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Does Your Pooch Buckle Up?
Posted by Guest Blogger at 12:02 PM | Permalink | 1 Comment
According to a one recent study, 60 percent of dog guardians have been distracted by their canine companions while driving, and only 17 percent use some sort of restraint system for their furry friends. Using a travel harness, carrier, or restraint for your companion animal protects you and your dog by minimizing distractions while driving and safeguarding your animal from being thrown about in an accident.
Penny, my rescued spotted princess, accompanies me to work every day, and before starting our commute, we both buckle up. In addition to a restraint, she also has a hammock-type seat cover that keeps the seat clean from her hair and serves as a barrier between the front and back seats. Although Penny isn't typically a distraction (car rides equal nap time for her), I invested in a harness for her to keep her safe in case of a crash. If a wreck occurs at just 35 miles per hour, a 60-pound dog can exert 2,700 pounds of force on impact!
There are plenty of companies that manufacture travel safety gear for companion animals, and you can find them at pet supply stores or through online retailers. A simple search online produces dozens of results. Protect yourself, other drivers, and your furry friends by making sure your animals are safely secured while driving.
Where do you go with your dog in the car? Does your pooch buckle up?
This article was written by Lauren Gordon and originally appeared on PETA.org.
Posted to Home & Garden | Posted to Tags: companion animals, Dogs, safety, seatbelt, Travel
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thomas moore says...
May 11th, 2012, 5:47 pm
I don't keep my little dog restrained in the car and he goes everywhere with me. Yesterday i was involved in a auto accident where the other driver ran a red light and hit us so hard it shook me up and almost knocked out my dog. He was sitting on by lap and was thrown violently against the passenger window. That window is usually left open for him but not that day, thank God. It was a major road with so much traffic there is no doubt in my mind that had that window been open he would have been ejected and run over by a car. I've had this little dog for 11 years and it would have torn me up if anything had happened to him. Now i am extremely cautious of other drivers when we go for a drive, for his sake.