How Many Dogs Fall Out Of Car Windows A Year ?
How Many Dogs Fall Out Of Car Windows A Year :-Animals riding in the bed of a pickup truck are at risk of jumping or falling, potentially being struck by other vehicles. They may also fall from an open window if leaning out of the vehicle.
It’s important not to allow pets to ride in the bed of a pickup truck or to hang their heads out of windows while driving. Power windows can exert significant force and may cause suffocation, injury, or death to animals. Ensure all passengers, including pets, keep their body parts inside the vehicle before rolling up any windows, and engage the window locks at all times.
Dog Falls out Moving Car on Busy Highway, Is Left Hanging by a Leash
How Many Dogs Fall Out Of Car Windows A Year Many people enjoy driving with their dogs, letting them feel the wind in their fur. However, it’s crucial to ensure their safety. A viral video from London in 2015 illustrates this point vividly. In the video, a dog leaned out of an open car window and fell out when the vehicle made a turn. The dog was left hanging by a leash, likely attached to something inside the car. The driver noticed and pulled over, but the dog’s condition afterward is unknown.
It’s essential to restrain dogs properly while driving. A study found that 60% of dog owners have been distracted by their pets while driving, and only 17% use any form of restraint. Dogs should not be allowed to lean out of windows where they could fall or jump out. Unrestrained animals have been known to escape from vehicles at tollbooths and rest stops. Additionally, transporting animals in the bed of a pickup truck is dangerous, as sudden stops, turns, and collisions pose a significant risk to them.
Drivers should also consider their safety in case of an accident. At just 35 mph, a 60-pound dog can exert 2,700 pounds of force upon impact. So, for the safety of both pets and drivers, it’s crucial to restrain animals properly while traveling in a vehicle.
Pets in vehicles
How Many Dogs Fall Out Of Car Windows A Year Every year, hundreds of pets die from heat exhaustion because they are left in parked vehicles. Despite common justifications such as “I’ll only be a few minutes” or “I cracked the windows,” these excuses offer little protection if your pet becomes seriously ill or dies from being left in a vehicle.
The temperature inside your vehicle can rise almost 20º F in just 10 minutes, and almost 30º F in 20 minutes. The longer you wait, the higher it goes. At one hour, your vehicle’s inside temperature can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Even on a 70-degree day, that’s 110 degrees inside your vehicle
An independent study showed that the interior temperature of vehicles parked in outside temperatures ranging from 72 to 96º F rose steadily as time increased. Another study, performed by the Louisiana Office of Public Health, found that the temperatures in a dark sedan as well as a light gray minivan parked on a hot, but partly cloudy day, exceeded 125oF within 20 minutes.
This study also found that cracking the windows had very little effect on the temperature rise inside the vehicle. This is definitely a situation where “love ’em and leave ’em” is a good thing. Please leave your pets at home when you can—they’ll be safe and happily waiting for you to come home.
The risks associated with pets in vehicles don’t end with heatstroke. Just as you should always wear your seatbelt to protect you in case of a collision, your pet should always be properly restrained while in the vehicle. That means a secure harness or a carrier.
A loose, small pet could crawl down in the footwell, interfering with the use of the brake or accelerator pedal. A small pet sitting in your lap could be injured or killed by the airbag or could be crushed between your body and the airbag in a collision. Unrestrained pets could be thrown out or through windows or windshields in a collision. And not only could your pet be injured in the collision, but it might also increase your risk of collision by distracting you and taking your attention away from where it should be—on the road.
Letting your dog hang any part of its body out of the window increases the risk that it could be thrown out of the vehicle during a collision, lose its balance and fall out of the open window during an abrupt turn or maneuver, or jump out of the vehicle to threaten another dog or a person.
And let’s not forget the severe dangers of driving with your dog in the bed of a pickup truck. Dogs can fall or jump from the truck bed and be injured or killed on impact, or be struck by other traffic. Using an appropriate-length tether may reduce the risk that your dog will exit the truck bed, but the tether could tangle, injure, or even choke your dog. If you must transport your dog in the bed of a pickup truck, use a secured and appropriately sized and ventilated dog kennel.
Before you put your pet in the vehicle, ask yourself if you really need to take your pet with you—and if the answer is no, leave your pet safely at home. If you must take your pet with you, make sure they are properly restrained so the trip is as safe as possible for both of you.
Vet highlights dangers of allowing dogs to lean out of car windows
How Many Dogs Fall Out Of Car Windows A Year Allowing a pet dog to hang its head out of a car window may seem like harmless fun, but according to leading veterinary surgeon Dr. Pete Wedderburn, it’s fraught with dangers. Dr. Wedderburn, who regularly appears on TV and radio to discuss veterinary matters, warns that the risks are significant and often not apparent until an accident occurs.
Dr. Wedderburn explains that in the event of an accident, the dog’s body can act as a missile, causing injuries to both the dog and humans. He compares it to humans hanging out of train doors, emphasizing that the hazards are real and should not be ignored.
One of the dangers is that a dog could lean too far and fall out of the car, especially if the window is fully lowered and the dog is standing on the door. Dr. Wedderburn also points out that a dog could jump from the car when it’s stopped if the window is left down. He questions whether owners should trust their dog’s training in such situations, highlighting the unpredictability of a dog’s behavior, particularly when something interesting catches its attention.
Additionally, sudden stops or accidents could cause a dog to fall out of the car or get debris embedded in its eye. Dr. Wedderburn stresses that even the smallest particle can become a projectile in a moving car, and a vehicle could be suddenly sideswiped or involved in an accident, potentially crushing the dog.
To keep dogs safe while traveling in a car, Dr. Wedderburn suggests safe alternatives to letting them put their heads out of windows. These include opening the window slightly to allow the dog to enjoy the breeze and smells, ensuring the air conditioner is on, and using a dog seatbelt when the window is open.
