North Carolina Dog Car Safety Guide: How to Keep Your Dog Safe in the Car

In addition to yourself and others, it’s also important to keep your pets safe in the car. Educating yourself about North Carolina dog safety will help you have peace of mind when your dog is joining you on the road.

North Carolina Dog Car Safety Guide 2024: How to Keep Your Dog Safe in the Car

Many states, including North Carolina, have specific rules and regulations about how to treat your dog when it is in your vehicle. There are also rules and laws that set guidelines for transporting animals and preventing them from harm. Familiarizing yourself with this information can help you avoid or navigate complex legal scenarios.

Where Should Your Dog Sit in Your Car?

While it can be tempting to have your dog join you on your lap or by your side in the passenger seat, these are not safe places for your pet to sit. If your dog is on your lap, it could distract you, and this could lead to car accidents that harm those in your car and other cars. Furthermore, if your dog is in your passenger seat, it could be injured by your airbag in the case that you get into an accident. Therefore, your dog should sit in the back seat while you’re driving.

How Should My Dog Sit?

There are many ways to make sure your dog is safe and secure when riding in your car. For example, you can utilize a dog carrier or crate, which allows them to be secure in the back but also have enough room to move and breathe. There are also seatbelts for dogs and dog car seats that keep them secure, similar to car seats for children and infants.

Does Your Dog Have to Be Restrained in North Carolina?

According to North Carolina law, your dog does not have to be restrained in your car. However, it is in your and your dog’s interest to keep them secure in your vehicle so that their chances of being hurt in an accident will be reduced.

For instance, consider a scenario in which your dog is excitedly jumping in the back of your vehicle. Your vision through the rear-view mirror is then blocked, and you injure a pedestrian. This situation or one like it can raise several legal complications and can leave you liable for damages if you hurt another person. Instead, keeping your dog in a seatbelt or car seat can prevent you from risking such a scenario.

It is illegal, however, to lock your dog in your car. Any situation in which your animal is transported in conditions that can lead to suffering, injury, or death is against the law in the state, including keeping them unattended in a car. This is because, like children and infants, dogs cannot handle the rapidly rising temperature in a locked car, and they can become sick or die due to overheating in a short span of time.

If you are facing legal consequences after leaving an animal in a vehicle, it is important that you contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.

FAQs About Dog Car Safety Guide, NC

What Can I Use to Keep My Dog Safe in the Car?

There are many types of equipment that you can use to keep your dog safe in your vehicle. For example, you can use a dog seatbelt, a crate, or a car seat to prevent them from moving around in a dangerous or distracting manner. Don’t allow them on your lap or in the front seat to prevent injuries from airbags.

What Is the Law on Dogs in Cars in NC?

While North Carolina law does not prevent you from driving with an unconfined dog, your dog is not allowed to be a distraction in your car. This means that you should avoid having your dog on your lap or in the front seat while you are driving.

What Is the Safest Position for a Dog in a Car?

The safest place for your dog to sit in your car is your back seat. When your dog sits in your back seat, they are safe from the damage that airbags can cause in the event of a collision. They are also less likely to block your vision as a driver. The safest thing you can do for your dog is to restrain them in your back seat with a harness or dog seatbelt. This way, they will not harm themselves or others with unrestricted movement.

Can I Lock My Dog in the Car?

It is not safe to keep your dog alone in your car, and it is illegal to lock them in one in North Carolina. Even if you keep the windows down, it is easy for your pet to become dehydrated or sick when they are alone in a vehicle. If your dog is confined alone, they might become stressed or anxious, and the temperature can rise quickly. Dogs cannot cool down their bodies the same way you can through sweating, and as a result, they can get sick much more quickly.

How Do You Seatbelt a Dog in a Car?

There are seatbelts that are made specifically to keep dogs safe in your car. While it is not legally required that your dog be restrained in North Carolina, it is useful that your dog is secure in your vehicle so that you are less distracted. If you do not use a seatbelt for your dog, you are also risking blocking your vision, which can put many other drivers and surrounding people in danger of getting hurt.

Legal Advice on Safe Driving From a North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer

If you are interested in knowing more about the laws surrounding safe and secure driving in North Carolina, Christina Rivenbark & Associates can help you. With over thirty years of experience representing North Carolina residents in car accident cases, our team is well-versed in the rules of the road and the implications of breaking such rules. Contact us today to learn more.