09/24/24

Sandpoint, Idaho 

I had a almost two year old chocolate lab. CHACO, That I love to death. I adopted him from an animal shelter about a year and a half ago. I work in the fishing industry in Alaska, so I am gone for some length of time. My roommates take care of him when I'm gone. Well they decided It was a good idea to take him for a ride in a pickup truck in the back of the bed. They had one leash on him which was long enough to hit the road. Now being just shy of 2 years old, he is still a puppy, hyper and never ridden in the back of a truck and they took him on the highway. Needless to say, he did jump out and was dragged for an unknown distance. The injuries he sustained we're so bad. The emergency vet that I spoke to was even horrified. At this point, we both agreed the best resolution was to have him put down.He was suffering.

This tragedy could have been avoided if Idaho had a law in place requiring a 2 point harness in the back of pick up trucks for the transportation of dogs or other animals. As I understand it there is no law in place as of right now.

I can only imagine the terrifying feeling Chaco was going through being pulled behind the truck at 60 miles an hour. No living creature should ever have to go through that. That is why I would like to start a petition to adopt a law for Idaho for transportation of animals in the back of a pickup truck and having the state enforcing a law to save lives.

Yes, Chaco what's a chocolate lab, some might say he was just a dog, but he was a family member, and we'll be greatly missed....

Rest in peace my friend.