I see people with their animals on their laps while driving....why that isn't as serious as talking on your cell while driving I'll never understand...
Perhaps it was the pilot's service dog...seeing eye dog.
One of my pet peeves is seeing dogs not crated while in a car. Dogs won’t survive an airbag deployment nor will they fare well being thrown from the back of the car to the front in a minor accident.
I travel with my dogs in high impact crates which are secured to the floor of the vehicle.
Even a loose crate in a car is better than a dog moving about or on the lap.