Here in the Colorful state of Colorado, we take animal cruelty very seriously.  As Coloradans, we love our companions and like to take them everywhere we go.  In many instances, the form of transportation is limited to an open-bed truck.  If an open-bed truck is the only option for traveling and transporting an Animal of any type, the Animal should be kept in the passenger area of the vehicle.

• We the people of the United States and the State of Colorado demand a law requiring (1)all transportation of animals in open-bed pickup trucks/flatbed trucks/or the like to be transported in a safe manner within the passenger cabin area of the vehicle.  (1a)If the animal must be transported within the open-bed area of the truck then the animal must be contained within an enclosure such as a transport crate, (1b)and the crate to be secured to the open-bed truck in a way to prevent shifting of said crate while operating the vehicle. (1c)In no circumstances shall an animal be permitted to travel in an open-bed pickup truck/flatbed truck/or the like on top of a tool chest/crate/drawer either.

“When you drive with a loose dog in the back of your truck, you’re taking a huge risk and placing your dog and other motorists in danger,” says Chuck Mai, a vice president with AAA Oklahoma. “Even if a dog is trained, we’re talking about an animal who responds to stimuli on impulse. This irresponsible decision can start a deadly chain reaction on the road.”

• Is It Legal?

Transporting unrestrained dogs in low-sided truck beds has been banned in a handful of states, including California and New Hampshire, and municipalities including Indianapolis, Cheyenne and Miami-Dade. However, in the vast majority of jurisdictions, it’s not even illegal to transport children in this manner, so we must rely on common sense and education to protect children and pets alike.

• How You Can Help

One can feel terribly helpless witnessing a loose dog in a pickup truck. The best course of action is to try to get the vehicle’s license number (if you can do so while remaining safe) and call the local police. Rather than dialing 911, Jill Buckley, ASPCA Senior Director of Government Relations, suggests storing your police precinct’s phone number in your cell phone." (Cruelty Alert, 2011 ASPCA)

• What needs to be done?

All too often reports of Animal Cruelty are made against individuals transporting their Pets and other Animals in the back of open-bed pickup trucks.  Regardless of chain/leash/restraints placed on the animals, there is always a risk of injury. Injury not only to the animal, but to pedestrians and other motorists as well.

1. The animal can become entangled/hung from the provided chain/leash/restraint and receive serious injury or death.
2. The animal can exit the open-bed truck on their own wish regardless of the owners belief that the animal would not exit the vehicle due to training.
3. The animal can be "tossed" from the vehicle when erratic maneuvers take place on the road way, injuring the animal and endangering other motorists/pedestrians.
4. The animal can become entangled/crushed/pinned/injured by other objects in the open-bed or between the open-bed and passenger cabin.

Citation:
Cruelty Alert: Dogs in Pickup Trucks. (2011, September 22). Retrieved July 2, 2015, from https://www.aspca.org/blog/cruelty-alert-dogs-pickup-trucks

Figure.1.(image) http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/dog-safety-tips-truck-owners/