Bark Buckle UP campaign reminds us to travel safely with dogs

Some of us are lucky enough to have pets who travel beautifully; others struggle to get their four-legged friends to see the car as a safe place. You've probably thought long and hard about their welfare, planning appropriate stops and exercise, buying travel bowls and so on. But have you thought about yours, too?

The UK Highway Code states:

When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.

[Source]

Bark Buckle UP is a campaign that aims to educate people across the pond about safely travelling with their dog. They emailed us with a link to their website, and I thought I'd pass it on to our readers as there's some very useful advice there.

Distraction of the driver is the most obvious, immediate danger, but what about after that? This is the paragraph that sent a chill down my spine:

"In an accident, an unrestrained animal is dangerous to the human passengers as well. Even in an accident of only 30 mph, a 15-pound child can cause an impact of more than 675 pounds. A 60-pound dog can cause an impact of 2,700 pounds, slamming into a car seat, a windshield, or another passenger. Even if the animal survives, it can impede the progress of rescue workers for whom every moment is precious."

So if you're planning a half term, Easter, summer or any other trip with your dog this year, consult with your vet, ask for reviews online and generally do your research about the best way to keep your dog safely out of harm's way. Think carefully about not just the most comfortable but the safest way for your precious pooch to travel. A few precautions can prevent accidents and save lives.

Update: Twitter follower @jjjen points out that it's not safe to put a dog in the front seat where there's an air bag. It's probably always best to confine them to the back where possible.


[Image Source: RelentlesslyOptimistic's Flickr stream]

A 'Welcome' donation to Dogs Trust of £100,000

Last week a major milestone was reached as Dogs Trust confirmed that the charity has received £100,000 in donations through a partnership with Welcome Cottages. Welcome Cottages partnered with Dogs Trust five years ago to donate 10 percent of every cottage rental to the charity.

The valuable funds raised will be used to provide care in the 17 rehoming centres nationwide and help Dogs Trust to support its education and outreach projects.

Welcome Cottages will continue to donate 10 per cent of every cottage rental booked through direct booking line and www.dogstrust-cottages.co.uk.

A large proportion of the money raised will be used to build and equip a brand new vet suite at the Darlington rehoming centre, Hill House Farm. The centre, which provides care for over 120 dogs, will use the new suite to carry out small operations including dental work, neutering and microchipping.

Clarissa Baldwin OBE, Chief Executive of the Dogs Trust said:

“Being able to offer Dogs Trust loyal supporters the opportunity to book pet friendly holidays whilst donating to the charity is an ideal partnership. Money raised is used for spreading the word about responsible dog ownership, developing new rehoming centre facilities and investing in long-term education programmes in schools and clubs across the UK.”