We hear all of the time about dogs being left in hot vehicles. Well the same precautions with an RV should be taken when the weather begins to heat up. At PPL Motorhomes we understand that one of the facts of life inherent in RVing is the need for climate control in the vehicle, and when accompanied by pets, it is imperative that cooling systems not fail when the vehicle is parked. Even the best maintained systems can hiccup; generators can lay down, and that can be fatal for a pet left in the camper while the rest of the family is away.
Did you know that you can safeguard your traveling companion with an alarm system that plugs into the cigarette lighter, designed to send a call to a designated cell phone number or even a two-way radio if the temperature rises above or falls below a margin you set as your safe climate zone for your pets. Most will continue to alert you at intervals of two or three minutes until the temperature is stabilized within acceptable levels once again. An additional measure is to place an emergency rescue sign in a prominent window of your RV, letting anyone assisting in an emergency know there are pets that may be in need of rescue as well as what kind they are.
While you should never, ever leave your dog unattended at a campsite, there are times when you’d like to be able to let the dog out without being tethered to you or a stake out. You can’t, in most places, leave your dog off leash, so it can be a problem. Invest in a portable exercise pen! They are typically sold in panels that hook together and fold flat to accommodate the storage limitations of an RV. You can get them in varying heights and different numbers of panels, and add panels to create a larger space so your dog can have his own little backyard home away from home and you can man the grill without four footed assistance.
Planning ahead can help you keep track of your pooch while hooked up. Losing a pet while away from home is tragic; often a dog or cat who would ordinarily find their way back home becomes disoriented because “home” is a moving target. Before you make the first reservation, seriously consider having your pet microchipped. Also, invest in a tag or plate for their collar with your name and a number where you or a responsible person can be reached. It’s fairly safe to speculate that everyone who has ever lost a pet while traveling thought, “it will never happen to me.”
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While on the road, it’s best if your pet is contained. A sudden stop can turn a pet into a living projectile, injuring you and injuring — or killing your pet. After all, you wouldn’t dream of letting a child bounce around a moving vehicle! There are a variety of ways to restrain your pet in comfort and safety, depending on the size of your pet and your preference.
The most common is, naturally, the crate. If you’re using a crate, settle it in a secure space in the RV and make certain it won’t slide around or end up hurtling through the vehicle in case of a sudden stop or impact. Strapping it in place is definitely a good idea. Another possibility for small dogs is a dog car seat. These belt into a seat similarly to a child’s car seat. The dog is then harnessed into the seat — usually a padded box like set-up. One of the nice features of most of these car seats is they allow a small dog to sit up high enough to see out of the windows and catch the breeze.
Larger dogs have the option of harnesses that belt directly into the existing seat belts. They allow the dog to sit up and look out of the window and flaunt their gypsy existence to less fortunate canines.
At PPL Motorhomes, we have a lot of really great accessories for you and your pet to make your trip both more enjoyable and safer. Check out what we have to offer.