Riding with Sam has always been an experience. Adults stare and kids wave as Sam cocks his head toward the window and flashes his best grin. He also wags his tail at full speed. Sam is a 55 pound Samoyed dog who loves to ride in the car. Front or back seat...he has no preference as long as the car moves. The basic requirement for all humans riding in my car is the wearing of seat belts and, for some reason, I didn’t apply this to Sam.

Several months ago, Sam and I picked up my son at school. Sam was in the front seat and decided to move to the back seat with my son. A gentleman in a pick-up truck pulled out in front of my car and, of course, I hit my brakes...hard! Sam went flying into the dashboard. Fortunately, he was not hurt and the incident was forgotten.

Forgotten until I was cleaning out my old USAA magazines for the PCS move to Spain and saw Sam and myself in an article. The article dated April 1993 was titled "Buckle Up Your Pup". The following are excerpts from the article.

" If you hold a pet in your lap while you drive, it could be crushed between you and the steering wheel in a crash. Putting an unrestrained dog in the back seat is not safe for the dog OR humans. In a collision, a dog weighing 40 or 50lbs. can become a lethal missile, jeopardizing other occupants. Feline and other small animals can become entangled under the driver’s feet and legs, restricting the ability to utilize the brakes and/or clutch."

" Animals are safer if confined in a cage or crate. A special animal harness that works with the car seat restraint is available from pet shops. A restraint that works well for animals riding in the back of pick-up trucks is on the market."

To make a long story short, Sam rides in the car with his new harness. It doesn’t make him happy, but he is one of the family. By harnessing Sam, I am now guaranteed that all passengers in my car are safely restrained.

Creator- Wanda Walters
Email: walterswm@mcsc.usmc.mil

Graphics:Kurt Davis
Email: kdavis@nassig.sicliy.navy.mil

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