New Laws That Protect Dogs: Buckle Up And Don't Hunt Bears!

                  Photo courtesy of  The Los Angeles Times

From opposite ends of the country come laws designed to protect canines, but not all agree they'll help either humans or dogs. First up is a proposed New Jersey law that would require a driver to buckle up Fido for rides in the car. Although a recent poll show that citizens of the garden state support this law by a narrow margin, democrats favor it more than republicans and those who don't own a dog favor it by a 10% margin over those who do. But according to this article in the LA Times, there's bipartisan support (86% of those polled) against transporting a dog in a crate strapped to the car roof!

And then there's the law that Governor Jerry Brown just signed in California that prohibits hunters from using dogs to hunt bears and bobcats (Yikes! I've got enough problems with squirrels!). According to this recent article in the LA Times, hunters converged on the California statehouse to protest, arguing that "the bill infringed on their rights as sportsman to use a safe method of hunting." Safe for whom,we're wondering...?

So what do you think of these two very different laws, both primarily designed to protect dogs? And by the way, how many of you buckle up your pooch each time you go joy riding together? We'd love to hear your opinion!

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"Brandi, You're A Fine Girl..." And One Lucky Dog!

   Photo of Brandi the lucky Beagle by Douglas Bovitt/Courier Post

We couldn't believe this story in today's Los Angeles Times about a sweet faced Beagle who took a 70 foot plunge off a bridge in New Jersey, and as the article said, "lived to bark about it." Apparently, the wayward pooch got away from her owner as they were walking the Delaware river front promenade in Burlington, New Jersey a few nights ago, became frightened by oncoming traffic on the bridge and decided the water 70 feet below looked more enticing. We're just glad she's safely back with her owner who, with the help of police, found her later that night. Brandi, you're a fine and one "doggone lucky" canine!

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