SAVING ORPHAN SOULS RESCUE - Associated Risks For Dogs In Vehicles
The risks associated with pets in vehicles does not end with heatstroke. Just as you should always wear your seatbelt to protect you in case of a collision, your pet should always be properly restrained while in the vehicle. That means a secure harness or a carrier.
A loose, small pet could crawl down in the footwell, interfering with use of the brake or accelerator pedal. A small pet sitting in your lap could be injured or killed by the airbag or could be crushed between your body and the airbag in a collision, and a large pet leaning across your lap can interfere with your view of the road and can be injured by the air bag in a collision. Unrestrained pets could be thrown out or through windows or windshields in a collision. And not only could your pet be injured in the collision, but it might also increase your risk of collision by distracting you and taking your attention away from where it should be – on the road.
Before you put your pet in the vehicle, ask yourself if you really need to take your pet with you – and if the answer is no, leave your pet safely at home. If you must take your pet with you, make sure (s)he is properly restrained so the trip is as safe as possible for both of you.
Dogs & The Open Air
Most of us smile when we see a dog's face happily hanging out a window, digging the ride and the smells wafting on the breeze, but this is a very risky venture for the dog for three reasons. One, it means your dog isn't properly restrained – and we've already told you why that's so important. Two, your dog is at high risk of eye, ear, face and mouth injury from airborne objects when it's got its face hanging out the window. Three, letting your dog hang any part of its body out of the window increases the risk that (s)he could be thrown out of the vehicle during a collision, lose its balance and fall out of the open window during an abrupt turn or maneuver, or jump out of the vehicle to threaten another dog or a person.
Pick Up Truck Dangers
DOGS SHOULD RIDE INSIDE!!!!
Let’s not forget the severe dangers of driving with your dog in the bed of a pickup truck. Dogs can fall or jump from the truck bed and be injured or killed on impact, or be struck by other traffic.
And just as letting your dog hang its head out of the window puts it at risk of injury from debris, a dog in a truck bed is even more exposed to airborne hazards. Driving at even average speeds can put a weight on your dogs lungs and overall ability to breathe. As your speed increases, so does the risk of your dog’s health. Additionally, the high winds can cause flying debris to hit your animal in the face. Even the smallest particles like small pebbles are enough to injure your dog by getting debris in its eyes or up its nose.
It’s also important to consider the weather when putting your dog in the back of your pickup truck. Even on a comfortable day, the sun is hot enough to warm the metal on your car. Dogs can easily receive third-degree burns on their paw pads and even suffer heat stroke. Things like leashes, truck bed cages, and the like are also huge no-no’s when it comes to your dog in a truck bed. They can easily cause great harm and even death to your pet.
Using a appropriate-length tether may reduce the risk that your dog will exit the truck bed, but the tether could tangle, injure, or even choke your dog. If you must transport your dog in the bed of a pickup truck, use a secured and appropriately sized and ventilated dog kennel.
In conclusion, it’s best to just not put your family pet in the back of your pickup truck. With a lack of security, high winds, and loud noises, your dog would be better off waiting for you at home than potentially being involved in an accident or even worse.
“According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, un-caged dogs who ride in the beds of pickup trucks are at risk of severe injury. It is estimated that around 100,000 dogs every year are fatally injured by jumping or falling from a pickup truck’s cargo area.”
