ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT ADVOCATES IMPROVED PET SAFETY IN VEHICLES:
Bark Buckle UP Recommends Better Pet Safeguards
The Message is “Buckle UP Your Pet and Save Lives”
SANTA ANA, Calif., (November 12, 2008) - According to national safety statistics the number of pets traveling in vehicles is now at an all-time high. Because most animals travel unrestrained, the corresponding risk to vehicle occupants, pets and first responders called to an accident site is of growing concern. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department today hosted regional public service agencies, animal control specialists and pet travel safety expert Christina Selter to draw attention to a growing safety concerns.
“Our responsibility as first responders is to promptly answer any vehicle accident and coordinate required medical needs and traffic control. The Sheriff’s Department joins with other first response agencies in sharing the concerns over unrestrained pets traveling in vehicles. Any time lost in the caring of accident victims because of the need to deal with a frightened or injured animal can and should be avoided,” said Jim Amormino, Public Information Officer Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Bark Buckle UP, leader for pet travel safety, and the OCSD convened a media outreach at OCSD’s Training Facility in Orange, today. The event focused on the problem of unrestrained animals traveling in moving vehicles and offered a variety of available pet safety solutions capable of safeguarding animals, owners and others should an accident occur.
Because more pets now travel with their owners there is a genuine risk to vehicle occupants and others should an accident occur. For first responders called to render aid – the challenge of securing a frightened or injured animal before treating victims can be of equal concern. The OCSD is taking a lead position by recommending that pet owners use safety products designed to safeguard their animal and others at all times.
Bark Buckle UP encourages consumer use of pet safety equipment and invites public service agencies to help track animal involved accident data by contributing to Bark Buckle UP Stat Tracker, a data collection system hosted by www.BarkBuckleUP.com. Stat Tracker gathers pet safety statistics for the purpose of better informing others of the need for safer pet transportation. “Bark Buckle UP works closely with first responders across America and many see the need for better animal-involved accident data statistics.
Today’s event and the department’s effort to better understand how to prevent an animal from contributing to an accident is worthy of praise,” said Bark Buckle UP founder, Christina Selter.
Also participating in the media safety briefing were representatives from the Chief Dominguez California Highway Patrol, Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion Orange County Fire Authority, Sergeant Rick Martinez of Anaheim PD and Ryan Drabek Orange County Animal Care. According to CHP accident report data there were over 300 pet involved traffic incidents in California in 2007, four of these involved fatalities.
In her remarks, Christina Selter acknowledged that public action and the voluntary use of pet safety equipment is the immediate answer to a problem that appears to be well understood by first response professionals. “My mission is to alert responsible behavior on the part of the pet owner. Their animal cannot ask to be protected. The loving pet owner should safeguard their pet and by doing so protect themselves and others – including those called to render assistance at an accident site. If we can buckle-UP ourselves, why not our pet?” she said.
Selter also reviewed an array of safety equipment designed for in-vehicle use and for other travel applications. She noted, “Many car makers now see value in offering pet safety products through their retailers and support Bark Buckle UP efforts.”
As further rationale for the need to buckle-UP pets in vehicles, Selter advised:
• Pet travel has increased 300% since 2005 (APPMA)
• Delay access to human occupants
• Injured pet may bite
• Pet may escape through a window or door and cause a second accident
• Driver distraction
• 98% of dogs travel unrestrained in a moving vehicle (Traffic Safety Reports)
• Pet escapes vehicle, other driver danger and danger to catch the loose pet
• 63% of US households have a pet (APPMA)
• 60-pound pet in a 35 mph accident becomes a 2700 pound projectile
APPMA: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association
Contacts:
Orange County Sheriff Department
Damon Micalizzi, Public & Community Relations Officer
dmicalizzi@ocsd.org
714 647 4511
Bark Buckle UP
Bark@BarkBuckleUP.com
619 239 2275
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