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Show me the statistic that states dogs have been killed from airbag deployment? Have you ever seen the seat belt harness I just posted? With it on my dog is in no more danger of getting impacted by that airbag then any adult individual sitting in that seat. Infact he is strapped in so tightly that he can not really move anything more then his head. Do I get it? Yeah I do, it's my choice, do you get that? Everyone's life is in danger every moment of there life. That sure as hell isn't going to prevent me from living my life. So get off your soapbox and preach to someone who cares.
Screw it dude I just looked it up and while they don't recommend having a dog in the front seat. The NHTSA says there are no statistics to prove that it is a danger. In fact they state that the only reason why it would be a danger is the fact that a dogs head is lower. They recommend that they sit a min of 12" away from the dashboard. So I will repeat the fact that with the harness on my dog is perfectly safe according to their guidelines. Believe me with the harness on and used properly my Labs head is as high and as far away as I am. In fact he is further away since I have the steering wheel and he is based on the dashboard.
"explosive devices"? A little melodramatic for a Friday, no?
What's the safest way to transport a dog any distance longer than a "walk or jog" will permit? Well, probably to put him in a dog crate in the back of your wagon or SUV, right? Can you imagine what would happen if your poor four-legged friend had to go through a barrel-roll in a dog crate? Well, I got slammed by a FedEx truck in my 4Runner several years ago, did a few flips, and let me tell you, the dog crate I had in the back did NOT fare well. Good thing for me I didn't have my dog with me...
Also, a good friend of mine was (safely?) running with his dog one day when they were both hit by a reckless driver. My friend was lucky to survive. The dog, which he loved and protected like a child, was not so fortunate.
Life is unsafe. Period. I do not disagree that people should be more careful.. with their own lives as well as those of their family, friends, and also beloved critters.
Here endeth the sermon.
And so that you know I'm not a completely heartless d!ck, I have taken my V in the S a grand total of twice in three years of car ownership. (and for very short, very slow local drives) Typically, I transport my dogs in our V70 wagon... but at the end of the day, I'd rather see them get tossed clear of the S than get crushed in the back of my station wagon...
My Lab loves it with the top down. I think that I get some front lift from his ears flapping. I hold him in place with a harness that has the slot for the seat belt. Gives him room to sit up / down / lay down (head on the seat and bottom in the foot well) but don't have to worry about jumping out or being pitched forward in an accident.
i hope that this discussion has raised the awareness on this situation.
it has, and will continue to be the owner/driver's decision to put the dog in the front seat. i entered this discussion with a fair bit of first and second hand knowledge on this matter, as i a very familiar with the issues of pets, their safety and automobile accidents.
my best friend is a paramedic who has some VERY strong opinions on having a dog anywhere near a human victim in an automobile accident. you don't want to know what first responders have to go through at an mva that includes dogs, especially injured or protective ones.
foreversilver: would it matter? are you trying to make some sort of statement?
btw-i have no problem whatsover with the design of the harness. it is a good option for transporting our canine friends in the rearward seats. typically, we transport our three beasts in the back on one of our suvs, behind a secure barrier. if we had smaller dogs, they would in tied-down crates.
my fiance's puppy, blue, loves the S. he is a teacup yorkie and likes to climb up my shoulder and look out when the top is down. we got him when he was 10 weeks, and his ride home was in the S, i think he liked the sound of the engine, because the first couple weeks we had him, . .i would always be scared and shake in a new place, but whenever he was in the car, he would curl up and go to sleep, . . guess it just had a calming effect on him
and before anyone jumps all over me, . the bottle in this pic is empty
