Fur babies are a big part of Australian families, and the RSPCA estimates 39 per cent of homes have a 4-legged canine buddy. Nobody likes to leave their fur baby behind when heading out in the car, but are you mentally and physically prepared to keep your dog safe if your vehicle breaks down or is involved in an accident? Roadside services travel to breakdowns and accidents as soon as they can, but there may be delays during peak traffic or if the incident occurs out of town. Keep these two pointers in mind so you can keep your dog safe while waiting for roadside services to arrive.
Toileting
There is only so long any dog can sit in the car before they need to go to the toilet. So what are your options for toileting a dog while waiting for assistance to arrive at your vehicle? The answer depends on where your vehicle is. For example, if you have broken down outside of town on a quiet road, and your vehicle is pulled off to the side of the road, there is no reason why you can't clip a leash onto the dog so they can relieve themselves on the outside ground. However, don't walk too far away from the vehicle as you don't want to get lost. Additionally, take a torch with you if it is dark so your pet doesn't startle any animals or other nasty critters as they look for a spot to squat.
However, if you are on a busy motorway and you can't let your dog out of the car, you need puppy pee pads or an old piece of fabric they can pee on. While a dog peeing in the car is not an ideal choice, it is a better than them peeing on the car's fabric or carpet. The pee pad or fabric scrap can be thrown away as soon as your car is mobile again. In summary, pack a leash, torch and emergency pee pad in the boot of your car before starting a road trip.
Overheating
A dog in a closed, hot car can overheat quickly, but how do you keep them cool if you are stuck in your car waiting for roadside assistance? These three tips will help to cool them down while keeping them safe:
Use these pointers to pre-pack your vehicle with your pet in mind so you can be sure you are fully prepared to protect your dog no matter what happens.
Share12 July 2017
Hello, my name is Erin and this is my auto blog. For many years now, I have been buying, selling and modifying automobiles. I am not an auto professional. I work in a large bank in Sydney. However, at the weekends, I like to spend time looking for classic cars which need some love and care. I learnt my skills from my dad when I was growing up. He worked in an auto repair shop and even though he didn't collect cars himself, he knew a good deal when he saw one. I hope this blog is useful to those looking to find out more about automobiles.
