Second Chance: Pups and Pickups!

23 Jul Second Chance: Pups and Pickups!

For 30 years, the Animal Resource Center and Shops of Second Chance Humane Society have been serving Ouray, San Miguel, and Montrose Counties. Our adoption hours are from Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. View shelter pets and services online at www.secondchancehumane.org. Connecting Pets, People, and Community While Saving Lives.

View shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.

Donate here or mail to: PO Box 2096, Ridgway, CO, 81432. 

Go here for more options from Second Chance.

In a rural community such as ours, people love their pickup trucks and their dogs. While we know we won’t convince the truly committed dog-in-pickup defenders, we encourage everyone to consider the following.

Dogs who ride in the backs of pickup trucks can look like they’re having fun, noses testing the wind, and ears flopping freely. They are going places with their parents. However, an estimated 100,000 dogs die every year because of falling or jumping off of pickup trucks. If a driver hits a bump, slams on the brakes, or swerves to avoid an obstacle, a dog can easily be thrown from the truck bed.

They can die or suffer from multiple fractures, abdominal and thoracic trauma, and severe cuts and bruises. In many cases, dogs who survive are hit and killed by other vehicles. Additionally, dogs falling or jumping from trucks often lead to car accidents. The metal of the truck bed can burn or freeze dogs’ feet. Dogs riding in the hot sun without shade can suffer from heatstroke. Other risks are that dogs can get eye or ear injuries when bugs, sand, debris, or other objects are blown into their faces.

The dangers are enough that many states have banned traveling with dogs in the truck bed.

The safest way for a dog to ride in the back of a pickup is in a crate that can’t slide around or tip over. The American Veterinary Medical Association has this to say:

“Dogs may be confined to a truck bed in a secure cage or kennel, but attention must be paid to ensuring appropriate space (sufficient to stand up and lie down, but not enough that the dog may be thrown from one side of the crate/kennel to the other), ventilation, and protection from the elements. Enclosures on a truck bed can accumulate toxic carbon monoxide and provide only limited protection in the event of an accident.”

So yes, dogs might enjoy riding in the back of pickup trucks. They also enjoy rolling in disgusting stuff and snacking on, umm. matter in a cat litter box. Pet parents need to be responsible protectors of their canine family members. As social beings, dogs should ride in the cab with their people – safe and secure. And, if a trip to town means he or she will be left alone in a hot truck, everyone would be happier staying home.

Nicholas Gilman, Second Chance Executive Director adds:

“Dogs riding in the open bed of a pickup truck are not safe. We have rescued numerous pets who have been thrown from trucks and survived. We have seen badly injured legs, heads, eyes, etc. Although we recognize this is a sensitive topic for some, we hope people will reconsider before traveling with beloved dogs in the bed of the pickup.”

Latte

Oh, sweet Latte. She is a young mixed-breed girl who thinks she’s a lap dog despite weighing 70 pounds. Latte had a rough start in life, but she has learned to trust and has bonded hard with our staff and regular volunteers. We know her transition to a new home will take patience. Her new person will be rewarded with a loving, loyal, dog who will be a great companion.

AND… To continue the Second Chance Highlights section, we want to share the following:

Donations Help Us
and Those Facing Hardship

We are so grateful for donations for our pets. Stores such as Chow Down, Walmart, Murdoch’s, Petco, Dirt Dawg, and Target regularly donate food and supplies to us.

We also receive generous donations from people in our communities and beyond. We recently got a gift for the pets from a follower in Indiana! A local friend stopped by the shelter and donated over $1500 worth of food and supplies. We get packages from our Amazon Wish List and from Chewy, and generous animal lovers buy for us at local shops as well.

When we put out the call that we needed to replace all of the bedding at the shelter, within a few days we were stocked with clean sheets, towels, and blankets.

If we can’t immediately use the food or supplies that are donated, please know they  don’t go to waste! Our Pet Pantry is available to anyone in our communities needing help feeding their beloved pets. This service keeps pets in homes with the people who care for them – and keeps them from being surrendered to shelters because of economic hardship.

Western and Indigenous Art in Our Gallery

Paws for Art Gallery is in Ridgway (across the parking lot from our thrift shop at 309 Sherman St).
Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from noon to 4pm or by request during thrift shop hours.