While it's true that several major insurance companies will now allow auto insurance clients to purchase pet coverage, that coverage is meant to pay for your pet's medical care if someone hits you, not to be a liability insurance policy if you hit someone because Fido is bouncing around the car, blocking your vision. The fact is, as much as we love to drive with our dogs, an unrestrained animal in a car is a serious safety hazard literally an accident waiting to happen. How then, should we handle having our best furry friends along for the ride? Here are some tips:
Always Secure Your Dog: Small dogs allowed to ride loose in cars can get caught beneath the pedals, or seats, or bounce from seat to seat obstructing vision and pulling your focus. They've also been known to jump from open windows. Larger dogs can be injured by flying road debris if their heads are out the window, and can also get in the way. ALL dogs can fall out of a moving car if the window is open wide enough. We know Rover wants to see what's going on, which is why she needs to be secured in the car. For small dogs, there are special pet beds that elevate them to the window's level, while still keeping them attached to the car, much like baby seats, and for larger dogs there are harnesses designed to work with seatbelts.
Ride Inside or Not At All: It may seem natural to load a dog into the back of a pickup truck for a ride, but think before you do it, and then don't. Even a dog that has never chased squirrels before may decide to leap at one from the back of the truck, and a sudden stop or too-fast curve could toss the dog out of the truck as well. If you must bring your dog along, let him ride in the cab.
Open the Window But Not All the Way: You do want your dog to enjoy his or her car ride, so do open the window so they have fresh air to sniff, but only a little bit an inch or so so that they cannot jump or fall out. This also prevents people from sticking their fingers in your dog's face when you're stopped.
When You Park: Never leave your dog alone in a parked car just as you would never leave a small child alone. If you do need to leave the car for a few minutes, be sure the windows are cracked open and the doors are locked. If you're on a long trip, and stop for a meal break, be sure to let your dog out of the car as well. Many highway rest areas have special sections for dog walking, so heed those signs, and always offer your dog water at the beginning of a rest break, so they have time to eliminate before you get back on the road. Also, be sure that your dog is on-leash at all times, even if they're impeccably trained. You don't want the one time they don't come to be when you're miles from home.
Traveling with your canine companion can be fun, and if you keep your dog secure, you'll be able to do so without the stress of worrying about their position in relation to your feet, hands, or eyes, and without them turning into a projectile if you stop short. Remember, pet auto insurance is not a liability insurance policy and doesn't cover the damage you caused to someone else's car because Fido was sitting in your lap when you accelerated.
