Ford and the American Humane Association have teamed up in a pet safety campaign to remind pet owners that pets should ride inside of your vehicle.  Over 100,000 dogs die each year riding in the back of truck beds, causing unnecessary and careless suffering.   Dogs can both jump out, or fall out onto the road at high speeds or even on coming traffic. 

Recommendations are made that your dog should always be placed in the back seat of your vehicle.  If your automobile only has a front seat, there are doggie seatbelts and restraints that can keep your canine companion from climbing into your lap while driving.  Better yet is to equip your car with a pet crate.  This also protects your dog from being injured or thrown from the car in the case of an accident or collision.  

Some dogs love to stick their heads out of the window.  Allowing them to do so is one of the easiest ways for a pet to get injured with flying debris, jumping out of a moving vehicle or even stepping on the power window button and causing the window to close on their neck or head.  

NEVER leave a pet unattended in a car.  Even though the weather may seem cool, add an extra 15 degrees as the sun beats down and heats up the inside.  Cracking windows does not keep your poor animal from getting heat stroke! 

This fall, Ford will be sponsoring a month long adoption in conjunction with Fido Friendly magazine.  “Get Your Licks on Route 66” will visit 15 cities from Los Angeles to Chicago to help promote pet safety and adoption.  Over 1,500 animals have been placed in homes so far.   For more information on shelters and dates please visit www.getyourlicksonroute66.com. 

Credit:

Ford Motor Company.  “Ford and American Humane Association Remind Pickup Truck Drives: Dogs Ride Inside.” Sept 2013.