Owners whose dogs enjoy open-window breezes during car rides would be required to restrain their animals when the vehicles are moving if proposed legislation is signed into law.
Filed on Feb. 15 by State Sen. Lauren Book (D-Broward), SB 932 would require that owners restrain their dogs by using a harness or pet seat belt designed for use in a motor vehicle during car rides, or by using a crate when the animal is being transported in the open bed of a pickup truck.
At the same time it forbids owners from driving while their dogs are sitting in their laps, or in any other position that could allow the dog to interfere with the driver’s operation of the vehicle.
Those found in violation of the law could be issued a moving violation.
The proposed legislation also requires that by Jan. 1, 2024, the Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) post on its website a publicly accessible registry of persons convicted of animal abuse offenses.
Finally, the measure would prohibit cosmetics manufacturers from making, importing for profit, selling, or offering for sale in this state any cosmetic developed or manufactured by using animal testing, and prohibits anyone from declawing a cat.
If passed, SB 932 would take effect on July 1, 2023.
