Car Accidents

Avoid accidents with cars by

• Keeping your dog on a lead when on or near roads
• Take care when unloading or loading your pets into vehicles

If you are driving and collide with any of the animals listed below you must stop and report it to the police as quickly as possible, you must remain at the scene until the police give you permission to leave.  This applies whether the animal has been killed or not.

• Dog
• Horse
• Pig
• Sheep
• Goat
• Donkey or mule
• Or cattle

If you witness an accident and the driver fails to stop or leaves the scene, try to make a note of their registration number and pass the information to the authorities.

If you need to treat an injured animal, make sure that in doing so you don't endanger yourself or other road users.

• Locate and contact a local vet if possible
• Follow their advice
• You may need to move the animal to safety or to take it to the vet, consider using your car parcel shelf or mat
• If it is a dog contact the owner if possible
• Use a car shelf or mat to transport the animal to the vet
• Keep the animal calm and warm and avoid excessive movement
• Control bleeding

Animals may act aggressively or out of character when they are in pain or scared, so take extra care and talk to them the whole time and be careful not to get bitten or scratched.

Do not give medications or food as this can interfere with the treatments a vet will maybe give and can delay further treatments.

Once you arrive at the vet, if they are expecting you they can come to your car and assist you in bringing the animal into the practice. Making sure they are expecting you will ensure that the animal receives prompt care on arrival.