Every year thousands of animals are injured, die or become lost in car accidents. They can be thrown against dashboards, windows, seat backs or floors.
“Wearing your seat belt costs you nothing,” states Nicole Nason of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “but the cost for not wearing one certainly will.” This applies to pets too! To a 50 lbs. dog traveling 30 mph, that will feel like nine 170 pound men pushed him against a brick wall (“ruff”-ly 1,500 lbs of force)! Unrestrained pets that survive accidents may still suffer devastating injuries. Others escape the car through broken windows and thrown-open doors only to end up roaming highways to be struck by another vehicle.
Cause of Accidents
Dogs sometimes are the cause of the accident in the first place. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), animals moving around in cars are the third worst distraction to a driver ranking only behind children and playing with the radio/CD player.
Ways to Keep Your Pets Safe
No excuses! Buckle Fido into a special pet seatbelt even if it’s only a ride around the block. Pet restraints easily attach to your vehicle’s seat belt and allow your pet to sit up or lie down. Many varieties can be purchased at pet stores and online. Wire cages or plastic crates are also good choices as they shield pets from falling objects. Just make sure the crate too is secured so that it along with your dog does not become a projectile during an impact or sudden stop. A few more considerations before you pull away from the curb…
Do Not Let Your Dog Ride With His Head Out the Window
Gravel, tree branches, dust and pollen may result in infection, injury or trauma to his eyes. If his head is out the window and his paw steps on a power button, the window could close on his neck!
Do not Let Your Dog Ride “Shotgun”
If the airbag is deployed it could crush a small pet while airbags often result in larger dogs severing their own tongues from the force of their teeth slamming together. This would place your dog in an emergency situation incurring heavy blood loss.
Never Let Your Dog Ride Unrestrained in the Bed of a Pick-up Truck
Many cities now prohibit this practice altogether while others are considering laws to make pet restraint mandatory in all vehicles. If truck bed transport is absolutely necessary, be double doggone sure that:
- The space is enclosed or has side and tail racks to a height of no less than 46 inches extending vertically from the bed;
- The dog is cross-tethered to the vehicle using a harness that encircles his shoulders and rib cage (not a neck collar);
- Your pet is protected by a secured container or cage.
Several campaigns have been launched to help you become proactive for the safety of your pet. Search Crash Test Doggie on YouTube to see what can happen to your dog if he is not restrained in your vehicle. Check out a program called Bark Buckle Up which educates pet parents on how to correctly put on and take off pet safety belts, and visit No Pets Left Unbuckled .
Don’t wish you had buckled-up and allow a preventable injury to separate you from your four-legged best friend. Love him, cherish him and keep him safe!
