Our Wellington Personal Injury Attorneys and staff at the Law Offices of Aronberg & Aronberg, Injury Law Firm love animals. We enjoy getting outdoors with our dogs. We have visited nearly every dog park in the area. Here are some safety tips about Palm Beach County Dog Parks.
When most people think of dogs in cars, they think of a dog with their head out of the window, ears flapping in the wind, and slobbering everywhere like the dog in this picture. However, this is dangerous for your dog. Flying debri
s and litter can be kicked up into the air by other cars and injure your dog. Even tiny pebbles or debris can become dangerous at high speeds—this is especially true when considering vulnerable body parts such as the eyes and ears. Additionally, allowing your dog to stick their head out of a moving car’s windows runs the obvious risk they may fall out or collide with another object.
So how do you safely transport a dog? First, the back seat is preferred for dogs. This keeps the dog protected from front airbags and also minimizes any distractions to the driver. Next, there are several devices on the market that you may want to consider.
Seatbelts/harnesses: There are hundreds of dog seatbelts on the market. One end attaches to your dog and the other attaches to your seatbelt. We recommend only purchasing the seatbelts which attach to your dog via a harness. We are not a fan of the harnesses which attach at the dog’s collar. The harness will more evenly distribute the pressure and force to your dog’s body. You should also be aware that there are no regulations concerning dog seatbelts. Some manufacturers produce cheap materials that can easily snap upon impact. Sleepypod dog harnesses get excellent reviews and ratings.
Crates: Transporting your dog in a crate is another option. Be sure to secure the crate within the vehicle. Additionally, you may install a soft barrier to the inside of the crate. This is beneficial in case your vehicle comes to a sudden stop sending your dog into a crate wall. You can use a blanket or foam barrier. You can also purchase a device known as a “crash bag” which is designed to attach to the inside of a dog crate.
Dividers/Barriers: Some vehicles can be equipped with a barrier or divider. Typically, SUVs or Hatchbacks sell aftermarket parts to petition the rear of the vehicle. This will prevent the dog from turning into a projectile in the event of an accident. It helps reduce injury to the dog and other passengers. However, this is NOT our most recommended method because although the barrier/divider partitions part of the vehicle—it still leaves your dog susceptible to lots of movement in the event of a car crash.
How To Spot a Dangerous Dog
So you’ve made it to the dog park, and it’s now time to take your dog out of the car. However, you may be concerned about whether there will be any aggressive dogs at the park.
There are certain signs that a dog may be aggressive. You and your dogs can purposefully avoid these dogs in order to have the safest and most fun trip possible. Here are some signs to spot an angry or aggressive dog.
blocking peoples’ or other dogs’ paths
exposing their teeth,
erect ears,
snarling/growling/snapping,
standing tail, and
prolonged starting
What To Do in the Event of a Dog Fight
It is very dangerous to attempt to break-up a dog fight. However, we understand dog lovers will do almost anything to keep their loved ones safe. If you dog is in a dog fight here are some tips if you choose to intervene.
WHAT NOT TO DO IF YOU SEE A DOG FIGHT
Do not pull the dogs back by their collars
Do not stand between the fighting dogs
WHAT TO DO
Make loud noises to distract the dogs (look for metal water bowls to clink together)
If there is a hose, shoot water at the dogs
Cover the dogs’ faces with a blanket to block their vision
Employ the wheel barrel technique (from behind, grab the two hind legs, lift up in the air and walk the dogs backward.
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So you’ve made it to the dog park, and it’s now time to take your dog out of the car. However, you may be concerned about whether there will be any aggressive dogs at the park.