In what could have been a deadly car crash in Virginia Beach, a couple has miraculously walked away alive and with praises to a specific dog kennel that saved their two pups.
On January 22 Patrick McLaughlin and his wife were traveling to the airport, a nearly 20-minute drive for the couple. They brought both dogs—Yogi and Ollie—to play before McLaughlin took off. But that final drive to the airport ended when a drunk driver hit them going the opposite direction at 60 mph.
They were driving in a brand-new Ford Transit. The dogs were sitting in each of their own kennels from Ruff Land, a South Dakota-based company. These kennels are made of high-density polyethylene, which is a tough and impact-resistant material. For added protection, the couple strapped down the kennels with tie-downs and carabiners to keep them from tilting or shaking.
Although the dogs were shaken up, McLaughlin told Newsweek the only reason why the two fur babies were able to walk away unharmed following the car flipping around was because of these specific, durable kennels.
Patrick McLaughlin
The van started to smoke after the crash, but McLaughlin was able to get his wife out as well as the dogs. With the kennels completely intact, he was able to keep the dogs contained while first responders came to the scene. This is important because dogs might be shaken up after an accident and run off.
“The police and firefighters told us one of the saddest things they see are dogs who are thrown out or get out of the vehicles during or immediately after impact and running onto the highway only to be killed by a passing vehicle,” McLaughlin explained.
“Our dogs trust us to do the best,” McLaughlin said.
The idea to invest in these kennels came after they saw a horrific photo of a totaled Toyota 4Runner. The only recognizable thing from the accident was that the kennel was completely unharmed. McLaughlin’s wife insisted they needed those kennels, just in case something were to happen because as the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
The couple originally wanted larger crates to give their dogs room, but after research, they downgraded to a small size. The reasoning behind that was to minimize their dogs bouncing off the walls if they were to be hit.
Before these kennels, they were using a traditional seat belt and harness strap with the dogs in the back seat. Keeping them restrained this way was already a step ahead of most owners. Only about 16 percent of people who transport their dogs use pet restraints, according to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation.
Unsecured pets can also lead to distracted driving. Plus, that pet will have a greater chance of getting seriously injured in a car crash. They could become a projectile that hurts others, or they might flee the scene. Other big no-nos for dogs in the car are having them sit in the back of a pick-up truck or letting them stick their heads out the window.
“The only reason our dogs are alive is because we had them in [Ruff Land kennels],” McLaughlin said.
The drunk driver, an 88-year-old man, is facing a DUI charge, 13 News Now reported.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
