Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services

In the newsletter I received today from Dr. Karen Becker of "Healthy Pets", she addressed the importance of car safety when travelling with pets in your vehicle.

When driving around the city, it is quite common to see dogs sitting in the passenger seat or the back seat with their heads out of the window,. What is even more common and frightening is seeing the dog on the lap of the driver.  An unrestrained animal in the car is a huge distraction to the driver and can create an accident as a result. In the event of an accident, a loose pet becomes a projectile and can injury the driver, other passengers and definitely itself. It can fly through a window or get crushed in a collision. 

The best advise is to restrain your dog in an approved CPS-certified safety car harness or in a crate secured with a seat bell. Cats should always be in a crate or carrier that is secured with the seat belt.

I know dogs love to put their heads out the window and enjoy the fresh air rushing by, but it is your job to protect them and allowing them to do this is just plain dangerous. Bad pet parenting and lack of responsibility on your part can lead to your dog's injury or even death.

Also, always make sure your pet is wearing an up to date identification tag and is micro chipped. In the event of an accident, if your pet is thrown from the vehicle or jumps and you are unconscious or hurt, rescuers will be able to identify your pet if he wanders off or is injured.

For more very important information on pet travel safety refer to Dr Becker's article at "Healthy Pets" presented by Mercola on the Internet.

Safe travels!