Should I Let My Dog Stick Its Head Out the Car Window?
One of the most attention-getting sights when driving down the road is seeing a dog with its head sticking out of the car window, enjoying the breeze. As cute and whimsical as many of us find this, lawmakers in the Sunshine State aren’t as amused.
A new Florida bill, SB932, was recently passed that makes it illegal to allow your pet to “extend its head or any other body part outside a motor vehicle window while the person is operating the motor vehicle on a public roadway.”
In addition, dogs traveling in cars must also be on a harness or a pet seatbelt.
Why Do Dogs Like to Hang Their Heads Out of Car Windows?
With dogs’ heightened sense of smell, it should be no wonder that they love to stick their heads out of the car window and let all of the scents in the air wash over them. They enjoy feeling the wind and sunshine and can smell more than you and I can even imagine.
Why There Is a Reason for Concern
The Humane Society explains that the wind carries dirt and debris, which can potentially get into the dog’s eyes and mucous membranes when its head is left exposed.
Also, any body part is left vulnerable to being seriously hit by a foreign object while driving down the road. Keep in mind that even a tiny little rock can do significant damage when you are driving 60 MPH.
Ear damage is something many people don’t really think of. Repeated wind can cause the tissues in your dog’s ears to become vulnerable to damage.
If you are in a car accident, your dog could be crushed between two cars. If your dog falls out of the car, he or she could be seriously injured and may not live to see another day.
Should You Let Your Dog Hang Their Head Out the Window?
Having dogs secured inside of a crate or within a seatbelt is inarguably best for the safety of everyone, should there be a car accident. In addition to this, having a dog sit in your lap while driving is highly distracting for you and for cars around you. Keeping your family and your dog safe should be priority number one, no matter how cute and fun allowing your dog to hang their head out the car window can be.
