Using Your Pickup Truck for This Should Be Illegal In Iowa [OPINION]

At some point in your life, you've seen someone doing this, and we need these people to stop. I was driving home from a Kwik Star in my neighborhood yesterday when I saw this, and every time I see it, it drives me absolutely nuts.

I wouldn't consider myself a very judgemental person and I'm not someone who wants to tell you how to live your life. I also don't want to tell you what parenting style should be but this is something that just isn't safe. It's not only unsafe for you but it's dangerous for everyone else on the roadway, and the passenger you're bringing with you.

We need to stop driving on public roadways with dogs freely roaming around in the back of our pickup trucks here in Iowa. Imagine losing your dog because for whatever reason he/she jumps out and is hit by a car. You could get in an accident and send your dog flying, even if you're only traveling at 30 miles per hour. Is it really worth the risk?

Iowa has a pretty weird rule when it comes to transporting dogs in vehicles. According to Drive With Us, "there is no law requiring a dog be properly restrained in the vehicle during transport, but, Iowa does  have a law stating that driving with an obstructed view is a violation and can result in a fine." Having a dog roaming around in the back of your truck can be a huge distraction to other people on the roadway and yourself included.

Why don't we put an end to this and just make it illegal to transport free-roaming dogs in the back of truck beds here in Iowa? I know you might have the most well-behaved dog in the world and he/she might love the fresh air but is that really worth the damage that it can cause if for some reason the dog jumps out? This picture alone makes me nervous.

I know you don't want your dog to get hurt by another vehicle and 99.9% of people on the roadway don't want to hit your dog and possibly kill them, so let's stop doing this. Now, if you have a kennel that is secured in the back of your pickup truck, ensuring your, your dogs, and other people's safety on the roadway, that's a different story. It's not something I would ever do but hey, as long as little Fido or Missy is staying safe, I'm all for it.