Pam,

I just wanted to warn all the other cockapoo (or other small dog) lovers out there that, just as an unrestrained child is at risk in a car accident, so is their beloved pet. A year ago, while driving on a country highway in Washington, I plowed into the back end of a car which was making an illegal left turn aross the center line with no brake lights and no turn signal. Since I was going 50 mph, I totaled my car and hers too. Baxter, our wonderful 6 year-old cockapoo, was in the back seat, as always, in his elevated "lookout seat," and restrained by the seat belt and a strap attached to his harness. Thank God! The impact was so strong that it broke all the stitching in his harness and he ultimately flew forward between the front seats and landed in the passenger seat beside me (where he is NEVER allowed to ride.) He looked so surprised, but was without a scratch! I know if he had been unrestrained, he would have gone through the windshield and been killed or maimed. People used to tease me about putting him in a car seat like a child, but I have been doing it since we got him, and he would be confused if he didn't ride that way. His seat also lifts him up to the window height and allows him a comfortable and safe view of the passing world. He even gets a safe moment or two sometimes with his head out the open window (although his vet told me he should be wearing "Doggles" if he is riding with his head out, because the wind and dust are damaging to his eyes and can cause cataracts.)

I am adding the website from which your "parents" can special order the perfect car seat for their "babies". The original one which saved Baxter's life, I had ordered from a catalog and it was a little too small for him, so the foam understructure tended to wear out. When the second one wore out, I recently located the manufacturer's own site and found that they make several sizes and will even custom match the microfiber cover, which is removable and washable, to your car's interior color scheme. It comes with a free halter and lanyard to fasten its rider in.

We spend years getting attached to and falling in love with our dogs. Don't they deserve the same care and protection as our kids when riding in a car? Please tell your new puppy owners to get a safe dog seat for their precious cargo.
Go to http://www.snoozer-dog-beds.com/lookouts.htm. If this letter saves one dog as well-loved as Baxter, I will consider this time well-spent.

Thank you as always for our wonderful boy,

Nancy (Baxter's mom)

Seattle, Washingotn

Baxter's mom and dad share a scary story with everyone to be sure to encourage you to get your pet microchipped:

"Baxter had a little adventure last week which reminded me to tell you to INSIST that the owners of your puppies have microchips placed in their new puppies. Somehow Baxter slipped out the office entry door into the foyer on Thursday. He has done this once before, but usually has a brief exploration of the rather boring foyer, then scratches on the door glass to come back into our office where he knows he can get continuous attention. Thursday, however, the upstairs orthodontist office was moving out and their movers propped open the outer door, so he went on out to the parking lot. Apparently while exploring the parking strip along that busy street (he has never tried to cross any street but ours, which is a quiet neighborhood cul de sac) a woman driving by saw him without a leash and pulled over, opened her passenger door, called to him, and he obediently jumped into her car! Not realizing that he came from the adjacent building, she took him to a nearby vet hospital and left him with the message that, if nobody claimed him in 2 days, she wanted them to call her because she would take him in a heartbeat.....

.....The vet scanned him and found his microchip, called the national registry, and they notified us immediately. In all, he was missing for about 30 minutes (or a year, depending on who is describing the time frame!) If we had not had him microchipped at the time of his neutering, I cannot even imagine how hard it would be to get him back. Of course, we were very lucky that the woman who found him, and obviously fell under his spell instantly, was honest enough to turn him in and not just keep him. I can no longer even imagine life without Baxter. So if anyone you know has not already chipped their pup, send them this message: DO IT NOW. It cost us about $40 and our vet said she does it free for people who think they cannot afford it."
Nancy (Baxter's mom)

For more information on microchips visit the info page on the NACR website