Loved ones. Who does this group
comprise? Loved ones are considered to be any being that a person holds dear to
their heart, thus they do all in their power to protect them. There are mothers
and fathers, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and
many more. Amongst that extended group are pets.
Pets are often
placed in a category with family and other loved ones for whom we make many
sacrifices and into whom we make great investments. Some people buy or build
houses and designate rooms for their pets. And according to the ASPCA, people
spend approximately $200 on food, approximately $408 on grooming, and
approximately $485 in medical costs during the first year alone. Aside from the
monetary investments, people make many emotional and spiritual investments into
their loved ones, in this case, their pets. And yet, not many pet owners feel
the need to enact routine safety procedures on their pets, such as traffic
laws. Therefore, I propose that pet owners should use the same traffic laws to
help protect not only themselves, but their pets as well.
The risks of
inadequate pet safety are equal to that of human safety. For instance, without
locking doors, you risk your toddler running outside and getting hurt. Just the
same, without the proper restraints, pets may get loose and get hurt as well. Like
the owners, pets are beings of life— a life which without proper care may
be prematurely or unfairly ended. With all of the money that pet owners spend
on getting their pets’ lives insured, they should be able to take it one step
further to protect that life because the bond of pets to owner is so impactful.
Think of the
importance of this relationship between your pet and yourself. Maybe your pet
is the one that keeps you company on lonely nights. Maybe your pet is the one
that calms you after a hard day. Maybe your pet is not your “pet. According to
the United States Census Bureau, over 45% of households in America have pets. And
when the Society of Pet Parents took their annual “Pet, Parents, and Family”
survey in 2011, it showed that approximately 29% of these families consists of
those who adopted pets because they were not able to have children. So, envisioning
your pet as your child, we reiterate the concept of their safety, not only in
the home and out in public but when you’re driving as well.
It is when
driving that pet owners tend to neglect their pets’ safety the most. The Center
of Road and Highway Safety reports that
80% of pet owners (around 775,800 people) travel with their pets. However, due
to pet related distractions caused by animals not being secured in the vehicle,
over 6,000 of these pet owners died in crashes and over half a million were seriously
or critically injured. You can help mitigate the possibility of these risks by
simply applying traffic safety laws to your pet.
General traffic
laws that apply in most states are as follows:
•
Each passenger of the front seat must have on
federally approved safety restraints.
•
Seatbelt is not required for those who have a
medical excuse.
•
Avoid any distractions (anything that defers
your attention from the road).
•
Note that not adhering to these and other laws
endangers not only your life, but others as well. Therefore, fines are enforced
for not abiding by these laws.
These rules help protect both
you and your pet. It reduces financial
risk in terms of potential and fatal accidents. It physically creates a
restraint for the animal which increases chances of survival in accidents.
Finally, it ascertains that
you’re doing the most that you can to protect your pet, your loved one.
Although it is
not yet required, make it a practice to put all of your residential pets in a
safety harness. Use proper seating for them. And avoid distractions when with
them. Take all necessary safety measures to insure the safety of your loved
ones. To reiterate the definition of a “loved one”, it is any being that you
may hold dear to your heart, whether it is your parents, your spouse, your
child, or your pet.
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