Ask Me Help Desk - Why don't you put a seat belt on your dog?

I hear people talk about how much they love their dogs. I see people drive with bumper stickers stating how they love their dogs. You can see it in their attitude towards dogs and others, how they really love their dogs.
All who loves their dog, why don't you put them in a seat belt? Or a cage that is secured in the vehicle? You put the seat belt on yourself, and if you have kids or friends with you, you make sure they are wearing a seat belt. Why not the dog?
You can give me any excuse you want, I worked in Animal Medicine for 3 years. If you love your dog, you will put them in a seat belt!
I have seen many, many dogs (and some cats) severely injured or killed. If only the so called 'loving owners' had belted the dog in, the dogs would be alive and well.
Someone just tell me, why say you love your dog when you never secure them safely in your car? Oh, and the one's who put them in the back of a pick up truck, you don't even know what love is!

Obviously this is an issue that you feel very strongly about. I have used dog harness seat belts in the past, I still do for my 7 year old Border collie cross, it not only protects him but it keeps him from jumping all over the car. I do not use a safety harness for my 13 year old lab cross anymore. He's old and cannot tolerate the harness on him, he's got tumors on his body and it hurts him too much to be belted in. Putting him in a cage isn't an option either, it would stress him out too much.

Do I love my 13 year old lab, you bet I do, he's one of my kids, I've had him since he was a tiny little bundle of fluff, and there is no amount of money I wouldn't spend to keep him alive and safe.

You have a right to your opinion, but you don't have a right to judge people because of that opinion. Some people really don't know the risks. There are people out there that wouldn't wear their seat belts if it wasn't the law, I personally know allot of them, so why would they harness their dogs?

Bottom line, you can't judge these people or the love they feel for their animals on whether they buckle them in.

I assume you mean a special dog seat belt since they can get out of the regular too easily?

No Help - Is that your pup? What a cutie.

Were did you get that harness, mine are no were near as nice as that one, I might actually get my lab to wear it. Our harness's are ridiculous things that looks like suspenders with a belt, it's near to impossible to get on and not at all comfy for the pups, my border collie hates his, but only because he can't romp around, for my lab it's just to painful.

Not my dog but close looking just look up dog seat belts on the search engine and there are loads.
seat belts for dogs - Google Search

I wish, and I know so do many dogs, there were a lot more people like you guys!
The animals you all care for are some the luckiest out there. You guys make me happy knowing there is more people who do use proper safety restrains with their pets.
I really hope others read what you all have typed and learn that they should do the same to.

I have these special leads that hook on the back of my dogs harnesses and clip into the seat belt. There are some people who think it's wrong because when you have an accdient you might not be able to un do there seat belts and they will be trapped it is safer in a sense but if you crash and your out cold the rescue teams may be scred of your dog it may be injured and get pain aggression then there's the other side of the argument where the dog gose flying through the window it's really personal choice

Quote:

Originally Posted by svatnsdal

I hear people talk about how much they love their dogs. I see people drive with bumper stickers stating how they love their dogs. You can see it in their attitude towards dogs and others, how they really love their dogs.
All who loves their dog, why don't you put them in a seat belt? Or a cage that is secured in the vehicle? You put the seat belt on yourself, and if you have kids or friends with you, you make sure they are wearing a seat belt. Why not the dog?
You can give me any excuse you want, I worked in Animal Medicine for 3 years. If you love your dog, you will put them in a seat belt!
I have seen many, many dogs (and some cats) severely injured or killed. If only the so called 'loving owners' had belted the dog in, the dogs would be alive and well.
Someone just tell me, why say you love your dog when you never secure them safely in your car? Oh, and the one's who put them in the back of a pick up truck, you don't even know what love is!

I will most definitely check out the new and probably improved doggie seat belts because I do and always have protected all of the animals I have owned and loved. My dog is my baby, and I love her, care for her, and keep her as safe as possible, as I would any other family member.

I do, however, resent the fact that you assume that us "SO CALLED LOVING PET OWNERS" , would not take the necessary measures to ensure their safety! You are painting a VERY broad picture with your statement, and you sound VERY accusatory! Who are you to judge people and how much they love their pets?

How about volunteering at your local SPCA, or speaking at schools, etc. to "kindly, empathetically, and professionally" teach people about pet safety, instead of making such a broad statement on here?

Yes, it's sad, and sometimes neglectful of "some" pet owners when they don't do everything they can to ensure their animals safety. But, I also watched a TV show just the other day on this same subject when dogs have saved their owners when they were in trouble or in an accident. If the dog had been restrained, their owners would have possibly died! The dogs were able to keep their owners awake and coherant, by jumping on them, licking their faces, and so on. And in some cases where the dogs could stick their heads out of the window and bark loud enough to attract attention to get help.

So please don't think that every dog/animal-- owner/lover, is being neglectful or unloving if you see that they don't have their animal restrained. Don't be a "right fighter"... just be happy that there are so many of us that rescue animals and love them as much as we do!

Just one more thing. How dare you say that if someone has a dog in the back of their truck that they "don't know what love is" Think about what you are saying please! I lived on a farm for a lot of my life, and we had many dogs, THAT KNEW HOW MUCH WE LOVED THEM, that rode in the back of the pickups. I don't agree with doing that in the city, but once again you are painting that with a really broad brush.

My, we have an angry animal lover. Yes, some do secure their dogs, those are the one's that love their pets, really love their pets.
I am happy to say I am wrong, some people do secure their pets, but not enough. I did volunteer at the SPCA, and at Vets. I studied animal medicine for three years, in those three years I donated hundreds of dollars and time to animals! So, you are a little off there.
Um, why don't you put your kids, or passengers in the back of a pick up truck? I'm sorry, but no, putting an animal in the back of a pick up truck is cruel. I have seen so much blood and guts due to people thinking it's okay to put the animal in the back of a pickup. If it's a drive down a three house lane at maybe 20 km/h, sure, but other then that, no. If you love your dog, you won't put them in a spot where it is so easy to see them die a long horrible death. That is not love.
Oh, and with not strapping them in is good because it saves the owner... well human's drive, not animals. Human's cause the accidents, not animals. We, human's, are the one's that cause most animal deaths, all through stupidity, greed, and other things. Just like the owners who do not buckle their loved one's in.

Well no, actually I was not angry, but I am getting there now! So what you are saying is that "we humans cause most animal deaths due to stupidity, greed, and other things" I think your first post and the one you just made says who is angry here, and painting all humans with your big broad brush!

Not everyone has the resources or the knowledge needed to secure their pets in their vehicles. Am I going to go up to them and accuse these people of not loving their pets? I don't think so. You seem to have a bit of an extremist attitude here. A little bit of kindness, consideration, and compassion, with just some info would go a long way, instead of accusing all people that don't put their animals in a seatbelt to be unloving, uncaring people!

Did you not read where I wrote that I don't agree with putting animals in the back of a truck in the city? I was talking about the farm, and we weren't racing down dirt roads! We were driving to feed the cows, or to the fields at a slow speed. In fact, yes, us as kids ALSO rode in the back of those trucks. Would you be willing to visit some farmers and tell them how cruel and unloving they are? My best bet would be you would be gone from the property faster than you got there.

Just to clarify, I have never had an animal that I didn't rescue. Some from very horrific circumstances. I am a member of the humane society. I volunteered for years at the SPCA... Fund raising, dog walking, pet sitting, taking care of sick animals etc. I was also also a volunteer for a shelter for disabled dogs and cats. I too have donated hundreds of dollars, and my time to help animals.

I'm sorry that you had to see injured animals, I've seen them too! But it still doesn't give you a right to tell all people who don't follow the rules the way you see them, that they are unloving, uncaring, cruel, horrible people. If this is your approach to encourage more people to do what you are recommending, I think you are really going about it the wrong way.

However, this is your prerogative, and your opinion, and you are entitled to it. That is all I have to say on this subject. Oh, and just for the record, I do buckle my pet in vehicle just in case your were interested. Enough said.

Ps. I see you've also written "Don't judge a book by the cover", hmmm

First, let me say that my parents put seatbelts in their car for us kids back when it was such an odd thing to do that they had to jury-rig them themselves. And I won't move a car in the driveway without putting on my seatbelt. But I have ridden in the back of pickup trucks, and station wagons, and on flatbed trailers, when it seemed appropriate to do so. Could something terrible have happened any of those times? Sure. It can when you are buckled in, too. (The most obvious being trapped in water or a fire.) But you calculate the risks, and take what seem to be appropriate chances. And they aren't always the same risks.

I MY opinion people, kids or dogs that ride in the back of open pick up trucks make good organ donors. I don't care if it's "around the farm" or in the city or going down a highway at 65 MPH. Enjoy the ride while you can as you can easily fall out of the truckbed when the truck makes a quick turn. Seen it happen. Wasn't a nice picture.

Quote:

Originally Posted by starbuck8

Well no, actually I was not angry, but I am getting there now! So what you are saying is that "we humans cause most animal deaths due to stupidity, greed, and other things" I think your first post and the one you just made says who is angry here, and painting all humans with your big broad brush!

Not everyone has the resources or the knowledge needed to secure thier pets in their vehicles. Am I going to go up to them and accuse these people of not loving their pets? I don't think so. You seem to have a bit of an extremist attitude here. A little bit of kindness, consideration, and compassion, with just some info would go a long way, instead of accusing all people that don't put their animals in a seatbelt to be unloving, uncaring people!

Did you not read where I wrote that I don't agree with putting animals in the back of a truck in the city? I was talking about the farm, and we weren't racing down dirt roads! We were driving to feed the cows, or to the fields at a slow speed. In fact, yes, us as kids ALSO rode in the back of those trucks. Would you be willing to visit some farmers and tell them how cruel and unloving they are? My best bet would be you would be gone from the property faster than you got there.

Just to clarify, I have never had an animal that I didn't rescue. Some from very horrific circumstances. I am a member of the humane society. I volunteered for years at the SPCA... Fund raising, dog walking, pet sitting, taking care of sick animals etc. I was also also a volunteer for a shelter for disabled dogs and cats. I too have donated hundreds of dollars, and my time to help animals.

I'm sorry that you had to see injured animals, I've seen them too! But it still doesn't give you a right to tell all people who don't follow the rules the way you see them, that they are unloving, uncaring, cruel, horrible people. If this is your approach to encourage more people to do what you are recommending, I think you are really going about it the wrong way.

However, this is your perogative, and your opinion, and you are entitled to it. That is all I have to say on this subject. Oh, and just for the record, I do buckle my pet in vehicle just in case your were interested. Enough said.

ps. I see you've also written "Don't judge a book by the cover", hmmm

Sarcasm works in mysterious ways!

Wouldn't it be easier you just learn how to drive properly?

I mean seriously, no offense and no pun intended.