nsw dog in car rules

In NSW, you can take the dog for a spin, but not on your lap—animals mustn’t interfere with your control of the vehicle. Inside the cabin there’s no blanket law forcing a harness, but an unrestrained dog becomes a furry projectile in a crash, so use a proper restraint or crate. On a ute tray the rules are stricter: the dog must be secured with a suitable short tether or in a crate, be protected from heat, and have no chance of jumping or being dragged. Letting the dog hang its head out the window looks cute until a cop (or the RSPCA) points out the injury risk—just don’t. Leaving a dog in a hot car can amount to animal cruelty in NSW, with serious penalties. In short: restrain it, keep it cool, and never let it distract the driver—that’s how you stay on the right side of the law.