Summer is prime time for traveling, especially for pet
owners taking road trip vacations. Lots of dog lovers take their canine
companions along for the ride. Professional
pet sitters and boarding
kennels can be costly, and many folks choose to include their dogs for
family vacations, especially in the summer.
How can pet lovers
travel safely on the road this summer with their canine companions?
Here are five tips for safer summer road trips with dogs.
NOTE: Written by this author, this copyrighted material
originally appeared on another publisher’s site. That site no longer exists.
This author holds all rights to this content. No republication is allowed
without permission.
1. Choose and use
secure seating for a traveling dog.
Each year, countless dogs are injured inside moving
vehicles, particularly during sudden stops and vehicular accidents. An untethered
animal may stumble, fall, or be catapulted through the interior of a car or
truck, winding up with broken bones and other injuries. Others may be harmed by
loose objects that fall upon them inside a vehicle.
Do dogs need seat belts inside vehicles for on-the-road
safety? Vehicular safety belts and harnesses are available for pets. Some of
these products attach to existing seat belts, while others may be factory
installed. Although pet seat belts are not legal requirements, many dog owners
do choose to use them to prevent injuries. Other pet owners put their smaller
dogs in airy pet crates to keep them secure inside moving vehicles.
Dogs should not be held on drivers’ laps during on-road
travel, as this can be both dangerous and distracting. In addition, a pet may
be crushed by a sudden release of a vehicular airbag.
2. Don’t put dogs in
pickup truck beds.
In many regions, humans may not legally ride in the back of
a moving pickup truck. However, few areas have laws restricting this practice
with pets. Animals (particularly dogs) are often seen traveling in the open
beds of pickup trucks. This form of canine transport can be extremely
hazardous, as dogs may fall or fly out of pickup truck beds on bumpy roads or
with sudden stops.
Similar hazards may occur with sudden stops in vehicles with
convertible tops or sunroofs.
3. Take lots of water
breaks when traveling with a dog.
Long-distance road trips may take several hours, and dogs
undoubtedly require water breaks. Compassionate and cautionary pet owners will
offer dogs fresh, clean water (not roadside puddles, which may be contaminated
with chemicals or other hazards) and an opportunity to potty outside their
vehicles. (Of course, dog owners will want to pick up after their pets, if
necessary.)
4. Use a collar and
leash during road trips with a dog.
Far too many dogs may be endangered, injured, or killed in
roadway accidents annually. Others may be bitten or maimed (or even bred) by
unfamiliar dogs in rest areas, parks or other roadside stopping points.
Many of these tragedies could be avoided by the use of
collars and leashes (or pet harnesses) during road trips. Even the most
obedient dogs may become confused or overexcited in unfamiliar surroundings, so
compassionate restraint is well advised.
5. Never leave a dog
unattended in a vehicle.
Although most dogs
seem to enjoy traveling in moving vehicles, a parked car presents a completely
different scenario.
Within just a few
minutes, the interior of a stationary vehicle on a hot day may reach dangerous
levels. Even with the windows open, a car’s inside temperature may quickly exceed
120 (F) degrees – potentially causing heatstroke, brain damage, heart failure,
or even death for pets trapped inside.
By taking a few
precautions, pet lovers can enjoy summer road trips with their canine
companions. Of course, it’s also a good idea to take along each dog’s health
records (including verification of current immunizations) and to affix
identification tags on each dog’s collar, whether or not the pet has been
microchipped.
The dog days of
summer can be an ideal occasion for traveling with treasured pets, especially
when these basic on-road safety precautions are taken.
Image/s:
Graphic created by this user with public
domain artwork
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