Safer Ride for Pets
There are only some things a dog likes more than cheese, ice cream and riding in the vehicle. Every dog in our possession is always in a hurry to take a ride on the car. People can get jaded, and occasionally they want to feel fresh again, dogs can be that way too.
In the past years, safety of pets inside the car was never an issue for us. We let our dogs wander around in the hind portion of the station wagon, sometimes in the front seat (in fact, our dogs favored the front seat – has a better vision and feeling more like the Big Dog!), and not chained. Devices today that are used to secure pets in the car during rides never existed before. Initially, they were permitted to run around under our feet, jump into our laps from window to window with many licks to thank us for taking them for a ride – all of this happening while I\’m driving my best to stay on the road!
On the other hand, the disadvantage of taking the pets out on a joy ride either to the vet, or just downtown can create a disturbance. When my son was small, we had a Siberian Husky. We always let her ride with us on the way to school. I regularly slide down the window a little so she could breathe some clean air, and sniff out various scents. This one certain morning, distracted by her jumping in the front seat because of a squirrel she saw ran across the road, caused us to land on the ditch. My son hit his head on the windshield (there were no seatbelts then) – everybody was fine, but that experience was a good illustration of how pets can cause car accidents. A small unrestrained dog can be tossed to the floor or a larger dog could be tossed into the windshield or out of the car should you need to suddenly stop. For this to happen or other instances would be distressing to both pet and owner.
At the present time, we have grown more conscious of our safety that\’s why gadgets and devices were produced to ensure us a safer ride for our families and pets (part of the family, as well). These safety gadgets include doggy seat belts, harnesses, pet crates, barriers, door pop/unlock system for quick pet release in case of accidents, heat alarms to protect your pet from heat stroke or cold, and fans to help pets stay cool. Restricting the movement of your pet will make the journey more enjoyable for all aboard. You and other travelers using the seatbelts and pets restrained in the car should be likewise imperative.
A few more suggestions to safeguard your trip are to restrain your pet in the back seat (air bags can potentially harm the dog), no heads sticking out of window – no matter how much your dog begs – as this could harm the eyes from dust or dirt, no smoking in the car, no sitting on your lap, and in no way should you leave your pet in the car with no company during a hot or cold day. Every year, hundreds of pets die because of extreme high or cold temperature. Never let your dog ride in the bed of a pickup unrestrained. Put them in a cage or crate and tie the crate down so it will not move during the trip.
The essential things you need to bring when travelling on the road with your best friend (dog), are water for drinking, some of his favorite playthings, and a bedspread from home to help him get acquainted with his environment.
You would never let your children run loose in the car, so why would you allow your best friend to?
Needing pet travel accessories for your pet? Head out and buy them at Safe Home. There are various pet travel accessories there.