Here are a few important tips that will help to keep you,
your best friend, and others safe and happy on your next trip:
To avoid unnecessary stress and anxiety, work your pet up to
longer trips by taking shorter treks before taking on a long expedition.
Just in case you and your pet become separated, be sure that
all ID tags are properly affixed to your pet’s collar and that they have your
current contact information, including cell number(s).
Update your microchip registration and pet license
information to ensure its current and consider including the name and phone
number of an emergency contact.
Never leave pets unattended inside of vehicles. Remember
that cars heat up fast – even with the windows cracked!
Properly restrain, contain or crate your pets inside of your
vehicle prior to your trip. Consider purchasing a specially designed pet
seatbelt, carrier or barrier to avoid irreversible consequences due to
distractions or other mishaps.
Never allow pets to sit on your lap or remain in the front
seat while you drive.
Never allow pets to stick any portion of their bodies out
the window. Although most dogs love to stick their heads out open windows, the
wind can seriously irritate mucous membranes and blow pieces of grit or other
debris into their eyes. Pets could also be seriously injured by objects as you
drive down the road.
Pets should never be transported in the bed of a pickup
truck. Not only could your pet injure himself/herself or have a fatal accident–
he/she could cause an accident which may harm someone else. It is estimated
that at least 100,000 dogs pass away in accidents each year because they were
riding in truck beds.
Do not leash your pet inside of a truck bed even when parked
to avoid choking hazards and because open truck beds do not provide any
protection from the weather. The hot sun can heat the metal floor of a truck
bed enough to burn a pet’s paws. A dog left sitting in the broiling sun without
water or shade may suffer from heat stroke.
Keeping pets safe is every pet owner’s responsibility. Being
a safe driver is not only your obligation – it’s the law!