Why Pet Safety is Important to Me

As a new contributor to Bark BuckleUP, I’ve been asked lately why I think pet safety is an important topic. Besides the obvious clues -- that I own a cat and dog and have been a friend to animals my entire life -- I have also been touched by a tragedy that will forever color the way I view pet safety. Several years ago, a friend of mine (whom I will call Judy) was happily married and she and her husband Mike owned a large German shepherd named Hank. Judy and Mike were very loving pet parents, taking Hank to the dog park, dog beach, even planning “dog-cations” around him to pet-friendly cities (like San Diego). They loved that dog like a child and nothing made them happier than to lavish him with love.

Judy and Mike quite often would take trips to the PetSmart with Hank, letting him socialize with the other dogs, and pick out his next chew bone from the bin. On their car rides, Judy would drive, and Mike and Hank would sit in the back of their sedan. I don’t think it ever occurred to Judy and Mike that they were doing a disservice to themselves, and to Hank, by not securing him in the backseat. In fact, I know they liked to let him hang his head out the window, running from side to side, smelling and wagging in his puppy-dog way.

One evening, as Judy and Mike were driving back from yet another successful trip to the PetSmart, a vehicle ran a red light and T-boned their sedan. A bad accident in any circumstances, but it was made all the more tragic by what happened next. The way the accident occurred, Hank (who was unsecured) flew into Mike (seat belted) with such great force that they both died instantly. It was later proved (by the insurance company of the driver that ran the light) that Mike would have survived the accident if the force of an 80-pound dog had not come directly at his head and broken his neck.

My friend Judy never even thought about securing Hank, or that a pet can take on so much force in an accident that it becomes a projectile able of critically injuring whomever it hits. I shake my head and become very sad whenever I pass a car with a pet unsecured in the cabin, hoping that the person and pet get home safely. I want to pull them to the side of the road and explain to them that a simple restraint could guarantee their pet’s and family’s lives.

So yes, I have a passion for pet safety, particularly in-car safety, because I have seen firsthand what happens from ignorance or apathy concerning the harnessing of pets while driving. It is very simple (and relatively inexpensive) to buy a pet harness, pet carrier, or car seat that works with your car’s safety belts, that will keep your pet from becoming a projectile during an accident. Plus crates can be secured using safety straps and the D-rings in crossovers and SUVs. Just remember to make sure that the pet safety devices you are looking for are rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to ensure that they have been tested and won’t fail in an accident (unfortunately there are some products out there that are unsafe). For more information on how to strap your pets into your vehicle, or on what products have been tested by the NHTSA, please check http://www.barkbuckleup.com.

I look forward to blogging more and hope to receive your feedback here, on our Facebook page, or on Twitter.