Carson City public safety: If we secure ourselves and our children, why not our pets?
Submitted by editor on Fri, 02/28/2014 - 1:48pm
Pets, many people have them and often times they are treated as family. They offer companionship, protection, and unconditional love. In many families, pets are treated like children.
So much so, that they can be seen riding inside of vehicles as the owner cruises down the roadway. One can see canines hanging their heads out the window catching the wind or draped over the arms of the driver. Felines are observed lounging on the rear deck or dashboard and I am sure there are other types of pets that ride along in vehicles that are unseen.
What are the dangers of allowing your pets to roam inside the vehicle while you are driving? Apart from the obvious distractions and possible interference with the operation of the vehicle, take into consideration what happens when you are involved in a crash.
For this example, I will use a front end collision with your vehicle travelling at 40 mph hour. Once the vehicle has impacted into another object and forward momentum has stopped, loose items inside the vehicle will be propelled forward travelling at the same speed that the vehicle was going before impact.
They will continue until they come into contact with a solid surface that stops them. Add in a second factor of air bag deployment (for newer model vehicles) and the pet that is in your lap or draped over your arm is going to get hurt.
We secure ourselves and our human children in restraints to protect us in crashes so, why do we not do the same with our pets? Harnesses are available for your canines which will help reduce injury in a collision. Pet carriers are available for smaller pets that will offer protection also.
Many of these are tested for strength and durability just as child restraint seats are. If you are going to purchase such restraints or carriers, do your research to ensure that they meet safety standards. The loss we feel for our pets often times is as painful as losing a family member or close friend. Let’s protect them so that they will be around to keep us company for years to come.
— Sgt. Scott McDaniel is with the Carson City Sheriff's Office. He contributes regular columns weekly that focus on public safety.
