RUN, DON'T WALK AND GET YOUR DOODLE A CAR HARNESS RESTRAINT SYSTEM!!

[Kate C Pappas]

 Yindi and I who were in an accident on Saturday on one of the busiest freeways in the world, Interstate 10 in the Los Angeles area. I rear ended a car and while I wasn't traveling at a high speed due to traffic, in a blink of an eye, it happened.

Thank G-d I was driving a big Escalade but it was totaled. I hope the other people in the accident will be OK and I'm still having nightmares about it.

Yindi was wearing her Champion K9 harness that is connected to a tether fastened to "U" shaped tie downs that protrude slightly from the rear seats where the seat belts are.

Within minutes of the accident there were more CHP officers on the scene than I could count. There were fire dept people and some EMTs there instantly.

They wanted to take me to a hospital there and then but I wouldn't go because of Yindi. I had to wait for DH. They had shut down the whole east bound I-10 Fwy so DH managed to work his way over to the shoulder and 'badge' the police to continue down to get to me.

They had to pry my driver's door open to get me out.

A lady behind me, stopped and gave her statement saying only that she saw the crash.

I was sobbing hysterically and she grabbed me and hugged me. It was so sweet and I don't even know her name.

Poor little Yindi was standing up, still tethered, trembling like a leaf. I got out my Lavender essential oil from her grooming bag, and gave her a massage. She trembled until DH got there and carried her to his car.

One of the young CHP officers even hugged me and kept repeating "it was an accident".

My car was towed away and I'll have to go down to the tow yard in the next day or so and get my things out of it. I took anything of value.

We then went to Cedars Sinai where I was checked out and ultra sounded to make sure there was no internal bleeding.

I'll be calling my own doctor's office today although right now she is vacationing in Israel. Wish that's where I was right now.

I feel horrible physically as I slammed my already wrecked knees, my chest, shoulders and neck hurt and I must have hit my head when the airbag deflated.

So PLEASE, seat belt your precious fur babies like you do for yourselves and your human children.

The CHP looked at Yindi in surprise saying in all his years of handling accidents, he'd never seen a dog in a car restrainy. She said she would have gone through the windshield!

[Kate C Pappas]

I have to tell you that if he were a projectile, a hammock would not stop him. Their weight increases exponentially in a crash.

[Elaine Leitelt]

So glad to hear you and Yindi are fine.   Before getting Maddie, I never would have thought of getting a harness for the car.  We have a Bergan harness and it does give you peace of mind and she does not mind wearing it.

[Kate C Pappas]

So true. It's funny how I grew up with no car seats back then, and survived just fine. But things are different and I'm glad we have them. I think it should be required for dogs too, for their safety and for those within the car.

[F, Calla & Luca]

This is a cautionary tale. I am glad that you are all right although traumatized and banged up a bit. Also glad Yindi is OK too. Accidents do happen and now you need just focus on recovering.

[Kate C Pappas]

Thank you. :) I'm trying and hope tonight will bring better sleep and no nightmares.

[Dori & Rua]

So very glad you and Yindi were seriously hurt.  Rua is on her second harness.  She started chewing the strap on her first one, so I got another because I was paranoid that it wouldn't hold if we were in a collision.

 

I have to tell you, I am one of those who wear a seat belt to go a few feet.  On Christmas morning 1972, my Nana (grandmother) was killed in a car accident - no seat belt.  I was 16 years old.  Many years later (about 17) I found myself as a non-traditional college student taking a public speaking class.  I had to do a persuasive speech.  I didn't have to think about my topic, I knew right away it would be wearing seat belts.  It was quite an emotional speech for me to give.  I have to tell you Kate, that one of the things that sticks with me the most is when I was walking to a class a year later and someone stopped me in the parking lot and told me that the reason they wear their seatbelt now was because of me.

 

You are going to have a profound impact on a number of Doodle and other dog owners, and perhaps save a life.  Thank God you are both here to share your experience.

[Kate C Pappas]

That is a very bittersweet story. I'm so sorry about your Nana too. I never knew mine very well. And see, if you help ONE person, they will tell others and so on.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

That must have been so scary! I'm so glad you are ok and so isYindi. Good for you for using a seat belt. I have one for Sophie Bear and have been critized/teased more than once for it. I find myself justifying myself to people who give me the 'crazy dog lady' look. I don't care. I can now see just how important it is. Thanks for sharing your story, and I hope you and Yindi are feeling 100% soon.

[Kate C Pappas]

Good for you! We each have to make choices and not care what other think.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

yea. I hat it when people say "But it's JUST a Dog!" Are you kidding me? what makes my dog's life any less valuable than any other life? I don't want my dog to get hurt or killed because people think it's lame to put a seat belt on. Back in the 80s when I was a kid people thought it was lame for humans to wear seatbelts, and now it's the norm. I hope it will be the norm for dogs soon.

 

Safety First!

[Kate C Pappas]

We will be fine eventually but I wish we could just blast through all this faster and have it way behind us. I'm glad you use restraints. I've been teased too.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

So glad Yindi is okay and that you're only banged up - nothing more major!  Sedona never rides without her restraint.  Will get a note into the glovebox, though.