Pet Care Articles
In order to ensure the safety of your dog, there are some basic safety tips you should follow.
Leash Your Dog Before Opening the Car Door
Every year hundreds of pets are lost or injured as they dart out of cars uncontrolled. Be sure to collar, id tag, and leash your dog before opening the car door. When in a strange and busy environment, pets can be frightened and run off into traffic or to places that are difficult to find. Have control of your dog(s) at all times.
Keep Heads, Arms, & Legs Inside the Car
Many dogs love to put their head out of the window or ride in the back of a truck. But if it isn’t safe for children, then it isn’t safe for a pet. Not only are there risks of being hit by other traffic or roadside objects, the ASPCA reports that dogs can also get debris in their eyes and lungs leading to illness. Some dogs have also been known to jump out of car windows while driving or stopped, running into traffic or getting lost.
Keep Pets Out of the Front Seat
Increasingly, accidents are being caused by distracted driving. 30% of people admit to being distracted by their dog while driving, according to the AAA/Kurgo Study.
Pets should never be in the front seat of the car while driving and they definitely should not be on your lap. Pets should be in the back seat or the cargo area. If you have a hard time keeping pets in the back seat, there are a number of products that can contain them. For example, there are several types of Backseat Barriers that fit between the two front seats to keep pets in the backseat. Innovative products, such as the Auto Grass, sit on a car console and deter Fido from taking a step forward and into the front seat.
Restrain Pets for Safety
Another way to keep dogs out of the front seat is to restrain them. There are a number of different options for doing this. Some people prefer to crate their pet, but make sure that crate is secure by using a pet carrier restraint attached to the car’s seatbelt system. If your pet needs a little more freedom, you can use a dog harness and seat belt tether to give them lead to sit or lay down but still protect them in case of a crash. If you know Fido just will not stand for that, you can also connect a dog harness to a zipline that goes the width of the backseat which allows them to walk back and forth. This is not as safe as a seat belt tether, but it will keep them out of the front seat.
Hydration
Make sure your pets have plenty of water to drink in the car or stop frequently to re-hydrate. Many dogs pant excessively in the car making hydration even more essential.
Never Leave Your Dog Alone
Hopefully, it goes without saying that dogs should never be left alone in a car regardless of the weather. The obvious danger is heat. On an 85-degree day, within 10 minutes the car inside temperature can rise to 120, even with the windows cracked open. The other danger is that your pet will attract thieves.