Dogs in pickups likely a police matter, City of Regina says

Regina police should be in charge of enforcing any tougher rules regarding dogs in the back of pickup trucks, a City Hall report says.

City officials have been looking into possible changes to pet transportation rules since last year.

Concerns have been raised generally about pets in vehicles, with dogs in the back of pickups a particular concern.

"The transportation of unrestrained dogs and cats poses numerous risks for both the animals and motorists," the report going to the city's community and protective services committee later this week says.

"Dogs riding in the back of pickup trucks are particularly at risk of serious injury or death when not properly restrained, and there is also the potential for injury to other motorists in the event an animal jumps, falls, or is ejected from a vehicle."

While there is a Regina Animal Control Bylaw that requires pet owners to control their pets, officials have come to the conclusion that the safety issue is best dealt with through changes to the Traffic Bylaw.

Changes haven't been decided yet, but they could include requiring a safety crate or a safety harness.

The latest report doesn't contain any specific recommendations about whether dogs should be banned outright from the truck beds, however.

The report notes that whatever the changes are, police will be able to pull over vehicles if they see violations of the animal transport rules.

Animal control officers, on the other hand, don't have to the authority to pull over vehicles except in extreme circumstances.

The matter is being sent to the city's Traffic Bylaw working group for further study, with another report expected later this year.