Sen. Book responds to controversy surrounding bill to keep dogs from sticking their heads out of car windows

St. Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation) is responding to criticism after proposing a bill that would make it illegal for people to let their dogs stick their heads out of the windows of moving cars in Florida.

Senate Bill 932 would require dogs to be secured in a crate, be restrained with a safety harness or under the physical control of someone other than the driver in a moving motor vehicle on a public roadway.

Dog owners or drivers would be subject to a moving violation citation.

Cat owners would also have new rules to follow under the proposed bill. It would make it illegal to declaw or partially declaw cats if it isn’t medically necessary for the cat.

Owners in violation would be fined $1,000 or be subject to being banned from owning an animal.

If the bill passes, it will take effect on Oct. 1.