Owners learn lesson in dog safety
Officials advise pet owners to keep animals securely fastened when in transit
It was not a common sight for Foresthill resident Wesley Smith to see when he was driving down Baxter Grade Road last Sunday evening. He watched as a truck was driving and a young Australian Shepherd mix was running alongside it with its leash attached to the car. And what could’ve turned into an unfortunate case of animal cruelty ended up being a valuable lesson for two conscientious pet owners, according to humane officer Georgiana Lohman. Wesley said he was surprised when he tried to alert the driver of the small pick-up truck, who he estimated was driving between 25 and 30 mph, but received no response. Eventually the dog was freed and Smith said he took it to a friend who rescues animals. “The dog’s nails and pads were badly damaged,” Wesley wrote in a letter to the editor to the Journal. “The nails are splintered and broken below the quick.” The dog was fully treated by a veterinarian and released to its owners, who were frantically searching for it, Lohman said. Lohman said she thoroughly investigated the case to determine it was not a case of animal abuse or neglect. “This is truly an accident,” Lohman said. Lohman said the owners were given educational material on how best to transport animals in a vehicle. Placer SPCA chief executive officer Leilani Vierra said it’s important to treat animals like they are any other member of the family and secure them properly in vehicles. She said California Vehicle Code provisions 23117 lists requirements as to how animals should be fastened especially in the back of an open pick-up truck. “It’s about safety for the animals most certainly, and safety for other traffic,” Vierra said. She added that the local SPCA sees many dogs who suffer from car related injuries, especially those dogs that are free to move around a car or sit on an owner’s lap. She explained that when a car suddenly stops, the animal could be significantly injured. She recommends purchasing smaller dog-friendly seatbelts or putting pets in a carrier. Lohman added one other tip: treat pets as if they are children. “We so often let dogs do what we think they would like to do but it may not be in their best interest,” Lohman said. “My bottom line is, would you allow your toddler to do this?” The Journal's Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment.
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Your article in today's paper does not explain how the dog was attached to the vehicle.
Did it fall out of the back or was it tied to the bumper?
Potato
For the best of life,
Ride a horse;
www.TevisPost.com
I am also wondering the same thing. It seems that a portion of this article is missing. How did the dog get in this predicament if it wasn't animal cruelty. How can you not see your dog running alongside your vehicle? Look in your damn mirrors and stop driving with tunnel vision!
What's more important about this article is that it talks about a humane officer. Congratulations Officer Lohman, this county can use all the help it can get with its animal cruelty problems.
The rope was coming out of the driver's window.
Wes144@live.com
Here is my whole letter to the Editor;
Wesley E. Smith
wes144@live.com
September 23, 2008
To Whom it may Concern:
On Sunday, September 21, 2008 I was driving down Baxter Grade outside of Auburn, CA.
When I came around a curve just a block above the little waterfall, I saw a man in a small truck
Coming toward me about 25-30 mph with a dog on the outside. I honked to let him know that there was a dog on the outside of the truck. He kept going, and when I looked closer, it appeared that the dog’s leash was being held by the driver and she was being drug up the road.
I held the horn down for 15-20 seconds while I was turning around and quickly returned to the spot where the dog was. She was standing in the middle of the road looking dazed. I opened the tailgate of the pickup I was driving and said, “Jump in Precious. I will help you.” She jumped in, I closed the tailgate and secured her with a soft strap. The “man” was no where to be seen. He must have slipped off her collar and taken off to avoid being connected with the incident.
She is a beautiful Aussie-Shepherd mix with blue eyes about 1 ½-2 years old. Her pads were torn up and her nails were ground off and split below the quick and bleeding.
I took her to the store and bought her a pound of bologna which she ate rapidly and bought a bowl and some water.
I called Veterinarian An LeBarre at home and told her about the dog. She said she would be glad to help.
I also talked to Lindsay Rand that took “Precious” in for the night.
Monday morning I loaded the dog in the back of Lindsay’s car and she took her to the vet. The bills are attached. I paid them and Lindsay paid me back.
I wrote a letter to the Editor of the Auburn Journal about the incident hoping to locate the owner and to stop the man from ever torturing an animal again. My letter hasn’t run yet.
Please feel free to contact me for any information. Thank you for your help in this matter.
Sincerely, Wesley E. Smith