True story from California:
On April 10, drivers witnessed a German shepherd dog jump/fall out of a pickup truck on Hwy 99. The dog eluded capture among oleander bushes in the freeway median… for five weeks.
When police officers finally snared her, she weighed 44 lbs, had a badly broken and infected leg, embedded foxtails under the skin, and was clearly frightened. It is speculated this sweet, domesticated, well trained dog, now called “Freeway Frida,” lived on rainwater and garbage. She will survive.
Point is, Montana does not have a restraint law for dogs in pickup beds. California does. This should never have happened there.
Dogs are extremely social animals, man’s best friend, loyal and smart, but unfortunately some are saddled with stupid owners. It is laughable that Montana would ever consider a restraint law to secure dogs in pickup beds, so please, just do the right thing and secure your pets.
Krista Ober
Stevensville
Stacy Coulter says
Thanks for this letter, Krista. I hate seeing dogs in hot cars, pick-up beds in extreme weather or otherwise neglected. I’m so glad Freeway Frida survived her traumatic ordeal!