Overview

• A vet known as The Net Vet’s Dr Alex urges owners never to have a dog loose in the car and to use harnesses, crates or carriers.
• Failure to restrain can lead to prosecution for careless driving, with courts able to issue up to nine penalty points alongside fines.
• Government guidance notes drivers face disqualification if they reach 12 or more points within three years, with bans starting at six months.
• Leaving a dog in conditions where it may suffer can be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, carrying up to 51 weeks’ imprisonment or a fine up to £5,000.
• Insurer Zego reports that over half of owners travel with dogs and that common breaches include unrestrained pets in the front seat, on laps or leaning out of windows.