Dog owners, who don’t have their pooches restrained when travelling, may face fines and possibly have their car insurance invalidated.

An article by Stuff has shed light on new Animal Welfare Regulations, which come into force starting next month. Under the law, dogs on the back of a truck, trailer or ute, travelling on a public road, have to be tied up with a lead or rope, if not in a cage or crate. The only exception to the rule was if farm dogs were actively helping to move livestock along public roads. Driver and vehicle owners caught breaking the law could be fined up to $900.

Timaru dog owner Barry deWit reportedly said he is already prepared for such regulations, saying his dog, Digby, has always travelled with him in his motorhome secured by a harness.

“People may disagree with it but the reality of the matter is you’ve got an animal sitting on your lap, or jumping about in the car so it can’t be a good thing,” South Canterbury road safety co-ordinator Daniel Naude told Stuff. “I’m thinking that it should be common sense.”

“Ensuring their safety is a good thing I think - as long as common sense prevails with people I don’t think there will be too many problems with people abiding by the rules,” South Canterbury Federated Farmers president Jason Grant added.