What You Shouldn’t Be Doing With Your Dog In the Car

Being a pet owner comes with a lot of good times, and responsibility. You may love to take your beloved pet with you when you cruise around town. There’s nothing wrong with that, if you’re doing it safely.

There are safety regulations that all pet owners who take their animals in the car must follow. Failure to do so can result in hefty fines, and even an injury to your fur-ball. Let’s go over what you shouldn’t be doing when it comes to letting your pet travel along with you. 

1. Letting your dog roam freely. This is a big no-no when it comes to dog car safety. Just like a human, any dog that isn’t wearing a proper seatbelt can face serious injuries if an accident were to occur. Not only that, but a switch punch to the brakes can cause a canine to go flying – and hurting not only itself, but the passengers. If your dog is with you, the chances are that the windows are down, right? An accident can cause your dog to fly out the window. Last but certainly not least, loose dogs are distractions to the driver. 
2. Letting your dog ride in your lap while you drive. Even the cutest little pup can be a big distraction to the driver navigating the road. The smallest things can cause an accident; from a quick scratch on the ear to a collar adjustment. A dog on your lap can also cause restrictions when you’re needing to make a quick arm movement. In the case of an accident, your pup could become crushed by airbags. It’s just not worth it. 
3. Allowing your dog to hang out of the window. There’s nothing quite more entertaining for your dog then the wind blowing through its face – and it’s also extremely entertaining for all who witness it. But it’s a hazard to your canine and the passing vehicles. If you do open the window, open it only a crack for some fresh air. 
4. Leaving your dog in the hot vehicle. It’s saddening seeing a dog locked in a car on a hot day. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) reminds pet owners that on a mild 72-degree Fahrenheit day, temperatures inside a car can skyrocket to 116 degrees F within an hour. On an 85-degree F day, the temperature can hit 102 degrees F in under 10 minutes. Canines can also die from hypothermia when conditions are too cold. It’s better to not take your dog with you at all if you’re planning on leaving it in a hot or cold vehicle. 
5. Not paying attention to your states laws for dogs in the car. Different states have different ways of defining what illegal. Depending upon where you travel, certain actions concerning dogs in cars earn anything from a citation to a felony charge. Understand why something is illegal and respect it. Certain things are illegal because they are too risky for you, your pet and the drivers around you. And flat-out inhumane. 

Next time you take your doggo along with you – remember to be safe for the sake of yourself, but also your beloved canine. We owe it to our pets to keep them safe.

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