World Animal Road Accident Awareness Day is October 10th. With a lot of animals becoming active at this time of year, this is definitely a timely topic. Deer are most often involved in car accidents, but squirrels, birds, cats, dogs, rabbits, racoons, skunks, turtles and coyotes are also represented. A Cherry Hill, NJ vet offers some more information on this below.
Keeping Your Pet Safe
First and foremost, don’t let your canine friend run around outside off-leash, except in fenced areas. If Fido has a yard to play in, make sure the fencing is secure. As for Fluffy, keep her safe and sound indoors.
Walks
Whenever you walk your dog down the side of the road, stick to the outside. Fido is smaller, and will be harder for drivers to see, especially around corners. Also, don’t let your pooch cross intersections or driveways in front of you. At night, be sure to wear reflective gear.
Driving
What do you do if an animal runs out in front of you? As hard as it is to accept, in many cases, the best response is to do nothing. If you can safely avoid impact, then by all means do so. However, you don’t want to risk getting into a serious accident yourself.
Peak Times
While different animals are out and about at different times, in general, dusk and dawn tend to be most high-risk. This is when many larger animals, such as deer, are active. You may also find that full moons correlate with increased wildlife activity.
Halloween
Halloween is a particularly hazardous time. For one thing, it’s getting dark earlier. Plus, there’s just a lot of traffic. Bring pets in early as the autumn holiday approaches. Black animals are at extra risk here. Because of old superstitions, they are a prime target for cruel pranks. They’re also harder to see at night!
What If?
What if you hit an animal, or find one by the roadside? The first thing to do is check for ID. If the animal is hurt, take it to the vet or contact an animal control officer. If you feel safe doing so, you can also try knocking on nearby doors. These things may be unpleasant, but it’s the responsible—and kind—thing to do.
Do you have questions about your pet’s health or care? Contact us, your Cherry Hill, NJ animal clinic!
