For Those of You With Dogs . . .

[MissL]

please consider getting seat restraints for them when they are riding in your vehicle. It is more important than you know. There are a number of reasons besides the obvious fact that it protects your dog. In an accident:

(1) Your dog could become a projectile inside the vehicle and injure passengers.

(2) Your dog could get thrown some distance from the vehicle and, depending on your ability to communicate, may not be found and either suffer from injuries that go untreated or become lost.

(3) If you are injured, your dog may become overprotective and keep paramedics at bay until it can be restrained, keeping you from getting necessary treatment.

There are other reasons, I'm sure, that I can't think of at the moment. I am posting this in the hopes that others can learn from my experience. About 3 years ago, two of my precious dogs were fatally injured in an automobile accident. Seat restraints may or may not have made a difference, but after the nightmare of dealing with the accident and the aftermath I can tell you that if I had that day to live over I would have done absolutely everything possible to prevent it. No matter how careful a driver you might be, you have no control over others. Please consider it. Your dogs deserve the same protection as you. Thanks for "listening."

MissL

 

[fit_fairy]

MissL, So sorry for your loss!!! That must have been terrible. You are so right. I always have my babies (four legged of course) in their carrier. Probably not as good as a doggie seat belt, but better than nothing. I just care too much about them to have them roam free. My sister lets her yorkie ride free in her convertable-it scares me to death. I have tried to talk to her and she won't listen. I only hope nothing ever happens.

Catherine

http://bestsmileys.com/exercising/1.gif

 

[luvmylabs]

Thank you for posting this, as I was in a minor accident last year with my black lab in the back seat. Fortunately , she was not hurt. But it made me think about this,as she loves to go for rides. She would be out of the front door before I could finish putting my shoes on.

 

[becki716]

This is something I have often thought of, but never have bought them. Now I am going to go and buy the seat restraints and use them everytime by dogs are with me. Thanks for the advice & I am sorry for your loss.

Becki

 

[Gayle]

Hi MissL,

I'm sorry about the loss of your pups.

I agree completely about canine seat restraints. They're great. I'll add that they keep your dog(s) from being a distraction to the driver. I got them for my car after hearing about Stephen King's accident several years ago. He was hit by a minivan while out on a walk. It turned out the driver was distracted by a dog in his vehicle and went off the road.

Rascal wears an Easy Rider harness. It keeps him in the back seat where he belongs, but still allows him enough mobility to be comfortable.

 

[lesliemarie]

I agree with you, I use kennels that have a seat belt slot to hold the kennel in a seat like a child would be belted in. I also see some hunters here who ride with their dogs in the back of the truck and makes me so angry because of one day, I was in a lane and behind a truck that got into an accident and the car behind them rear ended them in the process and the dog fell out and got his leg crushed between the car and that truck and the dog was so scared that he ran off limping, I am not sure if they ever found the dog or not. But that day was burned into my brain and also would like to make sure that those with trucks would restrain the dog in the bed of the truck so the dog can't jump out of fall out.

 

[Repo]

My dogs ride in the back of my tuck(about two miles)when I feed in the mornings....I never go over 40 miles per hour...and I'm on back roads...some of them are not even paved...If I'm going to the vet., feed store, or etc...I cross tie them in the back....If I don't have time to take them with me I sometimes load them up and take them for a ride... they love it!

 

[rjroubi]

I am a new dog owner and dearly want to keep my puppy safe. I am looking for recommendations on types of restraints that others have found effective in cars. (My puppy, Katie, is quite the wiggler.)

 

[Gayle]

Rascal wears an Easy Rider harness, which I see in a lot of pet supply stores, but there are some others that look good too. Actually, it looks like the Easy Rider design has changed a little. Rascal's harness has fleece padding on the front chest piece, but the one's they show at pet-shop.com don't appear to have it. My first Boxer, Gunther, wore the harness made by Canine Auto, and that was as good as the Easy Rider I use now. Here are some links:

http://www.ruffrider.com/
http://www.pet-shop.net/html/car.html
http://www.healthypets.com/autosafety.html
http://www.canineauto.com/

HTH

 

[MissL]

Robin,

My dogs are both in the 100 lb. range, so I use Big Dog Survivor seat restraints. They have wide straps and allow some movement without pinching or pulling so are more comfortable. I believe they are for dogs 80+ lbs. Here is the link:

http://www.canineauto.com/survivor.htm


For smaller dogs, Drs. Foster & Smith offers a variety of seat restraints. I have not used any of them so cannot vouch for them, but here is the link:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavResults.cfm?N=2001+113233


lesliemarie mentioned kennels with seat belts slots. You could probably find those at Petsmart or Petco, or perhaps she can offer some input on that.

I am glad that you have chosen to protect your pets. I noticed that a few of you on this thread started using seat restraints after witnessing or hearing about some tragedy. I hope that my misfortune will prompt others to do the same. I am certain Miss Mattie and Payton would approve. Thank you.

MissL