Pet safety while driving part of Pittsburgh International Auto Show

It’s a law for humans to have their seat belts fastened in vehicles, but when it comes to canine companions, automobile safety can be an afterthought.

“Most people don’t think about anything bad happening,” said Marcy Kronz, president of Greater Pittsburgh Retriever Club and owner of Ruffwater Golden Retrievers, where she breeds dogs. “But accidents do happen. “

Kronz and husband Bill Kronz will be demonstrating how to secure a pet’s crate or carrier, attach a harness properly and use a ramp to assist animals getting in and out of a vehicle at this weekend’s Pittsburgh International Auto Show Friday to Monday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

“I think people need to be made aware of how to safely travel with their pets,” said Marcy Kronz. “Our pets are part of the family.”

Courtesy of Marcy Kronz

These dogs are owned by Marcy Kronz, president of the Greater Pittsburgh Retriever Club. She and her husband Bill will be talking about pet safety at the Pittsburgh International Auto Show Feb. 14-17 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.

Pets are family

Melinda Bondarenka, a 22-year Pennsylvania State Police trooper, who works in the office of community engagement said there have been crashes caused by animals unsecured in a vehicle.

Any hazard in the roadway can be dangerous for pets because drivers may need to make sudden twists and turns.

“We treat animals like family members so why would you let a family member not be secured in your car?” Bondarenka said. “You can be the best driver in the world but there are some circumstances that are out of your control.”

Here are some things to consider:

Window seats

It is not unusual to see a dog sticking its head out the window of a moving vehicle. Marcy Kronz said this fun can quickly lead to sadness if a dog gets injured from flying debris or is thrown from the window when a driver has to make a fast turn or have to stop abruptly.

“What happens if they jump out of the window and run into traffic?” Kronz said. “They put themselves and others in danger.”

Unsecured

Leaving pets in vehicles loose when driving is not safe.

“If you need to stop quickly, your dog could go airborne and could get hurt, or hurt you or another passenger in the car,” Kronz said. “If there is an accident the dog may jump out of the car when police or emergency medical technicians opens a door. Your dog could be traumatized and take off. And dogs are protective — they might not allow a person trying to help you get close.”

A small pet could crawl down and interfere with a driver’s use of the brake or accelerator pedal. A large pet leaning across a person’s lap can block the view of the road and during a collision, unrestrained pets may be crushed by deployed airbags, or thrown out or through windows or windshields, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

If you stop to get gas or at the store if an animal is not restrained it might run away when you open a door.

Feeding a dog in a moving vehicle is not recommended. Kronz recalled a story about a puppy that choked.

“This was devastating,” Kronz said.

Truck bed

Pickup trucks pose an extra risk. Driving with your dog unrestrained in the bed of a pickup truck is not only dangerous, it’s also illegal in many states, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Besides potential injury from airborne debris, dogs can fall or jump from the truck bed and be injured or killed on impact or be struck by other traffic. If you must transport your dog in the bed of a pickup truck, use a secured and appropriately sized and ventilated dog kennel, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Courtesy of Neighborhood Ford Store

Pet carriers should be secured in a vehicle and ventilation panels.

Harnesses/crates/carriers

The best way to use crates, carriers and harnesses is to get the animal used to them, Kronz said, and to start as soon as you decide to be a pet owner. Try a harness, crate or carrier in the house so they can become familiar with it and give them some treats so they associate it with a positive experience, Kronz said.

There are specific vehicle tested harnesses that have the dog sitting upright versus lying down. If you’re using a crate or carrier, choose one that’s big enough to allow your pet to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Position the crate or carrier as near to the center of the vehicle as possible and secure it in place to prevent movement.

Weather conditions

Be aware of the temperature because temperature fluctuations can make it dangerous to leave a pet unattended in a car.

Vehicles can quickly reach a temperature that puts pets at risk of serious illness or death — even on a day that doesn’t seem that hot or if the car is left in the shade, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, which cautioned that cracking the windows makes no difference. Cold weather can also threaten pets left in vehicles — leaving a pet in a vehicle on a chilly day isn’t much better than leaving them outdoors.

Cats and other animals need protection, too. Cats move so quickly they can jump on a dashboard or maneuver themselves under the gas or brake pedals, Kronz said. If you don’t have to take the pet with you — don’t.

And if you do take your pet, it is always best to prepare before you drive away.

“Think about what could happen,” Marcy Kronz said. “That is why we have seat belts and car insurance because accidents happen.”