I agree with Dean Graulich, dogs do not intend to behave “badly” toward people. They go by instinct, experience and what comes naturally to being a dog. (I have three terriers — quite a handful). You did reference two things which you should be made aware of though. One was that you have seen dogs in the back of open pick-up trucks (would they be friendly).
What the public should be made aware of is that it is against the law and highly dangerous to transport dogs in the back of an open vehicle unless they are cross harnessed. Against the law to do so!
(Vehicle Code 23117 entitled “Transportation of animals: enclosure or restraint requirements:” “No person driving a motor vehicle shall transport any animal in the back of a vehicle in a space intended for any load on the vehicle … unless the space is enclosed … (or) the vehicle has installed means of preventing the animal from being discharged, or the animal is cross tethered to the vehicle, or is protected by a secured container or cage, in a manner which will prevent the animal from being thrown, falling or jumping from the vehicle.”)
Anyone seeing a dog in the back of an open vehicle at risk should immediately call the police. Among other penalties, the vehicle may be immediately impounded by the police. Seat belts are the law, so is this vehicle code. You should let your readers know about that.
The second point I wanted to mention to you was when you said there was someone who routinely walked six large dogs off leash on a beach. The law states that a household may only have three dogs. So that would easily have been a case where the Deptartment of Animal Control could have stepped in on the public’s concerns.
Thanks for the article. Call me with any questions, or touch base with Animal Control.
A. Spencer