Dog Seat Belts – Why Every Owner Should Use One
In a crash test, a 35 lb. crash test dummy dog generates over 1,100 lbs. of force at 30 MPH! That’s just a 35lb dog. Imagine the result of a quick turn, sudden stop or accident. A dog becomes a flying object that could seriously injure or kill him and/or the passengers in the vehicle.
An unrestrained dog could jump in the drivers lap and block his or her vision. The dog roaming around the car could distract or jump in the drivers lap and cause an accident. There have been incidents where small dogs have gotten under the driver’s brake pedal impairing their ability to stop.
Dogs have been known to get overzealous and have leaped from moving vehicles. Dogs who enjoy sticking their heads out the window have been picked up and pulled right out of their seat by high winds. I personally know of such an incident and thankfully the dog had been safely restrained. She just dangled against the car door. She was a little shook up but unharmed. If not for the dog seat belt, she would have been thrown onto a busy street and most likely would have died.
In an event of an accident, a traumatized dog could run away. An attack could occur against the very people who are trying to help you and your pet. If the dog was to run into traffic another accident may happen.
When deciding on which dog seat belt to use for your dog, make sure he or she can sit or lay down while wearing it. Make sure the harness provides comfort yet stability and works by holding the dog in place with a strap that attaches to the car’s seat belt system. This will not put pressure on the dog’s neck in case an accident does occur. As you can see, there are some obvious as well as not so obvious reasons to always have your dog safely buckled in. Don’t learn the hard way.
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