Here We Go Again----- Seat Belts

[F, Calla & Luca]

I thought this was thought provoking, especially the part about testing of restraints. My dogs stay calmly in the back seat. Although I have restraints I do not use them but I know many people would be critical of my decision.

http://www.care2.com/causes/are-doggy-seat-belts-really-safe-for-yo...

[BG and Gavin]

People on this site know my very firm stance on strapping pets in.  I have stated my case and made pleas many times.  This was my best argument:  http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/a-close-call-and-another-plea  I hope that those who don't now, will.  And regarding the strap breaking - well something is better than nothing.  Even if it does fail, it will at least slow them down.  I use a regular harness and a coupler.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Good point BG. Perhaps SOMETHING is better than nothing. Still, I will be interested in finding out if there are safety tested harnesses that performed well?

[F, Calla & Luca]

Something is better than nothing provided the harness or strap itself does not injure the dog and that is not always the case apparently. If the strap held them safely or even slowed them down that would be a plus for sure.

[Camilla and Darwin]

True true.

[Sharon & Monty]

Absolutely agree, something is better than nothing.  Having been in a slow horrible accident, no belts and a fast car hiting me at approx 60mph with a belt, I'll take my belt. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk5cp93zefk

lots to see on the internet

just google it. :)

 

 

[Sharon & Monty]

I've been a few nasty accidents.  With less than 5 miles from home, I was very tired, then husband asked if he should drive, I say nah, we are almost home, I'm fine....famous words right before I fell asleep and hit a telephone pole.  We did not have seat belts on (this was a long time ago)  When we came around to figure out what had happened I had trouble talking because of stuff in my mouth.  Turns out it was my broken teeth impeeding my speech, my face took on the steering wheel.  Same with husband, his face took a bite out of the dash board. It was embarrassing to tell the officer and hospital personnel, no I did not have a seat belt buckled. Another time I was t-boned with a speeding car at an intersection, this time by golly I had my seat belt on, seen it coming and screamed some nasty words before being hit.  I had some hip tendons and the like stretched out of shape and a lovely black and blue mark to show the seat belt mark.  I was thrilled to have been buckled that day, didnt lose any teeth nor need stiches.

The short of it for me, I have experienced no seat belt and will absolutely vote for having less issues like being thrown thru the windshield, eating the dashboard or steering wheel.  Not to mention that a dog flying thru the car will not help me one bit when the hit comes. 

I insist on Monty being buckled...always.  Check out the stats, accidents happen near your home, almost always.

http://www.calculateme.com/car-insurance-articles/where-accidents-h...

I understand that there are no stats available for dog seat belts, but I'd rather take our chances with him steady in the seat. 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I read this article as well.....my opinion is use the restraints but I know a lot, and I mean most really, don't use them. I do admit not restraining Daisy always probably 90% of the time....but I am very aware when I don't, guilty really. In the winter and in the rain she is always in her restraints, sometimes though, if the trip is really long and the weather is really great, I do not always restrain. I know BG, my bad, and don't you worry, you are in my head when I cheat.

[Sharon & Monty]

Not meant for you Lisa, but these are but two of my accidents, neither of which could be predicted. Had another where stopped traffic for constuction had the guy behind me come around and t-bone my on the drivers door, had the famous jaws of life stop by to get us out.  Three accidents all in good weather, close to home and no way know how could I have ever thought something would happen.

I will forever say, buckle up as the alternative is not pretty.  And of course I know that buckling up is not always our saviour, but I'll take it vs without, been there done that. And I'll take those air bags warnings, they beat eating the dashboard every time!!!

I have a DH that thinks going down to the post office on our horrible accident prone road is ok, its only 2 miles.....not. Buckle my dog or dont take him is my personal rule.  I look at it this way, If I thought just jaunting down the road to the post office with my child unbuckled and something bad happened.......well might as well kill me now.  Monty is my child, I'll do the best I can with what I have.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Sharon, I totally agree, like I said, my bad. I always try to keep her restrained...she flew from the back of my SUV when she was just 5 months old, I was doing maybe 30 miles per hour. The next day I ordered them. But I am not perfect and taking chances is not a good idea.

I really don't know why I skip it sometimes...boils down to in a hurry I guess.

[BG and Gavin]

I am glad to be in your head Lisa :)

[Christine & Camus]

Camus always wears a seat belt in the car. 

The tie down is not made of fabric so I feel somewhat confident it will not break.  I decided to use the easywalk harness, even though it does not have padding, because it is not near his neck. 

This is what I posted in July 2012

Camus wears an Easy Walk harness as a seat belt (with the loop on his back). I went to Home Depot and bought a piece of plastic covered wire, 2 clamps, and 2 swivel hooks, and the rep at Home Depot helped by putting the clamps on with a special tool they have.  The finished product looks identical on both ends, one end attaches to the harness, the other to the clamp in my car (clamp in the car is for securing a child seat)  

Easier to show you then to explain, this is a picture of the connecter (same on both ends and swivel hook eliminates tangles).  What is not in this photo is the stretchy elastic wrap that I cover the clamp with to protect Camus and my leather car seat.  I had this made because it cannot be chewed through, which is what my last dog did to the connecter that was a leash type fabric.  He chewed through it while I was driving! So not much good as a safety device.

And, of course, the Easy Walk harness that can be used for walking with the loop in front as shown or turned around with the loop on the dog's back for a car seat harness. The harness comes in small, medium, medium/large, and large.

Camus wears an Easy Walk harness as a seat belt (with the loop on his back). I went to Home Depot and bought a piece of plastic covered wire, 2 clamps, and 2 swivel hooks, and the rep at Home Depot helped by putting the clamps on with a special tool they have.  The finished product looks identical on both ends, one end attaches to the harness, the other to the clamp in my car (clamp in the car is for securing a child seat)  

Easier to show you then to explain, this is a picture of the connecter (same on both ends and swivel hook eliminates tangles).  What is not in this photo is the stretchy elastic wrap that I cover the clamp with to protect Camus and my leather car seat.  I had this made because it cannot be chewed through, which is what my last dog did to the connecter that was a leash type fabric.  He chewed through it while I was driving! So not much good as a safety device.

And, of course, the Easy Walk harness that can be used for walking with the loop in front as shown or turned around with the loop on the dog's back for a car seat harness. The harness comes in small, medium, medium/large, and large.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

This is an interesting solution. I use an easy walk most of the time so it would be a simple solution. However, i wonder if the easy walk harness would be a safe way to restrain them. The straps might either break quickly or else really cut into their skind, not to mention the fact that it attaches in the front so the doodles would be really tossed around in a sudden impact. Just some thoughts, I'm not sure what to think...

I have seat belts for the doodles but the only ones I could find were flimsy at best. I ordered some online but they were too small. These days for the most part I just make do without, however I know I've seen the pleas and really should listen, I just don't trust the ones I have to work at all and they are so complicated and time consuming that I just go without (a lame excuse I know,but there you have it).