A dog owner has issued a stark warning after his beloved pet died in a freak accident.
Kristin Minassian shared the heartbreaking story that took place nearly two decades ago, but still haunts her to this day.
“Over 15 years ago, my husband and I were pulling out of a drive-thru where the person working the window wanted to give our dog a treat,” Kristin has since recounted. Newsweek Magazine‘We rolled down the back window so she could give Aussie a treat.’
Kristin, who was holding Aussie’s leash from the front seat, explained that the Australian shepherd liked to stick his head out the back window of the car and often did so without a problem.
Tragically, that day, Kristin admitted that the couple “made a huge mistake.”
Kristin Minassian shared the heartbreaking story, which took place nearly two decades ago but still haunts her to this day.
Kristin explained that Aussie was not restrained with a seat belt and after rolling down the window so she could receive a treat, The disaster happened.
The couple were distracted with their own food order and overlooked the danger because as they drove away, Aussie jumped out of the window.
Kristin was unable to hold on to the leash and the puppy fell into the street.
Despite rushing her to the vet, Aussie sadly passed away and Kristin admits she still finds it incredibly difficult.
“It’s been over 15 years and I’m still heartbroken about it and feel very guilty,” the dog lover admitted.
She continued: “She was a very fun-loving little girl who loved playing ball, swimming in the lake and fetching sticks.”
Kristin recently shared the story with Instagram After seeing a dog hanging out of a window on Instagram, she was encouraged to post about it to warn other pet owners.
Users flooded her comments on Instagram, many thanking Kristin for sharing her story.
Kristin (pictured with her family and two dogs, but not Aussie) says she is still heartbroken over the loss.
Users flooded her comments on Instagram, many thanking Kristin for sharing her story.
“Oh my god, I feel like I should have seen this. My dog is always out there,” one user said. “Thanks for sharing.”
“This happened to me last year,” said another grieving dog owner. “My pup was a year old, I thought she was safe, the window was just ajar but it was enough for her to get through.”
They continued: “I ran back down the street and picked her up and, in a state of panic, guilt and shame, I ran down the middle of the road holding her. It was horrible. I will never forgive myself.”
“I thought I was just paranoid (I am), but my dog wears a seatbelt and I still haven’t rolled my window all the way down,” another person commented.
“Dog seat belts are like $10 on Amazon. Keep the dogs safe!” another person advised.
According to the American Kennel Club, There are several ways to travel safely with a dog in the car.
It is recommended to never let a dog ride unrestrained in the car, and if there is no way to contain it, close the car windows and put the child lock on the doors.
“Your dog might figure out how to press a button, or he might do it accidentally, which could cause injury, especially if he sees another animal or dog outside,” the website reads.
Plus, you could suffocate if you accidentally roll up the window while enjoying the breeze.
The Kennel Club recommends transporting animals in a cage with adequate ventilation and ensuring they are placed in a secure location within the vehicle.
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