As much as we all travel with dogs and for long hours, I thought this might be a great reminder or awareness...What happens after a crash with a load of dogs? Truett and I rolled the truck a couple years ago at 5 am in -9 degree weather enroute to catch a flight for a judging assignment overseas...We had 5 shorty bulls with us,,,in the cab 4 crated and a puppy on my lap....In the moments after the crash, there were dogs flung everywhere, one crate and Hank pinned in the cab,,Trus phone was on the charger when we crashed....afterwards..could not find it anywhere. Mine was tucked safely in my bra- lol and was still there when I came too....the dogs were freaked out, making laps around the truck...luggage and the show bag thrown out on the way down...my purse exploded inside the cab......loose dogs on a highway....and the crates all cracked or broken but one..not a leash to be found...and no way to contain the dogs. Besides the bitter wind and the stun of the impact, youre standing there wondering how youre going to keep the 5 dogs safe with no leashes.... When the police arrived, about 45 minutes later, they wanted to load the dogs up and take them into the shelter...you know I went bananas at that request. Not about to be separated and have the dogs sent somewhere else while he sat in the backseat of the police car! Keeping 5 dogs calm on the side of the road after a crash is a different scenario,,,we crammed 3 into the one crate that was cracked and held one by the scruff and used my purse strap for a makeshift leash for the other. Just some things to think about...do you have a plan in case?....Traveling is a HUGE part of our life with dogs..... I can suggest these few things- Travel with a partner- Someone keep a phone on your person at all times. Use a purse or show bag with zippers and keep them zipped Keep a ziploc bag of nylon slip leads/show leads zipped up in a bag. Keep a typed card with your dogs info on it zipped in your purse in case you need to prove you own them later (Weird things happen enroute to shelters sometimes) Use the best crates you can buy....the cheap Walmart crates self destruct....the crate Hank was pinned in the cab in was broken and smashed on one side but held up well....It was a solid sided crate very heavy plastic...not sure the brand, but not a cheap crate. Keep a knife or a seatbelt cutter in the bag, in the glovebox, in the side door...lol you might need that to release yourself or dogs.....we were upside down...hanging in our belts.. Keep that bag zipped up and under your feet....or secured close! Hope none of you ever have to use this info....but we do put on thousands of miles to ship dogs and compete...- Feel free to add to this- if it helps you prepare one thing, it was worth the read-
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 15:11:11 +0000
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