't worry too much about it. I'm less worried about "trauma" from "constant and fast flapping of pinnae [earflaps]] against your dog’s head from high speed winds," which the blog also mentions as a potential risk. A leather cap would be sufficient to cover the dog's head, even if it were a real danger. Is that possible? He can't get out of my private plane while I drive around the neighborhood. I find his pinnae fine. A dog-restraint device is a good idea to prevent him from jumping out of windows or falling out. Fine. The Florida bill is too restrictive as it stands. This provision appears to be DOA. On Wednesday, Sen. Book told Car and Driver (which had reached out for comment on this car-and-driver-related issue) that she...