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When traveling with your pet, whether going to the veterinarian’s office, on a trip, or just out to run errands, please remember a few very important safety factors.
- Be careful when driving with loose cats in your car. They can get under your feet and affect your ability to get to the break or gas pedals.
- Consider childproofing automatic windows. From personal experience, cats can step on the button and roll down any window while you are driving and you will either lose the cat or have an accident trying to stop the cat from falling out.
- Dogs should never ride loose in the back of a pick up truck. They can jump or fall out and suffer life threatening injuries if they are lucky enough to not be killed from the fall or from being run over by the car behind you. I know, YOUR dog would never jump, but there might be a bad driver in front of you, causing you to slam on the breaks and then the dog could go flying over the tailgate. Intact male dogs can be very interested in a smell of a female in heat at a distance, and his love of you might be overpowered by his hormones, so don’t assume he won’t jump. The best way to transport a dog in the back of a pick up truck is to use a cross tie. This requires two (2) leashes or ropes attached to the collar and tied to both the left and right sides of the bed of the truck. Tie the dog so that he/she can walk to the left side of the truck but no get over the edge and can walk to the right side of the truck but not get over the edge I have also seen people hold the dog’s leash through the sliding back window so the dog was well restrained. One rope or leash in general is not a good idea; I have seen several dogs that have jumped over the edge and were injured or killed by either hanging hung themselves or by being dragged since the rope or leash was only attached to one side of the truck. Leaving the back open with a camper shell and an untied dog is just as dangerous. With the dog leaning out like it is a big window one slam on the break or an enticing smell or sight could be the end of your pet.
- Many pampered pooches sit on their owner’s laps while driving.
It is very unsafe for a driver to have a moving object between them and the steering wheel. A pet moving around and on and off of your lap may be more dangerous and distracting than trying to talk on a cell phone. I have many caring concerned clients that have purchased seat belt harnesses for their dogs. This is the safest way other than in a crate or carrier to travel anywhere with your pet.
- Eye injuries are common with dogs that stick their heads out of windows. Yes, it’s possible that the dog could get hit by a truck that passes too close to you, but it’s much more likely to be hurt by road debris and particles in the air. Your pet could end of with something as minor as an eye infection to something as serious as a perforated cornea and surgical removal of the eye. If your dog must stick its head out the window, please buy it protective eye wear!
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