Earlier this week a ticket was issued for a pet on drivers lap. Some states have laws requiring pets to be restrained when riding in vehicles. We love our pets and like taking them with us where ever we go. I have been guilty of this myself even though I know better. I have seen an accident caused by a driver who had his little dog in his lap. His dog jumped down by his feet. He couldn’t brake and ended up in the creek at the bottom of a hill. He was lucky they both survived. Loose dogs can cause an accident by jumping or getting scared of road noise!
We put our kids in car seats and we wear our seat belts. We have laws that protect us from drunk drivers, people who text or are on the phone. The focus of the legislation is to protect driver’s lives, pet owners and everyone else on the road. Unrestrained pets are a distraction, and distractions cause accidents. An accident at 50 mph, a 10-pound dog will hit with about 500 pounds of force. If you don’t get killed, it is enough to do serious damage to you and your dog. Imagine the kind of force a large dog would inflict times the force by three! Restraining them in the back is the best due to airbags.
In the old days you could throw the dog in the back of the truck and hope they hold on. Back in the day when dogs roamed the streets and you hope they come home for dinner. It is a new world and our pets are our babies. You don’t let them roam the neighborhood anymore and roaming in the back seat is not safe either. You wouldn’t put your baby in the car unrestrained. Why would you do it to your pet?
They make great car seats for your pet. You can hook them to your seats and your dog can see outside yet still be safely strapped in. Crates are always safe way of travel also. I have dog seats/crates for my canine crew. I also recommend harnesses to restrain pets while driving. I even have these great straps that you can use with your seat belts. My new pup Maya is getting the hang of her new car seat. The seat has a strap I can attach to her harness so she stays seated. It keeps her from jumping around and distracting me. She can get comfortable and lay down when she gets tired. This is much safer for travel.
Let’s go for a safe ride. Do you support a pet restraint law? I do.
Carole Bigwood
My name is Carole Bigwood I am an avid animal lover. Avid animal lover of all shapes and sizes. I am the one who breaks for a squirrel or stops to save a lost pet. Yep, I have a leash and treats on me at all times. I can't wait to share some great rescue stories and some need to know health and safety tips for pets. Some of you may have seen one of my fashion shows for rescues I have every year. For years now I have been designing fashions for pets at www.wildchildpetfashions.com. My runway models are from local rescues and a few special guest pets. Always striving to make them as cute as can be so they will find a family of their own. My reward is to learn how many found homes afterwards. We have some great rescues in the NW. Being raised around pets livestock and little critters has given me a challenge that is rewarding to say the least. My genuine love of animals, has given me a vast knowledge of everything pet related. While my focus will be pet health related and rescues in our area, I look forward to sharing stories and articles on health and rescues that may come in handy. Making a the world a safe place for animals and humans alike. Looking forward to sharing my stories with fellow animal lovers everywhere.