By Julie St. Louis
Special to the Turnagain Times
Photo courtesy of Grrd Pets
Chugiak wears a colorful insulated jacket made with special light reflective material.
This Pet Corner is dedicated to the memory of all the dogs and cats that unfortunately have been killed on Alyeska Highway and around Girdwood. This year alone, there have been at least a half-dozen pups gone too soon to the rainbow bridge.
Soon the snow will melt and the days and nights will fill with sunshine. Until then, and even after there are ways that you can and should protect your pet from being hit by moving vehicles.
Lights—the very best way to make your pet visible. Lights come in all shapes, sizes and prices. Small multi-color flashing pendant lights that attach to a pet's collar start as low as $8 and go on up to $50 for an advanced large size that resemble human head-lamps, but instead are collar or neck-lamps. Others options include motion sensitive collars with bulbs built-in. My personal favorite for visibility and value is the beacon by Ruff Wear. This triangle shaped two-inch red bulb has three settings, blink, rapid flash and solid. It works best when clipped on top of your pet's collar, harness, or jacket, rather than under the neck. This allows for the greatest visibility from all angles.
Reflective Clothing—the next best way to make your pet standout is clothing from simple saddle blankets to full-on jackets with sleeves. Most jackets for dogs have sewn-in reflective piping, patches, or are made entirely from special light reflective material. In the day, these colorful outfits will standout against the snow, or the green trees, and at night the reflective materials light up under vehicle and streetlights. Jackets cost anywhere between $20 for the most basic on up to $75 for insulated, waterproof and reflective styles.
Reflective Weave Collars, Leashes and Harnesses – Finally, outfitting your cat or dog with a collar or harness, and walking them with a leash made with reflective threading will also provide a flash of light when caught by vehicle and street lamps. Prices range from $12 to $46 for collars, leashes and fully reflective harnesses.
The safety of your pet and his or her continued health is worth at least one of these visibility methods. If they somehow jump out of your vehicle, or escape when someone opens the door too wide, at least a reflective collar or harness will give them a fighting chance out there.
If you can afford it, gear up your pet in all three options when you both head outside. Even during the months of longer light a lightweight orange or yellow reflective saddle style jacket will help keep them from becoming another furry victim on the highway.
And, for those driving your hunks of heavy metal on our roads, slow down. This is a small town, with kids and pets out having fun. When you get to Girdwood it's time to relax, slow your pace and enjoy the view.
