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SedonaEye.com Harley McGuire On the Road

Harley McGuire, SedonaEye.com star pet columnist talks Sedona road tripping

Harley McGuire, SedonaEye.com star pet columnist talks Sedona road trippin’ with his pals

Sedona AZ (July 21, 2013)For most of us young at heart pups, the best part of a car ride is poking heads out the window and feeling the wind in our furry faces! Despite the feel good nature of this experience, it’s actually a very dangerous habit so my mom won’t let me do it when we go Sedona road trippin’.

When Mom and I go on the road, we have RULES!

My pal Kim Salerno likes to remind pet families that in the early days of automobiles, most cars did not have windshields and top speeds were about 45 mph. Back then, drivers wore goggles to protect their eyes. Now that cars have windshields, people don’t stick heads out of windows at 45 mph because it’s too dangerous. So s’plain to me, Lucy, why their beloved dogs get to hang out car windows?

And forget about puttin’ goggles on us – no way!

Allowing my pals to stick furry faces out car windows is dangerous in too many ways. Eyes get exposed to dirt, rocks, dust and other debris that easily puncture and scratch! Ear damage is another big concern. Vets say our soft ear flaps (pinnae) can easily become irritated when flappin’ in the wind, especially from high-speed winds. Repeated pinnae trauma can cause lifelong problems for us. Want us to come when you call? Hello?

Harley McGuire's new friend, Chunk

Harley McGuire’s new friend, Chunk, is a backseat kind of guy!

Allowing us to stick our furry faces out of car windows can also lead to more severe outcomes – such as falling out of the car or getting our schnozzles caught in the window opening! OUCH! And what if we’re sticking our heads out when you take a highway turn too fast or travel over bumpy desert terrain? DOUBLE OUCH!

And what if we get overly excited because we spot a handsome lad or beautiful lassie nearby who causes us to lose control, become off-balanced and fall out of a window? NOT a good first impression and probably no chance of a rendezvous at the dog park after gettin’ out of the hospital…OUCH, OUCH, OUCH!!!

Kim says these types of incidents happen more than one imagines and often result in severe injury or death so PULEEZE keep those windows at a safe height.

Now pay attention!

It should go without saying that it’s dangerous to allow us to ride in the bed of a pickup truck. All of the dangers of sticking a head out the window from inside the car are magnified in the back of the pickup because its bed offers little or no protection from wind, debris, or falls. PLUS a pickup’s metal bed reaches dangerously high temperatures on hot days which, among other bad things, can cause damage to our soft paw tissue.

Who looks stupid with a dog in the back of a pickup? Let me tell ya that when I see pals in the back of a pick up, I shiver with dread. I get sad that their families don’t love them enough to protect them better.

So where is the best place for us to ride? Mom says it’s simple. It’s in the back seat or cargo area of your vehicle – properly restrained, of course.

Mom and Kim say not to forget, too, that using a pet safety belt, car seat, vehicle pet barrier, or a travel crate are ways to ensure we are safe and happy whenever road trippin’. If we’re properly secured, then go ahead and open a window, but no heads out!

Mom said to let you know that my pal Kim’s Trips With Pet website was named best pet travel site by Consumer Reports. Oh and Mom says that you should pay attention to all my Harley McGuire travel tips while Out and About with my pals and be sure to remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Four Paws Up!

Four Paws Up!

 

Lovingly,

Harley McGuire

 

 

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

12 Comments

  1. Skipper says:

    Harley you know that I love to ride in the car as much as you do. All she has to do is say, “Car” and I’m ready. I have a very snazzie car seat that is up high enough so I can look out the window. My mom usually puts the window down a little so I can sniff the air without getting my head out. I get the window all smeared up, but at least I get to watch everything that’s going on and still be safe. Mom even had a shade for me to keep the sun off, but I didn’t like it and I pulled it down. Now I just move to the back seat if the sun bothers me. No sun goggles for me either.

    Wow, are we pampered pooches?
    Safe travels,
    Skipper

  2. Chip'n Dale says:

    Riding in cars? Sorry we cannot relate!

    Chip’n Dale

  3. Martha says:

    Chunk will be thrilled that he has gone viral I’m sure. We have had hot and humid summer weather with thunderstorms almost every evening. I guess I sleep facing the window as I’ve been awakened by some serious looking lightning and thunder. Harley, I turn over in bed and face away from the window, but I can still hear that thunder. Sorry you and your Mom lost sleep after the late hour fireworks.

  4. Our Mom says “amen” to that. We don’t get harnessed in (and she knows we should), but we also know she’s not perfect but have decided to keep her anyway, that being her only bad dog parenting issue. Love your articles and always look forward to Mom reading them to us.
    Nikki, Mojo & $$$$Fabian

  5. Well, Harley my friend, I don’t like being strained either but the lady of the house insists so what’s a guy to do. What’s with this $$$$Fabian? Sounds very attractive. Do you give referrals?

    Scooter

  6. Hey, Scooter.

    $$$$Fabian lives in California with Nikki & Mojo and I’ve only seen pictures but know from from the Fabulous Fabian’s Mom that he’s earned the $$$$ signs by his name because of all spent to his vet to keep him afloat.

    Have a great day and stay buckled up . . . like it or not.

    Lovingly,
    Harley McGuire

  7. Charlie Bert says:

    hi all,

    Harley no way will I wear a seat belt or leave me home. my dad let’s me sit all by myself on the back seat. mom doesn’t like the dog hair in the car. she’s always complaining about dog hair. dad and I are tired of it when we get in the car because for the first three minutes she’s picking up dog hair and rolling down the window to get rid of it. Mom gives good treats and dad thinks mom’s a good cook so we’ll put up with it and try not to have her in the car with us if we can help it. LOL

  8. Nikki & Mojo says:

    Say Hi to Scooter….great comments from Harley….Fabian appreciates that (or at least we think he does…after he stops staring at the wall), but we do love him, but we’ve given him a new nickname…”pisher” which in “Jewish” means he pees a lot. Nikki & Mojo

  9. Charlie Bert, Nikki & Mojo (and yes, Pisher/Fabian, too):

    KEEP THE FAITH!

    Lovingly,
    Harley McGuire

  10. Chip'n dale says:

    Harley, you have the best most caring mom! Our mom thinks it terrible to see dogs with their heads out the window of a vehicle, let alone in the back of a truck. She would not do that to her kids either!!!

    Hugs and Hisses – C’n D

  11. Dogs like kids don’t always know what is best for them. How often do you think back to your childhood and say I can’t believe I use to do that and I’m still alive today? I would never do that now.

    Same thing with dog and kids they just want to do what is FUN.

    Mom’s are there to safeguard as they know what is best. In this case the older folks are the wiser. Well maybe not all older folks (moms) but that is why we educate folks (moms) even till today…..

    Great article!

  12. Tina, I can tell you are very caring and concerned about critters and kiddies, so having been given the opportunity to spread good sense, it’s up to us’ns to do so.

    You rock too!!

    Lovingly,
    Harley McGuire

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