“Pets in cars worry safety experts - Everett Herald” plus 1 more |
| Pets in cars worry safety experts - Everett Herald Posted: 18 Aug 2010 11:58 PM PDT CHICAGO -- Safety experts have a new pet peeve related to distracted driving. In addition to texting or talking on a cell phone while driving, lap dogs and other pets left unrestrained inside moving vehicles pose a major distraction that could be deadly, a new study released Wednesday warns motorists. About two-thirds of dog owners surveyed by the AAA organization said they routinely drive while petting or playing with their dogs, sometimes even giving them food or water while maneuvering through traffic. It has been a common sight for many years to see dogs hanging their heads out of open car windows with their ears flapping in the breeze. But in the cocoon that the automobile has become, more drivers are nonchalantly cradling their dogs atop their laps or perching the animals on their chests with the pet's front paws clutching the driver's neck or shoulders. Fifty-five percent of the drivers polled said they have pet their dog while driving. It's risky behavior for the driver and dangerous for the pets, too. An 80-pound dog unrestrained during a crash at 30 mph exerts 2,400 pounds of force in a vehicle, creating a danger for the dog and anyone in its path, according to Motivation Design LLC, a company that manufactures pet travel products, including restraint systems for pets, under the brand name Kurgo. "As about 40 percent of Americans own dogs. We see this as an increasingly big problem," said Beth Mosher, spokeswoman for AAA of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Dogs inside wrecked vehicles often become territorial and protective of their owners when police and emergency-responders try to rescue injured occupants, sometimes leaving authorities no other option than to shoot the animal in order to help the driver and passengers, say Illinois State Police troopers who have been dispatched to such accident scenes. "The last thing you want to do is to put the dog down, but you have a possible hurt animal that is acting in self-preservation and protecting its owner," said Sgt. Brian Copple, manager of the safety education unit of the State Police. Most drivers don't realize that a dog moving around a vehicle or sitting on someone's lap can injure or kill occupants during a crash, particularly if air bags deploy, Copple said. "If the animal is sitting between the steering wheel and the driver, the air bag will throw the animal back at you with great force," Copple said. "An air bag is designed to catch a 160-pound person. It's not meant to protect Fluffy," he said. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Third case of rabies confirmed in Brunswick Co.; Four pets euthanized - WWAY NewsChannel 3 Posted: 16 Aug 2010 12:27 PM PDT Bolivia, N.C. – The third case of rabies has been confirmed in Brunswick County for 2010. On Tuesday, August 2, 2010, a raccoon attacked and killed a kitten in the Calabash area on Pea Landing Road. The raccoon was sent to the State Lab in Raleigh for testing. The results came back positive for rabies. Three cats that came in contact with the raccoon were humanely euthanized because they did not have a current rabies vaccination as prescribed by North Carolina state law. On the same date, a grey fox attacked and bit a dog in the Shady Forest area of Calabash. In this case, the fox was not captured and remains at large. Unfortunately, the dog was not current on its rabies vaccination and had to be humanely euthanized. Citizens are asked to contact Brunswick County Animal Services if they observe any animals behaving in an unusual manner. Rabies is caused by a virus that lives in the saliva of a rabid animal. Rabies is usually transmitted through an animal bite but it is also possible to become infected if the animal's saliva gets into a cut on your skin or in your eyes, nose, or mouth. All mammals, including people, can become infected with rabies but the four most common animals that carry rabies are raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. Rabies is well documented in Brunswick County's wildlife population, so never approach or handle wildlife no matter how cute, friendly, or tame it may appear. Also you should avoid contact with stray dogs or cats including feeding stray animals. Harboring (feeding) strays is a violation of Brunswick County's Animal Control Ordinance. September 11, 2010 and Saturday, September 18, 2010 with a reduced cost of $6 for the vaccine. All dog and cat owners are encouraged to attend. Call Animal Services at 754-8204 for further information concerning other rabies clinics in this area. Disclaimer: Comments posted on this, or any story are opinions of those people posting them, and not the views or opinions of WWAY NewsChannel 3, its management or employees. You can view our comment policy here. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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