from pettravelcenter.com
Recently, New Jersey passed an
animal transportation law. In brief, any
person who transports a pet in a cruel or inhumane manner is guilty of a
disorderly persons offense. Basically,
pets cannot be traveling in the back of a pickup truck, nor can they have most
of their body hanging out with their paws on the windowsill. Many people have latched on to this news and
incorrectly reported that owners of pets who are not buckled in will be
ticketed. While we highly recommend
buckling your pet into the car (find a pet seat belt harness here) it is not
required by law.
Many pets love the car,
especially dogs. They like to run around
and stick their head out the window while the wind flies up their
nostrils. Unfortunately, an unrestrained
pet can turn into a projectile when there is a sudden stop or traffic
accident. It’s quite dangerous to let
your pet be loose in the car. So, if you decide you want to buckle your pet in,
it’s ok for them to be near a window to stick out their snout. By all means, they should be allowed to look
out a window if they enjoy that.
What if you need to transport a
pet who hates the car? This is a bit harder. The best way for an unhappy animal
is to place them in a mobile kennel or carrier, and cover them with a blanket
or towel. Don’t keep lifting the towel
and talking to them, because it will cause more excitement to an
already-stressed animal. It can be hard
if they cry for attention. If your pet
is crying at the start of a car ride, make sure they are not hurt. Then, keep your attention AWAY from your
pet. This is the best thing for your
pet, however cruel it may sound. Many
pets will settle down and sleep if nobody makes them excited. Make sure the pet
is kept cool, and stop frequently to walk them.
If you don’t know how
your pet reacts to the car, try a short drive around the block. If they get too stressed, you may want to
talk to your veterinarian about a mild sedative to calm them.
