Travelling with Your Dog, by Chris Thatcher
The heading had me thinking about whether there are any rules and regulations regarding travelling with your dog. Most of us have been doing this for years and years but do we realise that there are rules and regulations for this. Whether a short or long journey, these rules are there for everybody’s safety. If you refer to the Highway Code Rule 57 it states, ‘When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot district you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars’.
I personally prefer to use metal travelling crates that fit into the back of my car. The reason for this is from the safety point of view. If I was to have an accident and a car runs into the back of my vehicle the dogs are protected as a metal crate should not collapse or give way like a fabric one could. I can also attach a lead to the crate for quick access to the dog(s) if I need to release them quickly. I try to have separate crates for each dog that I carry as there can be nothing worse than two dogs deciding to have a fight while you are driving as this can be very distracting. I know some people prefer to use fabric crates as these are lighter to use but please ensure that they are secured properly as if in an accident they can easily be thrown about a vehicle or even collapse.
Another possible downside of a fabric crate is the fact if you have a dog that scratches at the opening mesh, they can claw their way through the mesh and escape. Other people I know prefer to use harnesses so that the dogs can be on the back seat of the vehicle. Always check that a harness fits as it should and that it is secured properly otherwise a dog can escape and if at the scene of an accident this could be crucial to life and death of a dog if it should escape. For example, if someone from the emergency services opens a car door, a dog could react in so many ways from flight to fight.
When travelling with your dog, you should also carry a supply of water and a bowl as you never know if you may be stuck in traffic if a motorway or other road may unexpectedly be closed, and you are sat there for a considerable time. Pet First Aid Kits are also available for the unforeseeable events.
Remember all dogs must be micro-chipped and wear an identification tag when away from their home. The tag must show the owner’s name, phone number, house number and postcode. Make sure your micro-chip company have been updated with any change of address.
Please also remember these rules and regulations also apply if you are travelling in Europe with the added layer of your Animal Health Certificate which is essential to enable this travel.
