Here’s an important pet safety tip for pickup truck owners: All animals should ride inside a pickup truck cab – never in the bed of a truck. According to the American Humane Association, it’s estimated that 100,000 dogs die each year riding in truck beds. That’s a shockingly high number but even one dog’s preventable death is too many!

AHA has partnered with Ford Motor Company in a new pet safety campaign called “Dogs Ride Inside,” which reminds all drivers that simple, basic actions can prevent serious injury or death while transporting a beloved family pet. Here’s what you should know:

• Pets should always ride in the back seat if your truck has one. An animal in the front seat can quickly become a driver distraction and cause an accident, jeopardizing the pet and everyone else in the vehicle.
• Restrain, contain or crate your pet with a pet carrier or specially designed pet seat belt or harness like the one pictured above.
• Dogs love sticking their heads outside of a moving car, but that’s also one of the easiest ways for a pet to be injured, whether it’s from a flying rock or even falling out of the vehicle.  Wind can seriously irritate mucous membranes and blow pieces of grit into their eyes.
• Be sure that all ID tags are properly affixed to your pet’s collar and that they have your current contact information, including cell number(s). Your pet should also have an ID microchip implanted – and make sure the microchip registration and pet license information is up-to-date. Consider including the name and phone number of an emergency contact.
• Never leave pets unattended inside of vehicles. Remember that cars heat up fast – even with the windows cracked.
• Visit American Humane Association for more pet safety tips.

Also be sure to check out the adoption and pet safety tour sponsored by Ford in conjunction with Fido Friendly magazine. The 5th annual Get Your Licks on Route 66 will be visiting 15 US cities to promote pet safety and adoption. In the first four years of the tour more than 1,500 animals have been placed in new homes. Go here to view the list of dates & shelters along the route.