Is Putting Your Dog in the Back of the Truck Cruel?
Stefani Pastoor, of Salem Oregon wrote an opinion in the Statesman Journal, a local paper there, saying he physically gets ill when he sees dogs riding in the back of pickups. He goes on to say that it’s especially worse in the heat where he illustrates two examples of obvious cruelty one of which is this:
“Today I saw a woman in a pickup with her poor panting dog in the back, not secured, not covered and protected from the sun; his feet and body not protected from the scalding heat of the bed of the truck — and the woman was all alone in the cab of her truck. The dog could easily have been riding in the cab with her, completely safe and protected.”
Now no normal caring person would argue this, and hopefully they would call this in as cruelty – but this is actual cruelty. Riding safely in the back is not. I understand the heat but that goes for inside the truck too, if you’re that dumb to lock your dog in the truck, parked, without the ac on. But what makes him sick about the dog being in the back in otherwise ideal temperatures and conditions?I have always let my dogs choose what they want to do, lay down by the fire place, rest outside under a tree. Bear, he might even choose a puddle of water of mud to pass away a few hours. It makes me happy to know that my dog is doing something that makes him happy. When it comes to riding in the truck, he gets the same choice; in the cab, or in the back. My dog personally would prefer to be inside, but I know many dogs that would absolutely jump at the opportunity to ride in the back. Why? They love the wind in their face, the panoramic view, and just all of the stimulation a hayride-like cruise might provide. This is a dog’s favorite past-time! And if you use reasonable, sensible care, it can be a safe and enjoyable ride for all. Common sense tells you not to throw your dog in the back under scolding hot circumstances or at speeds more than 20 mph, which ideally limits you to the back roads of a ranch or slow climbs to your favorite camping spot. And yet people like this have all but taken that away too.
Stefani, as a reporter, should be able to note the difference and not get “ill” when a dog could very well have made the choice, is safely secured, and actually be enjoying him or herself. This is the type of person that contributes to the laws that punish everyone for the ill-fated actions of a few. This cavalier ignorance is just as bad as the inconsiderate dog owner as our freedoms will manifestly shrink more and more as a result of it.
