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.

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

Where did you get the harness?  I have a leash that has the seat beat attachment on one end and attaches to Ginger's harness on the other...Is that what you are talking about?

Thanks

[BG and Gavin]

Yes Pam that arrangement should be just fine.  We just have a regular harness and a teather that attaches to the seat belt.  We did not have luck getting a good fit (due to Gavin's deep chest) with conventional car harnesses.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad you are all okay, BG! Kudos to your DH for his cool head and his driving skills! And thank you for the reminder to keep our dogs safe in the car.

[BG and Gavin]

Yes Karen, some of the skills he learned in his 30 years as a police officer paid off for sure.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I'm glad you are all OK.

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks F.  I was touch and go for a minute.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Glad everyone (including Gavin) is safe.  There has been much discussion about safely traveling with a dog in the car.  Many of us really have not paid the attention to this that it deserves.  This is a "pleasant" reminder for us.  Thank you for posting.   

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks Andy.  I am sure that I we would have had a huge vet bill and alot of heartache if he was not secured.

[Leslie and Halas]

Wow! Close call. I'm glad you're all OK. We use the harness almost all the time, but stories like this remind me that we need to use it all the time. Almost isn't good enough.

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks Leslie.  I know that sometimes it seems like a pain, especially for a short trip across town, but you never know.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Glad you are all safe!  We have a harness made by Kurgo which I've been very happy with.

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks Cheryl.  Glad that Finn is safe in his harness.