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Car Travel: Keeping Your Dog Safe When Going For A Joyride In The Car
Some of the best vacations have no destination. They're the ones where you get in your car and drive, and each night you end up somewhere you never knew existed. Dogs love this kind of trip. After all, its the way they live their lives.
But is taking your dog for a road trip really going to be fun? It can be. A canine copilot can steer you to destinations you might otherwise have passed, give you a good excuse to stop and enjoy the scenery up close and help you have the road trip of a lifetime. But unless you plan ahead, motels, parks, attractions and beaches may turn you away. And be warned: Even the quietest dog will find plenty to bark at once she discovers you're trying to sneak her into a motel room. Several books are available that list establishments that accept pets. Get one.
Keep an eye out for little nature excursions, which are wonderful for refreshing your dog and you. But always do so with a cautious eye; never risk you or your dog's safety by stopping in totally desolate areas, no matter how breathtaking the view. Always walk your dog on a leash when traveling. If she gets frightened or distracted, your dog could become disoriented and lost. Your dog should be wearing a collar with license tags, including a tag indicating where you can be reached while on your trip, or including the address of someone you know will be
at home.
Always Consider Your Dog's Safety
Bliss for a dog is a ride in the car with the wind in her fur and bugs in her teeth as she hangs her head out the window and enjoys! Sure, that would be fun while it lasted, but it might not last long before your dog is thrown from the car, gets her nose stung by a bee or gets her eye put out by a rock. Kids would love to run around the car and hang out the windows but there are laws for their safety (and yours) that prevent them from doing so. We won't even talk about the danger involved in letting dogs ride loose in the back of pickups!
Your dog has a higher center of gravity than you do when riding in the car, and far less ability to grab onto something. It doesn't take much to send a dog flying into the dash, windshield, you, or out of the vehicle altogether. Loose dogs have been killed and injured in relatively small accidents. Dogs have also caused accidents by getting a leg caught in the steering wheel, bumping the car out of gear or jumping in the driver's lap at the 'wrong moment.
You can buckle your dog up with a doggy seatbelt or secure her in a crate that has been securely fastened so it won't go flying. On the crate should be a sticker or tag that reads "In case of an accident: Take this dog to a veterinarian, then contact the following persons (list names and phone numbers), who have guaranteed payment of all expenses incurred." Remember that you may not be able to speak for your dog in the event of a serious accident.
You know better than to leave your dog in the car on a warm day. But what do you do when you have to sprint inside to the rest room? You can use battery-powered fans that run off your cigarette lighter to help circulate air, but they won't cool the car down. You can park in the shade and crack the windows, but you risk escape or dog-napping.
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