Senate Scuttles Dog Safety Bill

This past legislative session, Rep. Thomas Willmott of Kenner introduced a bill into the House that requires dogs to be crated while riding in the back of pick-up trucks on interstate highways.

According to some estimates, 100,000 American dogs die each year from riding unsecured in the back of pickup trucks. They are ejected after an accident, fall out accidentally as the vehicle is motion or slide out the back of an open tailgate.

There is a cost—both in terms of lives lost and money spent by the Humane Society and other rescues to repair broken limbs, rehabilitate and re-home injured dogs.

The dog owner’s irresponsibility also puts other drivers at risk as they swerve to avoid the animal.

“[Crating] is a safety precaution like wearing a seatbelt,” says Jeff Dorson, director of the Humane Society of Louisiana.

So, the bill’s passage seemed like a no-brainer and, indeed, it was. Almost.

HB470 breezed through the House committee and floor and through Senate committee without opposition. Then, Senator Sherri Smith Buffington of Keithville handled the legislation in the Senate.

“There was opposition from a couple of independent-minded senators,” Dorson says. “One senator told the bills’ author that he likes to look in his rearview mirror and see his hunting dog’s ears flap in the breeze.”

Although Dorson declined to name those legislators, he says the pro-hunting contingency disparaged the bill as unnecessary and an infringement of Louisianans’ right to transport dogs any way they please. The group also held enough sway to cause the bill’s withdrawal. By mid-June, Sen. Buffington only had 10 of the 20 votes needed for ratification.

While disappointed, Willmott, Buffington, the Humane Society, Coalition of Louisiana Animal Advocates and other animal welfare organizations are far from defeated. They intend to reintroduce the bill in 2014 and hope to reach out to the opposing senators’ constituents who are concerned about canines.

Patches is a laid-back lady, who loves attention and will occasionally climb into a lap. She gets along well with kids, dogs and other cats. This four-year-old has a condition that requires her to be on a special diet, which is only slightly more expensive than regular kibble.

Jerri is extremely independent and is content to play alone; but, she gets along with other cats and is good with dogs. This amber-eyed tuxedo calico also enjoys sitting in the window and relaxing in the sun.

All these pets have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, heartworm tested and microchipped. Many other adoptable dogs, puppies, cats and kittens are available through Capital Area Animal Welfare Society.