Safety Matters

In April, 2008, I was sitting at an intersection waiting to make a left turn when a pick-up truck blew the red light, hit a car in the middle of the intersection and sent it careening head-on into my car. My 12-year-old son was in the back of the car and somehow, we both escaped injury.  Later that evening, after my car had been towed away and we had both calmed down enough to look back on the events of the last few hours and count our blessings, I realized that, had my dogs been in the car with us as they often were, the outcome would have been different. My two 13 lb dogs normally rode in the back with my son on short trips around town. When my car was hit head-on, the dogs would have become furry missiles projected at or through the windshield of my car.

That awful realization prompted me to go the next day and buy seatbelts made specifically for dogs. I installed them in the back seat of my car and since that day, I never fail to use them. I cringe now when I pass a driver with his dog on his lap, driving down the road with the dog’s head out the window taking in the sights and scents of the road. I had always been so conscientious about making sure my son was belted in before I started my car, but had never stopped to think what would happen to my dogs in the event of a crash. From what I see on the road, not many people have given thought to that either.

Consider this the next time you put your dog in the car, even if it’s just for a short ride to the dog park. You never know what lurks around the corner; your life can change in a split second. Canine seatbelts are inexpensive and easy to use and can be found in any pet supply store or online.  Most hook on to the dog’s harness or include a harness as part of the device itself. Even if your dog is an infrequent travel companion, car safety should still extend to him too.

While we are talking about harnesses, I have a few words to say about safety concerning a certain lead that I see people using frequently these days.  The Gentle Leader head halter has become quite popular recently.  Tighten a couple pieces of heavy nylon strapping across your face, just under your eyes, and wrap it around to the back your head. Now have someone lead you around by your head, pulling your neck around this way and that at their whim. If this is not a pleasant sensation for you, why would you think it is for your dog? If you have a dog that pulls or jerks or even turns around to look at a passing dog and you yank his head around, you risk serious neck injury to your dog or even a broken neck.  I am a canine massage therapist and I have seen many dogs suffering from neck muscle injury because of the use of this type of lead. In my own opinion, this type of head lead is even more harmful than putting a regular leash on a regular neck collar. A body harness is the safest and most humane method of controlling a dog. A leash attaches to the back or the front of the harness and gives you great control of your dog. The best one I’ve seen (and used) for dogs that pull is the Gentle Leader Easy Walk, which is a harness system with the leash attached to the front of the dog, at the chest. You can cause no head or neck injury using a harness system.

Let’s not forget, a harness or leash is just one part of the training necessary to get a dog to walk properly.  There is no substitute for a good obedience training program done early on for a well-behaved dog who walks well on any kind of a lead.

One last word about canine safety.  The Fourth of July is around the corner. If you are going out to see fireworks, leave your dog at home! He should be in the house, not outside, and if he is going to be alone, I highly suggest leaving on the TV for some background noise to drown out the noise of fireworks going off in the neighborhood. (Better yet, hire a petsitter!). The sound of fireworks is loud to us; a dog’s hearing is even more sensitive and the sound of fireworks can cause damage to a dog’s hearing at close range. In some dogs, it can also cause psychological and physical damage as well.  Many years ago, I rescued a German shepherd whose owners severely neglected him. One July 4th, they left him in the backyard alone and he literally tore up his foot pads trying to dig his way out of the backyard because he was so frightened. It took weeks of recuperation and he was never the same psychologically. Any loud sound made him bolt and wheel around in circles. Just because you enjoy fireworks does not mean your dog will as well. As a responsible pet owner, you must be able to have empathy and see things from your dog’s point of view.

Here’s to a safe and enjoyable summer!