Be Smart Ride Safe® Take the Pledge - We Did! Blog for the Change for Animals!

October 15, 2010

The FiveSibes buckle-up; do you? Going for a ride is one of their favorite things to do. They get so excited as soon as they they hear their leashes or the words "car ride." They each have their own favorite way of riding, some with their nose stuck out the window, sometimes with their head lying on the console to feel the a/c, or just sitting perfectly still gazing out the window. Whichever way they prefer is totally up to them...and belting them in is totally up to me.

Since it is National Animal Protection & Safety Month, and today is also Blog the Change for Animals (BtC), it's also the perfect time to talk about the

Be Smart Ride Safe® campaign. Have you taken the pledge? I sure have! I am an avid supporter of buckling up when in a vehicle - both Hu and Sibe family members alike. I have for several years now used a safety belt on each of my Sibes. We have used both types of restraints, the harness style and the seatbelt style. The latter is my preference as it clips onto the dog's collar and has a safety guard so the seat belt latch can not accidentally become undone, and your dog's leash can stay on so it's easy to grab before unlatching the seat belt to avoid a runaway canine. Just this past week, three of my Sibes needed to go to the vet and since it was raining, we rode over instead of walking. I can drive in confidence (and without distraction) knowing they are safe and secure, yet have enough room to move and reposition themselves. Pictured here are three of our furry Sibe models highlighting the black pet restraint belt.

According to Be Smart Ride Safe®:

A 60-pound pet can causes a 2,700 pound projectile, even when moving at only 35mph

Statistics show pet travel has increased 300% since 2005
Unrestrained pets in vehicles can delay emergency workers' access to human occupants
Pets escaping a vehicle post-accident can pose many dangers, including catching the loose pet
Injured pets may bite rescue workers or others who are trying to help
Pets may escape through a window or open door and cause a second accident
Driver distraction is common when unrestrained pets are rambunctious inside a vehicle

Statistics don’t lie:

When you have a pet in your lap, in the front seat or roaming freely around the car it is very likely you will break these simple three rules. There are three main types of distraction:

Visual — taking your eyes off the road
Manual — taking your hands off the wheel
Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing

Please take the pledge today and when you buckle-up your family and yourself, buckle up your canine companion as well. The life you save could be your own or your pet's.