Daily Podcast: Britney Spears is a Danger to Dogs

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Sharp-eared listeners to the TTAC daily podcast know that Justin shares his life with a number of canine companions. Single-minded bastard that I am, I've never asked my colleague how many dogs are in situ (situ!), their names or occupations. But I do know that Justin's father is a veterinarian. So clearly, Justin's a dog person and a pistonhead. As such, Justin does not follow the piss-poor example of pop star princess Britney Spears. He doesn't drive with a dog on his lap. Now I know that a mini-rant on the dangers of driving with a domesticated pet perched on your private parts doesn't really qualify for TTAC's hard-edged tell-it-like-it is news, views and reviews coverage; but this really sticks in my proverbial craw. If your local state government can (and does) ban drivers from talking on their cell whilst automobiling, why would they let license holders pilot a couple of tons of metal with a simple-minded animal (sorry Rosie) between them and the car's major controls? Come to think of it, I wonder if our spiritual leader, ex-Car & Driver editor and part-time paramedic Stephen Wilkinson can tell us what happens when an airbag explodes into a dog sitting on a driver or passenger's lap? Or, more generally, what happens when a front seat passenger gets hit with an unsecured pet flying through the air at 50 or 60 mph? Seriously folks, get a pet seat belt. Or, potentially, die.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Robert Schwartz Robert Schwartz on Jan 22, 2008

    I had a neighbor who would tool around in her MB Gelaendewagen smoking a cigarette, talking on her cell phone, with her little dog sometimes in her lap, and at other times, bouncing around like a super-ball. Fortunately, she moved far away.

  • David C. Holzman David C. Holzman on Jan 22, 2008

    Good for Justin, and good for his father. Veterinarians are among the best people there are.

  • Timoted Timoted on Jan 23, 2008

    Having logged tens of thousands of miles a year in a previous job, there are many other things that go on between the steering wheel and the driver's seat that scare the buhjeebas out of me. Can there be a law that says just use common sense?

  • BTEFan BTEFan on Jan 23, 2008

    Yikes. UnFitney Spears is a danger to more than just her dogs. I am thinking her kids, herself, quality music, the reputation of trailer trash. I just can't understand why there are not more laws like in Missouri. And why they aren't enforced. It just seems like common sense. Then again, one could look at it as social Darwinism.

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