Pet Travel Safety: ICE for your dog

How many of you have ‘ICE’ listed in your phone contacts?

‘ICE’ ‘In Case of Emergency’: I learnt about this many years ago whilst attending a human first aid course. It’s an easily found contact or group of contacts on your phone, which is accessible even if your phone is locked.

It details your ‘next of kin’ contact information and any relevant medical conditions and medications for yourself.

This information could be invaluable to any member of the emergency services if you are involved in an accident.

So that’s you covered in an emergency, but what happens if we are involved in an accident when we are travelling with our dogs?

As responsible dog parents: whether we’re off to training, going on holiday or off to our local park we want to ensure that are dogs are travelling safely. Afterall, we all make sure we have our seatbelts on, don’t we?

Updates to the UK Highway Code earlier this year, now means that if you are travelling with an unrestrained pet in your vehicle, you’re not only risking points on your licence but also potential fines of up to £5000.

Rule 57 states: ‘When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract 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.’

In addition to having our dogs suitable restrained for their own safety, the safety of other road users and for ourselves, we also recommend:

• Ensure your dog is as comfortable as possible especially for long journeys. This means they have enough room to sit, stand up at full height, turn around easily and lie down in a natural position (as recommended by the RSPCA).
• Make sure your vehicle and your dog’s container is well ventilated and kept cool during journeys. Think dogs die in hot cars!
• Always ensure your dog has access to fresh water.
• Take regular breaks to exercise your dog and let them have a loo break. Make sure they are on a lead especially at motorway services, lay-bys etc. and don’t forget your poo bags!
• Don’t forget their food, treats and any medications they may need.
• Pack a duplicate of your dogs ‘Scent ID Kit‘ if you are going on holiday or will be away for home for any length of time.

Make sure your dog is wearing their ID tag containing their surname, house number, post code and telephone number. Also, that their microchip details are up to date.

One thing we can not prepare for is if we are involved in an accident or we have a medical emergency whilst travelling with our dogs. What will happen to them?

I know for myself I want them to be checked over by a vet to ensure that they are ok and for them to be reunited with my family ASAP until I’m well enough to have them back.

One way of helping the emergency services, rescue centre or veterinary practice that takes them in is to have my dogs emergency contact details available.

This simple form can be printed out, completed and attached to your dogs travel crate. Make sure that the details are up to date and that it is displayed in a visible location.

Fingers crossed it will never be needed but if it is, I know I have done everything to make sure my dogs are looked after at a time that I may not be able to.

Safe travels!

#pettravelsafetyday