Animals riding in a vehicle should be in a cage, crate, traveling harness, or otherwise restrained. Unrestrained pets are the cause of many accidents, and are more likely to be seriously injured if an accident occurs.
NEVER allow your pet to ride in the back of an open pickup truck, even if restrained. Cages or crates may be thrown out in the event of an accident. Animals who are tied may attempt to jump out, resulting in strangulation or dragging the animal behind the vehicle.
This is what NOT to do!
Do NOT let your dog ride with his head out of the window. Dogs may jump or fall out of open windows of vehicles, or have severe head injuries caused by accidents or being hit by objects such as tree branches hanging onto a street. Small particles could enter your dog’s eyes or ears causing severe injury.
NEVER LEAVE YOUR DOG IN A HOT CAR even if you park in the shade. Cracking the windows does not keep the temperature at a safe level. Just a few minutes in a car on a sunny or hot day can cause irreversible damage or death.
Watch this video with Dr. Kathy Hillestad to learn more about dog seat belts & car restraints:
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Rattie Lucky and mutt Ilka wear harnesses in the car. GSD puppy Leontine is put a crate. The cats are crated in the car. Nobody rides loose, unless it is an emergency, like the time I fell, and my husband had to come pick up Lucky, Ilka, and me, because I couldn’t walk.
What drives me crazy is when I see someone driving with their dog in their lap. How can you pay attention to driving when you have a dog in your lap? Especially a dog that is hanging out the window, and you are holding the dog with one hand, and (I hope) the steering wheel with the other?
Dogs loose in trucks are all too common down here. They are usually seen hanging over the edges of the bed, or else running from side to side, and I’m always scared they are going to fall out in front of me.
I hate to say it-our dog rides on the drivers lap. my husband is theee safest, slowest driver and he is actually the one who started this whole business-(I’ll cop on him) Your article has made me think, and what i think is Zoie needs to be leashed, but I would like to try something so she can look out from the back seat-any good products or ideas? Keep it as inexpensive as you can.
Thanks for the article. It makes so much sense, we must change our ways.