Dog seatbelts

Re: Dog seatbelts

Utlendigur — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:37:01 GMT

I used to use a dog guard in my hatchback but decided I didn't like the idea of my dogs being in a crumple zone - another reason for the switch to seatbelt harnesses. I also had one large boisterous client's dog I was transporting that managed to jump up at the dog guard so hard he flipped it, and himself, onto the back seat - suddenly I had bits of dog guard and a panicking dog flying round my head as I was driving. Dog guard went in the bin at that point and I got more wary about transporting clients' dogs (maybe should be on the other thread..)

Re: Dog seatbelts

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:17:13 GMT

[quote user="Utlendigur"]

[quote user="Sarah Keir"]I think buckling the dogs in would definitely protect the human passengers as well as the dog [/quote]

[/quote]

Of course the law is to protect the passengers not the dog! The legislators don't give a toss about the dog. But as suggested even a small dog hitting a passenger at 70mph would cause serious injury. Can't see why a dog secured in a hatchback with a luggage/dog gate wouldn't be acceptable though.

Re: Dog seatbelts

Wren — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:42:09 GMT

It's an interesting thread and one I hadn't really thought about. My dogs travel on my back seat all day long (8am-6.30pm ish, obviously punctuated with being let out for runs etc!). One Labrador and one terrier. They generally lie flat out or curled up around one another - except for when I turn down our street when they invariably and inexplicably wake up and sit up.

I'm sure the labrador would do me a fair amount of harm if it hit me in an RTA (have had minor bumps where it's hit me in the back) and the terrier would probably be thrown through the windscreen but there is still a part of me that hates the idea of them being restricted all day. I guess I could let them out of the seatbelts when I'm not actually driving but it would still mean they spent most of the time restrained.

A hard decision. Probably only one sensible answer mind you...

Re: Dog seatbelts

fluffygirl — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:51:46 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]

[quote user="fluffygirl"]

I was called out by the police to attend an RTA where the car had hit a tree. Not good. Driver got taken to hospital with minor injuries. Young female Rottweiler unsecured on the back seat was dead by the time I arrived. One of the attending paramedics had tried to get intravenous access for some fluids but it was too late. She was as white as a sheet and I assume she had hit the back of the drivers seat with such force some fairly major vessel or perhaps the spleen had ruptured and she'd bled out internally. It certainly made me more aware of how I secure my own dogs when they're in the car.

[/quote]

God bless the paramedics. What good sorts to try to treat the dog.

[/quote]

Thats what I thought!

Re: Dog seatbelts

Bob Russell — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:47:38 GMT

I suspect legislation would not be for the pets protection, possibly not even for the owners but to reduce distraction of the driver and thereby lowering the risk of an accident in the first place.

You can already be prosecuted for having an unrestrained pet in the car if the Police consider it distracting. I suspect it would come under driving without due care and attention.

Re: Dog seatbelts

Kate Richardson — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:02:26 GMT

[quote user="fluffygirl"]

[/quote]

God bless the paramedics. What good sorts to try to treat the dog.

Re: Dog seatbelts

Thomas Johnson — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:42:29 GMT

I treated a Westie that had been on the front seat of a van in an RTA, initially no obvious injuries, then developed a cough and shortness of breath a week later and it turned out to have a ruptured diaphragm, surgery went well and the dog made a good recovery.

I also once treated a JRT that fell out of a van window at 30mph, slight panic when it urinated frank blood on the consulting room floor, but turned out not to have any serious injuries.

Re: Dog seatbelts

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 09:34:21 GMT

My dog (labrador ) is always belted in on the back seat. My argument is that as I wouldn't allow a child to travel any other way, then neither should my dog.

Many years ago I had to euthanase a JRT which was travelling on the parcel shelf of the car, when the owner suddenly braked-the dog's back was brocken

My pet hate is seeing dogs travelling with their heads stuckout through the window

Wynne

Re: Dog seatbelts

nikki — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:01:26 GMT

we have been called out to RTA's before for unrestrained dogs in cars. one dog was in the boot which got crushed when car was hit from behind - severe fractures to pelvis and hindlimbs. made me think about where i put my dogs although hopefully in my tank they'd be pretty safe wherever. i dont fancy being clobbered by a Boxer though so they both have seatbelts.

Re: Dog seatbelts

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 23:01:46 GMT

Very topical thread. My wife was called by the police yesterday to attend an RTA where 2 cars had crashed head on on a narrow moor road. The unrestrained greyhound was thrown about in the car, suffered a fractured spine and had to be PTS. Our little dog always wears her seat in the back of the car.

Re: Dog seatbelts

Sarah Keir — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 22:45:31 GMT

Yes, don't generalise over the whole of 'Africa'. On a recent holiday to Angola, there were no roads and certainly no laws on seat belts. However, the first past of the trip was through Namibia and they were very strict on seat belts and road checks to check that sort of thing.

Sarah

Re: Dog seatbelts

fluffygirl — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 22:35:48 GMT

Re: Dog seatbelts

Mark Holmes — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:40:44 GMT

Ghana 2003 and Zimbabwe 1994, in Ghana when your average trotro, a 16 seater minibus has upward of 30 people on board (including somebody on the drivers knee) not enough belts to go around. The government there might not be overly concerned about your personal safety but they make up for it in being very efficient in digging holes!

Re: Dog seatbelts

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:15:55 GMT

[quote user="mariette asselbergs"]

Mark, you must have lived in Africa a long long time ago. Since at least the 80s not wearing a seat belt has been an enormous source of income for policemen. I have had numerous fines there, never here. As for my dog, always in the front seat, never secured, but I have often thought about it and it would probably be better and safer. Specially for the rescuers after a serious accident.

[/quote]

Depends on which country, I bet...SA, sure. Chad? Niger? Maybe not... (yes, I'm the wrong Mark, but Africa's got a lot of countries!)

Re: Dog seatbelts

mariette asselbergs — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:14:19 GMT

Re: Dog seatbelts

Utlendigur — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:05:01 GMT

[quote user="Sarah Keir"]I think buckling the dogs in would definitely protect the human passengers as well as the dog [/quote]

I use car harnesses for my dogs and that was one of the main reasons - the thought of being clobbered on the back of the head/neck by a big sheepdog travelling a high speed I also find they're more settled than in a crate or behind a dog guard. I thought that current legislation, although not specifically mentioning securing a dog, already included dogs if they were causing a distraction which led to an accident or careless driving.

Re: Dog seatbelts

Sarah Keir — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:32:14 GMT

I've treated a staffie that was bounced around inside a van in an RTA - the staffie (not buckled in) came off better than the driver (who was buckled in)!

I harness my dog for longer journeys on the back seat but for trips to the park etc she is in the boot . Her lead is clipped to the luggage loops in the floor - perhaps not a good idea?

I think buckling the dogs in would definitely protect the human passengers as well as the dog - I remember something about a child in the back seat becoming an elephant as they sail forward into the back of the driver/front passenger...

Sarah

Re: Dog seatbelts

Mark Holmes — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:26:41 GMT

I've seem some really nasty injuries in unsecured dogs. Not sure I agree with legislation though. Too much of it. I lived in Africa for a while. There if you don't wear a seat belt you will probably die but then that's your lookout. You know what I prefer that attitude from a government. The only difference in this country is that you might not die but be a burden on society which is unfortunate. So I guess a law is beneficial but I resent it all the same.