Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney admitted he took the family dog on vacation, but instead of traveling safely inside the car with the rest of the passengers, the Irish Setter named Seamus rode on the top of the vehicle. After the 12-hour road trip from Boston to Ontario, there was dog poop (call it fecal matter or excrement, if you wish) on the roof and windows of the station wagon.

Yes, Romney did have the dog in a carrier, but that would not have protected Seamus from airborne road debris that could have struck the dog at high speed. If a vehicle traveling in front of you kicks up a pebble, you know how much damage that can do to your windshield. Imagine if that rock hit your dog in the face. Or worse, what if the restraints failed and the carrier was flung from the vehicle onto the road. Common sense tells most of us that this is just not a safe or humane way for animals to be transported.

According to a Time/CNN article, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has taken Romney to task since the incident came to light. In the report, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said: “…it is commonsense that any dog who's under extreme stress might show that stress by losing control of his bowels: that alone should have been sufficient indication that the dog was, basically, being tortured."

The former Massachusetts governor later said his dog “enjoyed” riding in the rooftop carrier and dismissed PETA’s criticisms, stating that the organization is “not happy that my dog likes fresh air.” Animal rights and animal welfare groups have criticized Romney in the past for quail hunting and for including a rodeo exhibition as part of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, while he was CEO of the International Olympic Committee.

In some states - including California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island and Virginia - it is illegal for animals to be transported unsafely, such as in the back of pick-up trucks. In fact, according to Massachusetts law, it is illegal for anyone to carry an animal “in or upon a vehicle, or otherwise, in an unnecessarily cruel or inhuman manner or in a way and manner which might endanger the animal carried thereon.” Animal cruelty investigators reportedly said that Romney’s actions could have been illegal but that the statute of limitations has probably run out on the 1983 incident.