Symantha Miller

admiNWD

Symantha Miller

I just wanted to share my accident story with you. I compete extensively in dog agility with my four dogs. We travel all over the US for competitions and we have been strong supporters of using Ruff Rider seat belts since 2000 when I purchased them for my first two dogs. Even when I bought a SUV large enough for crates I still chose to use seat belts, much to the surprise of my agility friends. My four dogs range from a 7.5# Italian Greyhound to a 44# Border Collie. All of them comfortably wear their Roadies every time they get in a car, no exceptions. A month ago I was traveling with two of my dogs to train with a friend in Kansas City. We were driving 70 mph on I-35 just south of Des Moines. The last thing I remember is driving with my cruise on, listening to NPR, in the right lane of the interstate. What occurred next we know from witnesses. An elderly woman (80 years old) driving 75-80 mph lost control of her car behind me. Her car (1994 Chevy Lumina) came up on the shoulder and crashed into my SUV (2002 Nissan Xterra). My truck spun around and flipped 5-6 times into the ditch on the right and landed upright. Her car flipped onto the roof and slid. She survived and is fine. Seeing the photographs of my totaled and crushed SUV it is amazing that anyone, let alone dogs, survived the accident. Calypso, my 44# 5 yo BC, was in the rear seat, drivers-side, and physically was completely OK. He was stiff the few days following the accident but no injuries at all. Syn, my 36# 15 mo BC, was in the rear seat, passenger side. He broke a toe, tooth, and had a concussion. His side of the truck was totally destroyed. Both of their prognoses are very good. Calypso is nervous about loud noises but is back to competing again in Agility. Syn is healing well and they expect him to resume training in another month. I also was wearing my seat belt, and suffered lacerations to my legs and hands (~35 stitches total), and suffered a severe concussion. I was much worse off than my dogs but I am expected to make a full recovery (when are you going to start making Roadies for people?! I have no doubt that their Ruff Rider seat belts saved their lives. All of the windows on the Xterra blew out and the damage to the truck would have destroyed any crates I had in it. I can't even tell you how grateful I am that Ruff Rider saved the lives of my precious dogs. The seat belts held up very well. Calypso's seat belt was older (purchased in June 2000) and the buckle on his lower chest (under his legs) broke. However, it clearly did its job as he had no injuries. Syn's (purchased September 2003) had no damage. We did order new ones, just to be safe. One note: neither dog had any cuts, bruising, or lacerations from the seat belts, even though they hit them with considerable force. My new truck (Toyota Sequoia) is large enough to have crates bolted in. However, I will continue to use Ruff Rider seat belts. We tell everyone we know that the Roadies saved their lives and I know quite a few folks have placed orders with you all having heard our story. Thank you again. Every time I hug my BC boys I thank your company for giving me the opportunity to do so.

Symantha Miller

Ruff Rider
2014-12-08T18:38:48-07:00

Symantha Miller

I have no doubt that their Ruff Rider seat belts saved their lives. Thank you again. Every time I hug my BC boys I thank your company for giving me the opportunity to do so.