The combination of pets and vehicles on television and in film has always been a little far fetched. Chevy Chase driving with a dog tied to his bumper in "National Lampoon's Vacation," the reckless and never wreck-less cat Toonces from "Saturday Night Live," and the thoughtful hand signals of Clyde the orangutan in the movie "Every Which Way But Loose" come to mind. Whether or not you find them humorous depends on your comedic inclinations. Either way, they don't accurately portray the serious side of driving with your pets. For those of us that do so, the lion's share of them are short trips. Drives to the v-e-t, dog park, and the like. Like anything, there are right ways and wrong ways.
I recall the recent Lexus commercial that opened with a small dog licking a woman's face. As the shot panned out, we see the woman is actually in the driver's seat of a car speeding down a highway. "They're out there," the commercial reminds us. They certainly are.
Recently, my wife Kassy and I were sitting outside an ice cream shop on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. An elderly man slowly approached in a late-model Buick with his brown poodle, "Hershey" (his name for it, not mine). Hershey was not licking his owner's face, but the driver seemed sufficiently distracted as it was. Hershey, you see, was standing on the driver's lap between his arms and propping herself on the door, near the wide-open window.
I took a contemplative draw on my malt and did a mental inventory. I figured it was reasonable to assume the following: the driver's forward and left views are at least partially obstructed, he cannot check his left mirror, and the reach for his turn signals would be awkward at best. As for the open window, that's another hazard. Like most other dogs, Hershey seemed to enjoy the wind in her fur. But even a minor distraction or scare, while stopped or at speed, may have triggered her to jump from the vehicle. Even when dogs are comfortably seated with their heads in the breeze, they are exposed to dirt, insects or-even worse-road debris. Ever have a rock crack your windshield? 'Nuff said.
Of course, the car window was almost completely closed while the man was parked-but not before debriefing Hershey on how long he'd be and what flavor sundae he was buying. Mercifully, it wasn't what I'd consider a hot day (this was just before the record-breaking heat hit us), but it's a proven fact that the heat inside a parked car intensifies to danger levels within minutes. True to his word, though, the driver returned a few minutes later, sundae in hand. As he got set to leave and Hershey assumed her place, I noted two more factors conspiring against a safe drive home: the man failed to fasten his seatbelt, and he was now only driving with one hand. You know, his non-sundae hand, the hand with limited range of motion thanks to the dog getting in the way.
"I'm not sure he'll even make it out of the parking lot," Kassy said, stunned that anyone would attempt such a juggling act. Her words were prophetic. A moment later the man nearly hit another car head-on. Had they collided and Sundae Man's airbags deployed, it would have meant the end of the line for Hershey.
This example is a little extreme, but it serves a good lesson. Hershey could still safely make the trip with a little forethought. Most pet stores now sell dog harnesses that work in conjunction with your vehicle's seatbelts. Or if you prefer, travel crates and barriers are available, in sizes easily accommodated by SUVs and minivans. Either solution holds the hound securely yet comfortably. Best of all, the driver is free to actually drive-a novel concept these days.
For cat owners, your pet may not be on the highway to hell like Toonces, but a cat in the car can mean a dangerous drive. Opinions vary on the use of carriers, but Kassy and I use with one with our siamese cat Nigel. Once Nigel overcame his initial fear, he became a bit too comfortable. His favorite hangouts were atop the dash and down by the driver's feet ("Gee, Honey, the brakes sure feel spongy."). Once he adjusted to the carrier, he became less apprehensive of riding. We throw in his favorite blanket, a toy or two and we're off. Our Lexus and Honda both have three-point seat belts in back, and I can securely wind the belt through the carrier handle. Maybe my paternal instincts are creeping in here, but I like the idea of Nigel and I being able to see each other while I drive-without mistaking him for an extra brake pedal.
As for owners of exotics-exotic pets, that is-I haven't forgotten you. In fact, I was once among you. That is, until I met Kassy. Once nature eventually ran its course with my python and tarantula, Kassy recommended future pets have two eyes and four legs. But I digress. If you're going to drive with your creepy-crawly-something-or-other, many carriers found in pet stores are "multi-critter," suitable for many species under the short-trip examples we're talking about.
Whatever the pet, whatever your needs, remember to consult your veterinarian with any questions you may have. She may discourage you from teaching your pet hand signals ˆla Clyde the orangutan, but she'll make sure the waggin' train has a safe journey.
