WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A South Florida lawmaker has filed a bill that would make it illegal for dogs to stick their heads out of windows of moving vehicles.
State Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, filed SB 932 – a comprehensive 29-page bill related to animal welfare – on Friday.
If passed, the bill would make it against the law for a dog "to extend its head or any other body part outside a motor vehicle window while the person is operating the motor vehicle on a public roadway."
The bill would also penalize drivers traveling with dogs "on the running board, fender, hood, or roof of a motor vehicle, in the trunk of a motor vehicle, or in an enclosed motor vehicle space intended for cargo."
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It would also make it illegal for dogs to travel "on a trailer that is being towed by a motor vehicle."
Other provisions of the bill would prohibit a person from declawing a cat "unless the procedure is necessary for a therapeutic purpose." Under the bill, a veterinarian who performs a declawing that isn't for therapeutic purposes could have his or her license revoked.
Another provision, known as the "Humane Cosmetics Act," would ban cosmetic testing on animals for any product that would only be used for human application.
Book told WPTV in a statement that her motivation stems from the advice of veterinarians and animal advocates.
"Our family has three dogs — two of which are almost 175 pounds each and love sticking their heads out the window — so I welcome and appreciate all public comment on this issue, which is only one piece of a complete proposed overhaul of the state's animal welfare system as brought to me by veterinarians and advocates," Book said. "We can easily amend this piece out of the bill while protecting the intent of the animal welfare community and vets who proposed the policy because of unintended injuries they've treated — and we will."
Dr. Boaz Man, medical director at Boca Midtowne Animal Hospital, agrees that the risk isn't worth the reward.
"If you can prevent some type of accident from happening, then why not, you know, take that precaution?" he said.
Man said he's seen too many instances in which dogs have been injured because they took a leap out the window.
"It's always more than I needed to see because it was preventable," Man said. "So, it doesn't matter how many, but I've seen them jump out of cars."
For some perspective, it's not against the law in Florida for adults to ride in the back of a pickup truck.
"Pets should be treated as well as people are and their lives have value and we need to protect that," Man said.
If the bill becomes law, it would take effect July 1.
