A close call and another plea...

[BG and Gavin]

We were making our regular Sunday night drive home from the cottage.  It was dark, Gavin was contently stretched out on the back seat of the pick-up truck (after happily finishing the last bites of each of our cheeseburgers) and DH and I were singing along to a classic rock tune on the radio.  We were cruising along about 80 km/h (that’s about 50 mph US) on a two lane highway that was widened to four lanes to provide a turning lane on each side (along an area with a number of businesses).  The person in front of us merged to the right lane to turn into one of those businesses.  At the same time a person came out of the business and was attempting to make a left hand turn right in front of us.  Everything happened very quickly.  Our half ton truck was about to broadside a compact car in the driver’s door.  I let out a gasp, my husband hit the brakes hard, then steered hard to the left swerving into the furthest on-coming lane.  “Ok,” I though, “we are not going to broadside this car, but when we tag the front end of it, we are going to spin.”  But miraculously (and thanks to some nifty driving from DH) we missed the car!  But believe me when I say the momentum was intense – first forward and then sideways.  Gavin and his seat cover shifted slightly, but thanks to being harnessed and strapped into the seat belt, he was not propelled forward and onto the floor of the back seat.  And God knows what kind of damage he would have suffered if that happened!

Some people on this site will warn you about feeding food from China.  Others will educate you about puppy mills.  Some will advise you to get pet insurance.  I am the one that has and will continue to urge you to strap your doodles into the car when you are travelling.

[Vivian & Mojo]

Thats so frightening...I'm so glad your all ok after that close call and bravo to DD driving skills. There are so many dangers all around us and its excellent when we can do preventive measures to make our doodles safer. I use a create but am going to get a harness, I had been thinking about it but your experience has made up my mind. I didn't know dogs could lay down with them, good to know because Mojo likes to sleep on car rides.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I'm glad everyone is OK and thanks for the reminder.!

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks Jane, Vivian and Barbara.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Haley has always been buckled in for his safety and ours.  He has a problem with oncoming cars and if not bucked in the back seat would probably get in the front seat and jump toward the driver's side window to get the oncoming car.  65 pounds of doodle doing something like that would be catastrophic!

[BG and Gavin]

Yes Anne, safer for the humans as well as the doods.

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

Thanks again for the warning and so glad everything turned out.  Things like this can happen in a split second and good thing Gavin was strapped in!

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks Colleen.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Thanks for posting this.  First, I'm glad you're all okay!  Second, we needed this kick in the butt.  We have a harness and "carseat" for Sedona and up until recently, she was ALWAYS buckled in.  When we were in the process of moving into our new house (which included several months of renovations before the actual move) we traveled between the two houses several times a day.  Since it was such a short drive, we got into the habit of letting Sedona just jump into the back seat - in her carseat but not harnessed in.  Starting today, she's back in the harness!!!!  

[BG and Gavin]

Glad I could be a reminder Deanna.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I'm so glad that everyone is okay. What kind of harness arrangement are you using? I had a harness for Monty that had a loop through which you would pull the seat belt. He did not like it since it made him pinned to the seat and he could not lay down or turn around. Also what should I use for when the dog is in the cargo area of the SUV? Monty is sitting on the  back seat and Auggie is on a bed in the cargo area, that way each of them can lay down when we drive somewhere.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Hi Jarka, this is the website for Daisy's restraints, it works in both the back seat of my DH's Accord and my SUV

http://usak9outfitters.com/CCSS.htm

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Thank you. I think I know what to get them for Christmas. :-)