ROME – Holidays are getting closer and closer, and not just for us humans. Loaded the luggage, the bikes, the dinghy now it’s up to our devoted four-legged companions to find a place in the car. With some rules that should be observed. Before exposing them, we remind you that paragraph 6 of art. 169 of the Highway Code states that “… it is forbidden to transport pets in numbers greater than one and in any case in conditions that constitute an impediment or danger to driving. Only pets are allowed to be transported, even in higher numbers, as long as they are kept in a special cage or container or in the rear compartment of the driver’s seat specially divided by a net or other similar suitable means… “. The reference to alone pets means that pythons and crocodiles are prohibited.
Here are 10 rules that should be observed:
1. Traveling by car starts at an early age, and this also applies to animals. You have to start getting them used as puppies to be calm and above all to do their needs on command, that is, when you go down to refuel or to have a coffee. Otherwise the journey will become an odyssey.
2. Belts are essential. A free dog in the car is already a danger under normal conditions; in the event of an accident it can turn into a bullet. The Center for Pet Safety of the United States, after various crash tests, has certified a three-point harness, which holds the dog in the back seat: it is attached to the rear seat belt and is equipped with a harness. If the dog is large, the classic nylon dividing net is fine. If, on the other hand, it is small or if it is a cat, the law speaks of a carrier, which however must not be too large to prevent the animal from being tossed against the walls.
3. Avoid letting your pets stick their heads out the window. While this is very pleasant for our traveling companions, it is dangerous for the eyes and ears. Let them do this only at low speeds.
4. It is always good to bring the animal’s medical records and vaccinations with you. You never know, especially if we go beyond national borders.
5. Watch out for air conditioning, temperature changes are more harmful to them than to us. This does not mean traveling the entire journey dying of heat. Air conditioning should be used, but don’t overdo it.
6. Leaving objects scattered in the passenger compartment, especially on the rear seats, is not particularly recommended. That object could become dangerous if used by the animal as a game, perhaps causing it to catapult in the driver’s face.
7. Do not stuff your dog or cat before departure. Traveling light is usually a good rule of thumb. It is advisable to always have fresh water at hand.
8. Don’t drive as if you were going to win the Monte Carlo Rally. Animals are like children, they suffer from motion sickness. So better driving at a constant speed and without jerks. In case of bends, take a break from time to time.
9. Long marathons are in any case not recommended, especially if your pet is not used to it.
10. Never leave your dog or cat locked in the car, even in the shade, because in summer the temperature in the passenger compartment becomes 50 degrees in less than an hour, which could prove fatal.
.