Are you aware...

We have our dog on a harness,I was told it's now the law because there are more secondary accidents due to dogs not being on a harness ,when people come to assist you open your car door then your dog runs out and causes a second accident,makes sence really.

Dogs must have some sort of harness.

Several years ago, on the M40, a dog jumped through a window of a car on the opposite carriageway. We hit it at speed and could have been killed. A frightening incident; awful for the owners, not to mention shaking us up somewhat.

Our dog is always restrained by a dog safety harness clipped into the care seat belt.

I discovered, to my horror, that my friend used to put him in her car with his lead tied to his collar and then tied to the car seat - I don’t want his head yanked off in a car accident.

People shouldn’t leave dogs in cars while they ‘pop’ to the shops - dog thieves take dogs from cars or outside shops for dog baiting, breeding, to sell, ransom or worse. A hugely underreported crime, AND police forces don’t need to inform anyone I was told.

About time. Dogs get killed in cars too.
Drives me mad to see folkwith little dogs on laps whilst driving. Bloody lunacy.

I was told it was illegal for exactly the reason shysal states. Even a small dog, such as a Yorkie, can knock a passenger out (or worse) if you are forced to stop suddenly or involved in a collision.

A loose dog in a vehicle is a lethal weapon if the car stops suddenly. Dangerous to the humans and animal.
I always used correctly fitted safety harnesses for my dogs.

Had a harness for years before last dog died. The thought of her hurling through the air from the back seat if had to stop suddenly just made me cringe. Sometimes look after friend's dog, although she doesn't have a harness I do slip the seat belt through her collar. It's madness to allow animals to not be secured in a moving vehicle.

My dogs travel in the boot of my hatchback, it's not big enough for a crate, I have a working Cocker Spaniel & a border collie, but I put the rear seat head restraints up to full height & no way can they pass though that. I also have a harness which I've used in the past when the collie had to travel on the rear seat. Comon sense should prevail!!! But there are as usual lots of idiots out there!!!

Yes I was aware and my dogs sit between a dog guard and a tailgate guard.

yes was aware, had dogs all my life and always strapped in the back seat with a proper harness, the amount of people i see with dogs in the front seat, out the window, or even on the dash board is shocking, imagine in an accident!

I didn't know, and apparently neither do our vets, as it was fairly obvious when the vet came out to hour dog (she's a rescue dog and was too nervous to take into the waiting room) that she hadn't been restrained. Maybe notices in vets would be a good idea, to educate patients' owners at least.

This was something I was always arguing with my husband about. He thought simply putting the dog in the back of the car was enough. I pointed out that if he braked suddenly, the dog could come flying through and hit the windscreen. I bought a special safety harness for her, and refused to shut the car door until she was safely secured.

Rosie cat sits on the front seat in her cat carrier box and secured by the seat belt! That means I can drive her to the vets but also scratch her head and ears to reassure her.....driving one handed most of the time! Does that invalidate my insurance?!

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Yes, have a seat belt attachment or a create. I don't think that a lot of people know.

LOL Jane10. I bet she'd love it! She has once or twice been to the vet, and when I go on holiday I drive her to a friend's house to be cared for while I'm away. She seems to enjoy the journey.

Thats kind of you henetha I'm sure the cockatiel enjoys it. Do you go for coffee too? I do hope so!

If people don't care enough to protect their pets that's their business but unrestrained pets could cause accidents. I too have seen pets on drivers knees. Just ridiculous.

On the odd occasion when I take my cockatiel for a drive
she is restrained in her cage.

My cat once escaped from the pet carrier which was strapped onto the seat .We were on the way to the vet, She jumped onto the top of the steering wheel and set the horn going.

How these regulations are enforced is, of course, a problem.
Dog owners however seem to be confused about the law, citing the illegality of leaving a dog (or 4) in a car as the reason for bringing their pets into cafes and shops.

Our dogs always travel behind a dog guard. If we have to park in a place where there's a lot of traffic I lower the back seat and let them out through the side door one at a time.

Do you drive with your dog on the passenger seat?

No, as I have never owned a dog or a cat or anything larger than a hamster, whch chewed a huge hole in DH's sports jacket when we took it on holiday with us in the car and the jacket accidentally fell over the cage.

We do currently have a seven foot long soft toy alligator. DH always puts it on to the back seat when he takes it to rehearsals each week. I think it would be much more fun to put it on the front passenger seat with the seat belt holding it in place.

...and contrary to popular wisdom, it's really hard to bring discrimination cases. My husband has never brought a case although he has had grounds tomany times, because he'd have to pay a lawyer to bring the case and it's expensive and time consuming and there's absolutely no guarantee if the aggreived party wins their legal costs that it will ever be paid

Oh bloody hell. Another excuse for cab drivers refusing to take guide dogs (who are trained to lie in the footwell).