Question re: dogs/auto accidents

Years ago my friend was in a really bad accident. A man fell asleep behind the wheel, crossed over the line and hit her almost head on. She wasn't wearing a seatbelt and ended up smushed into the area where your legs go when you are driving. Messed up both her knees, broke a leg and arm and a concussion. She had one of her dogs with her in the vehicle - a big Blazer. The dog was tossed around inside the car but stayed with her at the vehicle.

She was awake when the police arrived and she gave them my phone number. The police called Aniaml Control to come get the dog and then called me to let me know what was going on.

I went to the AC and picked up her dog and took him to my vet. He had no signs of external injuries and was walking (very slowly but still moving ok) but I wanted x-rays to be sure there were no surprises.

I asked the AC what would have happened if the dog had been seriously injured. They said they would have taken him to a vet. Some vets will do everything that needs to be done to save the dog without waiting for a $$$ commitment from the owner - some will only stablize the dog.

But what if she had been unconscious?

EVERYONE that travels with their dogs in the car should have emergency dog info inside the glovebox or on the visor. Names and phone numbers of people they can contact or vets that know you and agree to treat your dog right away. Dogs names, pictures (if you have more than one) and how to best approach each dog.

For instance, Riggs would respond best to direct commands and not baby talk. Tazer would do better with baby talk and while he barks alot he will not bite. Winnie WILL bite if the other dogs are worked up. Etc.

I think really it would depend on the individual EMS people working the scene. Dog might be left there, might be sent to AC.

Another reason we always transport dogs in crates. Not only safer for them and us if there is an accident, but it keeps the dog confined if there is an accident. Less chance of the dog getting lose and running around the freeway when EMS opens the door. Also less chance of the dog causing problems for EMS. I have a couple dogs that I seriously doubt would be willing to let strangers anywhere near me if I were injured and incapacitated to the point where I couldn't let the dog know it was ok... and I don't want my own medical care stalled while they deal with a dog, and I certainly don't want the paramedics to have to call a cop to shoot my dog so they can get me out of the car.

Keeping emergency dog contact info in the car and in your wallet is a very good idea. Then you just have to hope they see it and pay attention to it. Also, make sure the emergency contacts for YOU are aware you might have dogs in the vehicle at any given time, and in case of emergency they may need to pursue rescuing the dogs.

I have tags on my dogs that say "In case of emergency, call my vet: XXX-XXX-XXXX. Or Bring to Blah Blah Kennel. XXX-XXX-XXXX." Blah Blah kennel has my credit card on file and has my parent's name and number on file as well.

Camper's tag specifically says "I am a service dog. Do Not bring me to an animal shelter." as well.

Even if we're far from home, I figure that an out-of-area vet or kennel will call my local contacts and work something out with my local contacts. The local kennel is managed by my trainer and my vet is someone I trust completely. I trust that they'll know what to do, whether it's giving my parents' info to them, working a billing arrangement, or even authorizing euthanasia if my dogs are that severely injured.

I have two-sided tags. It's a lot of info to engrave on a tag, but they did it!

This info is also in the glove box (wrapped inside the vehicle registration) of EVERY vehicle we drive, AND next to the phone in my house (in case there's an emergency there). I also have OUR medical emergency information in there.

This info on tags is useful not only if there's an accident but also if our dogs get out of our yard somehow and we're not available. (I mean, if that happens and I can't find my dogs, I might be having a nervous breakdown, right? )

And, I have this info on the little dogs, in case people are scared of the big GSD as well. He is kinda scary looking!

Thanks, everyone. I just found a Release for Medical Treatment form for pets online. I am going to put one in my car, and another one in my wallet, I guess. I've been looking online for a form re: who to have come get the dog, etc, but I can't find one. I'm sure there's one someplace, but if I can't find one, I'll make my own. I think I'll attach a copy of his rabies certificate, and put his Avid chip # on it as well.

Kodee rides with a harness, rather than in a crate (I can't fit a crate in my vehicle along w/3 kids in booster seats, so he has to sit up front w/me), so I can't attach anything to a crate, unfortunately. I think I'll clip my form onto outside of my visor, so that it's easily visible (hopefully), if we have an accident (heaven forbid).

I may also see if I can find one a large luggage tag that I could keep attached to his harness, and put the folded sheet of info in there. Then it would be attached to him directly (if I can keep him from eating the luggage tag). I'm paranoid, and I'd like to have something attached directly to him in the car, besides just his ID tags that are on his collar.
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I am a police officer and have been for 15 years. I can tell you that here in NH there is no formal training (animal control) required. In the academy there is a brief overview of the requirments of the cruelty statues. We get no training in how to handle animals. Most of my department has animals, but that doesn't mean they will have any idea on how to deal with a dog protecting their injued owner. Most have not taken formal training classes with their own dogs and very few can read body language. It took me years but I just (finally) got my Chief to stop staring at every dog he sees. He has been bitten several times because our "police stance" is very challenging to dogs and is ingrained in our every move.

In accidents we (by general practice not policy) will make arrangements to call a "next of kin" if we have that information and time, otherwise the dog goes to the NHSPCA.

Regarding an injured dog, I (luckily) have had only one case of a dog being seriously injured in a crash and I called my personal vet and he came to the scene and took care of the dog. There is an emergency vet clinic in my area, but they only will treat on owner's permission and if you are unconscious I don't know what would happen. And depending on manpower I may not be able to get the dog there in a timely fashion.

I can tell you we do investigate the crashes, but rarely are "waiting around" for EMS to finish. So unles the dog is loose causing a traffic hazard they would likely get stuck in the back of a cruiser. If the dog takes off an leaves the scene or sticks around but won't let me catch it, I cannot chase it while in the middle of my accident call.

As for cards with info on what to do with your dog, I think it is a good idea, but as a practical matter, unless it is in a very conspicuous place we won't see it. I would attach it to your driver's license (we will usually look for this as soon as EMS arrives to take care of you) or your vehicle registration (we may or may not look for this; if we can get the info off the computer we won't). If it is someplace else we won't find it, except by accident. We are just going to flip through your wallet or glove box looking for specific papers and we barely glance at anything not the size and shape of a license, registration, or insurance card.

It is also a very good idea to transport in crate or harness to help prevent escapes but also to keep the dog from becoming a projectile. (if your car is going 45 mph and stops suddenly, your dog is still going 45mph and will go through a windshield). At the very least have a collar and leash on them so we have something to try and grab.