BEND, OR -- It’s a common sight on our roads, year round, dogs standing in the open bed of a pickup. But, as our weather warms again, animal welfare experts urge people to keep dogs out of truck beds. Lynne Ouchida, with the Humane Society of Central Oregon, says the back of a pickup can get too hot for a dog’s paws, "If they don’t have a cab on top, it’s exposed metal. Next time you see a truck in a parking lot, put your hand on that truck bed and it is super hot. A lot of times, dogs can be dancing around." She says they dance around to try to relieve the pain in their feet, but it makes them unstable and more prone to falling out when the truck turns a corner. "Dogs falling out of trucks, veterinarians definitely see that. On top of all the debris and then, there’s no shade if they’re in that truck bed," Ouchida tells KBND News. 

National surveys suggest as many as 100,000 dogs die each year from falling or jumping from moving trucks. Ouchida suggests allowing dogs to ride inside the cab of the pickup, and don’t leave them in a parked truck or car. "Safest place for your pet is at home where it’s cool.