Carriers and harnesses help to keep your furkids safe during car rides.
Carriers and harnesses help to keep your furkids safe during car rides.
IF you have a dog, there will be some point when you have to transport it in a vehicle – whether it’s for a medical appointment with a veterinarian (which your pet probably dislikes) or an outing to somewhere interesting (which your pet probably loves).
Some people bring their dogs everywhere, whenever possible, and have made car trips part of the weekly or even daily routine for their furry friends.
It’s second nature for you to belt up and to ensure every passenger in the car does the same. But what about your dog?
In Singapore, owners’ methods of transporting dogs are as diverse as the dog breeds and the makes/models of the motorised transport in question – holding the canine companion in their arms or on their lap while in the car, sharing the front seat squab if the doggy is small enough, leaving it on the backseat unrestrained, or using a carrier of some kind.
The last method isn’t common, though. “Dog carriers and crates are one of the least popular items in our inventory,” said Mr Kieran Kua, who oversees the operations of Pet Guru, an online pet store owned my SOSD, a humane organisation which rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes rescued strays.
“If a customer purchases one, it is usually because it’s needed to fly their dog back home, and not to use it to ferry it around in the car.”
According to Mr Eugene Chua, co-owner of Pets City, which specialises in grooming and sells accessories for dogs and cats, “Sales of dog carriers have slowed considerably in the last few years as most people are content to ferry their dogs around on the rear seats or in the boot area.”
The only carriers which still sell well are those for puppies, because owners do not want them to dirty the car cabin, Mr Chua added.
"For some drivers, their dog’s comfort seems to be a higher priority than safety."
For some drivers here, their dog’s comfort seems to be a higher priority than safety. Upon approval Please sign: Name and Date: Medical doctor Robert Woon said, “A car seat cover is the most important to me when I bring Max, my Labrador Retriever, to the park or the beach. He is so docile and low energy, he just lies at the rear for the entire journey.”
When told that Max would be thrown about in a traffic accident, Dr Woon replied, “There is little chance of that happening, as I drive extra carefully when he is in the car with me.”
Careful driving may not be enough. According to Toyota, an unrestrained child in a car accident at 50km/h would suffer the same injuries as one dropped from a three-storey building. In the same scenario, a 5kg infant will hurtle forward with the force of 100kg. Imagine the injuries to something like a Golden Retriever, which can weigh over 30kg, or a 20kg adult male border collie.
Dr Eugene Lin of the Animal Ark Veterinary Group related the case of an unrestrained dog which flew forward and hit the windscreen when the driver slammed on the brakes.
“I think it was a Retriever of some sort, on the front seat of his car… it hit its head against the front windscreen, causing the glass to crack,” Dr Lin said. “Thankfully, the dog was uninjured. Coincidentally, the dog was on its way to my clinic for a consultation.”
The potential harm is not confined to just the animal – the car’s human occupants could be hurt, too, if they’re seated in the path of a dog that’s thrown about in a collision. That is why some countries have strict rules on how pets are transported.
"Responsible “pawrents” should transport their furkids safely and comfortably."
In the United States, for instance, the police in New Jersey can stop and fine anyone they determine to be incorrectly transporting a pet in a car. Penalties start at US$250 ($337) and go as high as US$1000 ($1348).
In Hawaii, it’s illegal to drive with a dog on your lap. And in Australia, the law in the state of Victoria says that all dogs carried in utility vehicles, such as pickups and lorries, have to be in a cage or restrained using a tether.
Here in Singapore, there are no laws governing the transport of dogs in vehicles.
But Mr Efran Koh, head of service quality at the Traffic Police, said, “Although driving with a pet animal on board a vehicle may not be an offence, the Traffic Police can still take action against motorists who are distracted by the animal, for failing to maintain proper control of the vehicle.”
Many foreigners who live here tend to exercise more caution when transporting their dogs.
According to Mr Yap Seng Teck, founder and CEO of pet supplies distributor Eagle Territorial Agency, expatriates who are experienced owners of large-breed dogs such as German Shepherds and Rottweilers take the safety of their dogs during transportation “very seriously”.
“These people spare no expense when it comes to purchasing the best carriers for their dogs.”
And they might have a bone to pick with less safetyconscious dog owners who ferry their pooches like they would plush toys.
Whatever the canine in the cabin, be it a Maltese in a Mercedes, a Boxer in a Boxster or a Pug in a Peugeot, responsible “pawrents” should learn a trick or two about transporting their furkids safely and comfortably.
Keeping Rover Out of Danger
What are some of the safest ways to transport “Rover” in a “Land Rover”? The choices depend on the size and shape of your car, the size and temperament of your dog, and individual preferences (including the pet’s).
Experts say it is safer for the dog, and less distracting for the driver, if man’s best friend is ferried in the back of the cabin instead of the front, especially when there’s no one else accompanying the furry passenger.
Using a dog crate or carrier is one of the best ways to keep your dog safe en route. These come in all sizes and are made either of durable plastic or painted metal, with a sturdy mesh door at one end and a carrying handle on top.
The crate must be spacious enough to house the dog comfortably and allow it to sit up and stretch, but not so large that the dog would be thrown around in an accident or by any sudden vehicle movement.
Mr Yap of Eagle Territorial Agency provided some advice: “Once properly secured, either by tethers or by moving the front passenger’s seat all the way back so that the carrier is sandwiched between the front seatback and the rear backrest, it will not move around and the dog is safe and sound at all times.”
A dog harness can do the job, too – worn around the neck and chest of the dog, and fastened to the seatbelt with an adjustable strap. It is available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. You should choose one with sufficient padding to cushion the body of your doggy in a car crash or during an evasive driving manoeuvre.
You should also ensure a snug but comfy fit, so that the harness works as intended. As long as your dog wears its harness happily, or at least isn’t fidgety, it’s a good choice.
But dog harnesses are unpopular in Singapore, said Mr Yap. “It is an excellent tool, but the dog has to be used to being restrained in such a way, or it will struggle and might get itself tangled up.”
For hatchbacks, SUVs, MPVs and station wagons, dog guards can be fitted between the back of the rear seats and the boot area to create a restricted “kennel”.
This works in the same way as using a crate, although it provides slightly less protection as the dog will not be safe from impact with the side windows and rear windscreen.
