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With ‘Be Kind to Animals Week’ now upon us, The Winnipeg Humane Society and Manitoba Public Insurance are encouraging pet owners to take a few extra seconds to properly and safely secure their pets before heading out on the roadways.
Every year in Manitoba, pets and their owners are injured because the animal was not properly restrained in a vehicle, says Clif Eden, Manager of Road Safety with Manitoba Public Insurance.
“Unrestrained pets can be a major distraction to drivers and can cause vehicle collisions,” says Eden. “In a crash, pets become flying objects that can cause serious injury to themselves and others. A 50-pound pet, when travelling at speeds of 50 km/h, can cause serious injury to itself and humans.”
Dogs riding in the backs of pick-up trucks are particularly at risk for injury, says Bill McDonald, Executive Director of the Winnipeg Humane Society. “You should keep your dog in a secured pet carrier in the back of your truck bed. All too often dogs are injured by sudden stops or turns and being shuffled about.”
Many pets – particularly cats – can become very nervous when travelling within the close confines of a vehicle. A frightened animal makes driving doubly difficult. Drivers should focus on driving, not on how well their pets are managing while in the car.
Pet owners are encouraged to be proactive and place their animals in a travel carrier while driving.
“Many of us pet owners don’t think about how getting into an accident would affect our animal,” said Bill McDonald. “People need to be made aware that there are easy solutions to securing your dog or cat inside your vehicle with either a pet safety harness, which can attach to your seatbelt, or in a pet carrier.”
Under Section 5 of the Animal Care Act, people can be charged if they don’t take proper precautions when transporting an animal in the back of a pickup. The animal must be properly restrained or enclosed in a travel carrier.
The American Humane Association created Be Kind to Animals Week in 1915 to celebrate the unique bond between humans and animals.
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Contact:
Manitoba Public Insurance
Media Relations
(204) 985-7000 or 1-888-554-9549 (toll-free) |
OR |
Aileen White, Manager, Public Relations
The Winnipeg Humane Society
(204) 982-3559 |
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