Pretty Miss Emma Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Hi all! I know there are many differing views on restraining dogs in cars. But just wanted to mention it for people to have a think about. We had a car accident yesterday. The car is not in such good shape (may be written off and certainly is not able to be driven), but myself and Kenzie are pretty much fine. Thankfully I had her strapped in with her harness and buckled in to the seat belt in the back seat. I'm pretty sure when I got hit (rear-ended) that she still hit the back of my seat even though she was strapped in. Had she not been strapped in I dread to think where she could have ended up. The other thing was I then had to open and shut the door of my car several times on a freeway in peak hour and then finally remove her from the car; every time I opened a door she was desperately trying to get out. Had she not been strapped in she may have been successful and then there would also have been a loose dog on a freeway. So I'm not saying anyone should or shouldn't use particular things or whatever, but I am saying think about where your dog is when you're in the car and what could happen if you have an accident (in terms of your dog at the time of the accident but also when you have to get in and out of the car). Better to plan for something that may never happen than to end up in a horrible situation. Oh, and Kenz had to travel in the car again today. She was a little reluctant to get in at first but then she was more than happy and had a good nap (maybe a few nervous "I'm trying to climb to you" moments and kisses when she first got in, but then ok!!). Very happy about this as I was all prepared for her to petrified of the car!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironbutterfly Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I know it may sound silly but that is one of the things I considered when we bought our dog. OH thought I was mad but he sees the sense especially after having a SBT trying to sit on you while driving :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkehre Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 (edited) Hi PME. I am glad you and Kenzie are OK. It must have been awfully scary for you and her. I found this topic relevant to me as we too were in a car accident on Saturday - OH, myself and my precious girl Dyzney. Heading home from a herding clinic in Nyora, we were T-Boned by a car doing a u-turn across a double laned highway whilst travelling 80kph and ended up travelling a hundred metres or so along the centre medium strip on South Gippy Hwy in Tooradin. My car is a write-off and we spent all night in hospital on Saturday, til 5am Sunday. What you say is a good point. It was challening enough to deal with what had happened to us, the car with shock etc, but with the added worry for our dog, it was... well let me say, I still keep breaking into tears remembering how scared I was when I ran to the back of the car to open the tail gate to see if Dyzney was OK. I was terrified. What I found was when the ambulance arrived and wanted to take us both to hospital, I would only allow them to take OH (he was worse off than I was) because I had dyzney to sort out before I would go anywhere. I am so relieved that we had Puppy Bars fitted to our car late last year as I believe this is what saved Dyz. It also made everything easier to deal with whilst waiting roadside for all the police and ambulance stuff to be dealt with. She was contained, safe, could see where I was and I was very lucky to have an awesome witness approach me to offer support. Turned out this girl works at a animal welfare centre and she was dog savvy, so I asked to keep an eye on Dyzney whilst I assisted the ambos with OH's details and saw him off in the ambulance. Dyzney has been was checked out by her myotherapist and given the all clear. She was lucky not to sustain any internal injuries, but it so easily could have been worse if she had flown over the seat or even through the front screen. We are all very shaken, a bit emotional and bloody sore, but we are OK and very grateful for that. We all could have been more seriously injured or even killed. We are really lucky. PME, I hope you are dealing with your aches and pains OK and are coping with the emotional trauma. I never imagined an accident that you are not severely injured in would have effected me so much both physically and emotionally. I am still a bit fuzzy and confused. Edited January 25, 2012 by dyzney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 dyzney that's awful! We are certainly no where near as bad off as it sounds like you were. But it really does make you think. I hope you both recover ok, and I hope that Dyz bounces back to car travel the way Kenzie has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 dyzney that's awful! We are certainly no where near as bad off as it sounds like you were. But it really does make you think. I hope you both recover ok, and I hope that Dyz bounces back to car travel the way Kenzie has. Make sure you get to a doctor to report the accident in case you have injuries that haven't shown up yet. Teh worst of my injuries didn't show up for a week. I had someone slam into my passenger side wheel in a roundabout, on the way home from a show in early October. I thought that the dogs and I were ok even though I was aching all over by the time the Police arrived 2 hours later. Three months later I am still having physio and acupunture and am now off to see a neurosurgeon in a couple of weeks because of severe whiplash that is not settling down. I also had lots of soft tissue damage to my back but that is greatly improved. Luckily my dogs were contained in crates in the back of the car because we were stuck in the middle of a roundabout in the rain for all that time. Thankfully lots of BC friends from the show pulled up and organised between them to get me and the dogs home because the car had to be towed. I declined an ambulance because I had to get the dogs 50kms home. It was the first real socialisation day for my little 12 week JS puppy and he had to contend with the bigggest thunder storm I have ever been in and then the accident. Luckily none of it seems to have fazed him. My 8 year old BC seemed ok but I have noticed his hearing seemed to have diminished since the accident and only just this week is improving again. I assume he must have hit his head on the crate and caused temporary damage to his hearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simply Grand Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Oh gosh dyz and pme, I'm glad you and your dog's are ok. Very scary, crashes definitely shake you up even without injuries, and I think if you've had one you become more cautious as you realise they don't just happen to someone else! This is a great reinforcer for me, I do always have my guys harnessed and clipped in to achor points (2 on the back seat belts and 1 in the rear footwell) but the thought has crossed my mind sometimes that it would be so much easier to just put them all in without the harness rigmarole for a short trip... But then I think what if this is the one trip where I happen to have an accident ,so they all get strapped in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Wow Dyzney that's terrifying! Glad you are all ok, you too PME. Generally I always crate Daisy in the back of my car, I would hope if god forbid I had a car accident that having her crated would help keep her safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetson Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Glad you are all okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumof4girls Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I bought a harness yesterday and this is why, you just never know ESP with so many idiot drivers on the roads... Take care guys and yes get checked out you may have a bit of whiplash that may not show up for a couoke of days :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffordgirl Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 How scary for you all PME and dyzney! Glad to hear it wasn't any worse. Definitely something for everyone to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattycake Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Glad to hear you are all reasonably ok. Ours are always strapped in with a harness clipped into the seatbelt. I know in NSW it is Illegal to have an unrestrained dog in the car, is it the same in other states? You do still see some unrestrained, but then again some people are so stupid they still dont put their kids in carseats/seatbelts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Glad to hear you are all reasonably ok. Ours are always strapped in with a harness clipped into the seatbelt. I know in NSW it is Illegal to have an unrestrained dog in the car, is it the same in other states? You do still see some unrestrained, but then again some people are so stupid they still dont put their kids in carseats/seatbelts. In NSW it is NOT illegal to have a dog unrestrained in the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyke88 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 i believe it is illegal in VIC as it was on the radio recently about fines. i am glad everyone in this instance is ok. these are the reasons why a) my dogs are always strapped in, even when going to the corner shop, and b) i will be getting a ute with a canopy when i can buy a car as i shudder when i see people driving utes around with dogs open to everything on the back! if a canopy wasn't possible then ill be securing crates back there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsKatie Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I drove behind someone who's dog was hanging out of the back window - obviously unrestrained as it was going back and forth across the back seat - I was worried it was going to fall out. Mine go in the back area of the the Kluger with double ended leashes clipped to anchor points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattycake Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Glad to hear you are all reasonably ok. Ours are always strapped in with a harness clipped into the seatbelt. I know in NSW it is Illegal to have an unrestrained dog in the car, is it the same in other states? You do still see some unrestrained, but then again some people are so stupid they still dont put their kids in carseats/seatbelts. In NSW it is NOT illegal to have a dog unrestrained in the car. Well there ya go, I cert thought it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumof4girls Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I think it is in QLD .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 It is not illegal in any state! Seriously - the topic seems to come up here every month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellazpupz Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Thank you for posting this. Glad your all ok! I've been looking into what kind of harness to get, found this one on eBay, can I get some thoughts on if it is worth it? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/270898096737?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_970wt_689 (can I post links? Will delete it if not allowed) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lavendergirl Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) I think it is in QLD .. There is always a lot of confusion about what the law is and the media don't help by being lazy with their research and reporting. I believe in Qld it is illegal to not have a dog tethered on the back of a ute but it is not illegal to have a dog unrestrained in a car except if it is creating a hindrance to the driver e.g. sitting on the driver's lap. Hope you are both OK. Edited January 26, 2012 by lavendergirl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chequeredblackdog Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I have always been under the impression that it IS illegal in nsw. If it isn' t then how come the police can fine you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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