The AA, canine charity Dogs Trust, and Subaru have joined forces to highlight the dangers faced by our doggy passengers when travelling this summer.
With thousands of families driving to their holiday destinations around this time, the trio have come together to remind dog owners to consider the safety issues faced by having their pet with them in the car.
Subaru’s US arm has recently launched a partnership with the Centre for Pet Safety in North America with the aim of improving pet safety in the event of a collision. The manufacturer is now calling on owners this side of the Atlantic to give the issue serious thought, advising dog owners to use a dedicated harness if their pet is travelling in the main cabin of the car, or purchasing purpose-designed crate or dog guard to protect four-legged passengers travelling in the boot.
The AA also has safety concerns that unrestrained dogs could become a ‘canine cannonball’ in the event of a crash, and be thrown forward endangering both themselves and their owners.
“Any loose object in the car can become a dangerous projectile in a crash, whether it’s a first-aid kit, golf umbrella or even a pet,” said AA Patrol of the Year Max Holdstock.
“Unrestrained in a sudden impact of emergency stop, dogs can become ‘canine cannonballs’ with potentially fatal consequences for both the animal and other passengers – for example, at 30 mph a 32-kilo Labrador or German Shepherd is thrown forward with the force equivalent to being hit by a baby elephant weighing 100 kilos.”
Meanwhile, leading UK canine welfare charity Dogs Trust has spoken out on the dangers of leaving their dogs in parked cars, even for a few minutes. The call comes after a study by the charity found more than a quarter of UK dog owners have their dogs unattended in cars, despite research showing less than 20 minutes in a hot car can prove fatal to a dog, and that even leaving a window partially lowered has little or no effect on the temperature inside the car.
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