INDReporter

Bill would require crates for dog in pickup truck

by Walter Pierce

If you're driving on Louisiana's interstates, the days of letting your pooch have free range in the bed of a pickup truck might be nearing an end.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - If you're driving on Louisiana's interstates, the days of letting your pooch have free range in the bed of a pickup truck might be nearing an end.

The House Transportation Committee backed a bill Tuesday that would require dogs be placed in a ventilated crate if they are in back of a truck or on a utility trailer, when on an interstate highway.

Violators would face a fine up to $150 for one dog and $50 for each additional dog.

The proposal by Kenner Rep. Tom Wilmott heads to the full House.

An official from the Louisiana Humane Society said his organization has gotten several calls about dogs being injured or killed after falling off the back of a moving truck.