Dogs and Airbag Danger

[LittleLolaBear]

My precious 2-year old Lola was killed on Christmas when another driver hit us head-on. She was in my lap and was struck by the airbag. My other yorkie Finnegan was in the back seat in a crate and was fine.

There's nothing I can do to bring her back, but I am going to do everything I can to prevent this awful tragedy from happening to someone else.

PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT KEEP YOUR DOG ON YOUR LAP WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING!!! They should be in the backseat in a crate that is secured, or in a secured dog seat. They really should never be in the front passenger seat either, unless you can disable the airbag on the passenger side.

I don't want anyone else to have to experience the pain, grief, sadness and guilt that I've faced since the accident. Lola had a lot of anxiety issues and wanted to be with me all the time - as a lot of our furbabies do. I would do anything to be able to go back and keep her in a crate in the car, no matter how much she hated it. Please learn from my mistakes.

[Patti]

I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Lola. I keep mine in a carrier in the front seat, belted in, but the airbag is disabled. Nikki is the only one of mine that doesn't want to stay in the crate and I have let him lay on the seat. From now on he will also be confined in the carrier. Thanks you for sharing your terrible experience so others can be saved. Hugs

[CouversMom]

I am so sorry for your loss... But thank you for the reminder. My two hate their car seat, but I continue to make them sit in it because I know they are safer in it. I admit though, sometimes I don't strap them in on shorter trips and I need to be better with this...

[yorkieusa]

I'm so sorry about Lola. It's a shame we all have to learn the hard way. It's wonderful of you to share your heartache in the hopes of saving someone else that kind of grief.

[Yorkieville200]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. What a tragic lesson to learn.

Mine wear harnesses, that clip into the seatbelt clip, and they ride in the backseat.

Crates can actually break into many pieces in a collision. Saw a video of it somewhere. Wish I could find it.

Sheila

[Sweet Apple]

I am so sorry for your loss...Hopefully, some good will come out of it, w/this post...I used to have Apple's car seat, in the front, and every time she rode w/me, I'd think "this is not a good thing"...I now have a tandem and a single car seat, buckled in the back seat, for my three to ride in, and feel like I've made a very wise move...Again, my condolences for the loss of your pup, and thanks for posting this thread...

[LittleLolaBear]

Thank you all for your condolences. I miss my sweet little girl so much, and if my experience can save even one dog from a similar situation, it makes me feel better. It's so easy to feel invincible - we hear about these things sometimes but don't feel like it can possibly happen to us. But it does.

[Rhetts_mama]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Thank you for the very important reminder about airbags.

[kdhawks]

I am sorry for the loss of your sweet Lola. Pet safety in the car is so very important. Levi rides in his car seat in the back passenger seat of my car, but I am guilty of slipping up and letting him ride in someone's lap if I have a passenger in my car. Thank you for the reminder.

[kjc]

I'm so sorry for your tragic loss of Lola.
Thank you for posting this reminder. I, too, use seat belt harnesses with mine... they don't seem to mind at all, and I drive better bc I'm not worrying about where they are or what they're doing. I never did consider the danger from the airbag though. So no one in the front seat anymore...

[LaurenPatrice]

I am so sorry for your loss! I too have been at fault when it comes to this. I do have a car seat and they will be riding in it from now on. Even on the small trips! Thank you for sharing.

[Britster]

I'm SO sorry for your loss! Thanks for the reminder. I was involved in an accident where my car was totaled and Jackson was in the car with me. I was SO upset and thinking I was going to look in the back and he would be dead or something. Thank God he was not, but it was a huge reminder for me. I bought a Snoozer carseat for him to sit in now.

[143julz]

So sorry for your loss of Lola...Like many, thanks for the reminder, I NEED TO GET A CAR SEAT and hope to in teh next week or two, until no car rides...RIP SWEET THING

[JenniferLeigh]

Thank you for posting this, and I am sorry for your loss.

I often see people driving with dogs on their lap in my area.

[MauiGirl]

So sorry for your sad loss of Lola. Life changes in an instant, and your loss has made me think twice about letting Meika ride on my lap (which seems to help her not get car sick).