AAA: PEOPLE AND DOGS

[TowZone]

15 Sep 2008 11:09

AIKTOW4U Wrote:

A really upset a AAA member the other night. The members car was 04 ford focus with those nice recessed "special" lug-nuts and the member tried to change their flat. In the process they destroyed the adapter and now could not remove the flat. Called AAA for help. I don't have anything to remove those nuts with as they are recessed and the damaged lug nut removers. I have will not fit into the recessed area of their wheel. Informed them of this and told them I would have to tow it. At this time they informed me of the DOG. Stated they would get their Shepard and sit in the truck.

 

"whoa! Sorry but the dog must remain in your car."

 

That statement got a whole lot of attention. I gave them the choice of letting the dog in their car or tied to a sign post or they could all sit here with their car. Anyhow, I am sure to hear about this one but was wondering how all of you would handle this. The member said the dog was a member of her family and got very pissed when I said that her and her husband could ride but the dog MUST stay in her car.

 

This is the first time I actually had this situation and I wonder how anyone else would deal with it. Even if the third mammal in that car was human, I would not have been able to transport them as I only have 2 spare seat belts, and would have had to call a cab for them. Lets hear your thoughts on it.

 

carl4tow said:

dog rides in customer car

 

annettemcd said:

We often say that the dog will be more comfortable in familiar surroundings and should be happy and safe riding in the owner's car.

Occasionally, we do let small pets ride in our trucks, but a Shepherd is a big dog and room would have been a consideration in a truck with a regular cab. A consideration for us is that a long tow at temperatures below zero will be dangerous for a small pet riding in the unheated vehicle, so we have to let them into the tow truck.

Pets can be a problem, even for us, because people sometimes let their pets with muddy feet jump right up on the seat. We try to keep the trucks' cabs looking nice and I think once actually added a seat cleaning fee to a tow bill.

With customers like you had, you can be polite, but, as you said, even if the third mammal had been human, you did not have room in your cab. So what can you do other than be polite?

 

I B X said:

There are times when I would have rather had the dog up front with me and left the people behind.

 

WEBOSLH said:

"Big-dogs", ride in the towed vehicle. Small dogs ride with the owners sitting on the owners lap. Pit bull and rots, pup or full grown WILL ride in the towed vehicle.

 

towscorpio said:

Dog always rides in the car. Here in California you "aren't" supposed to have a loose animal in the car while driving. When I was a reserve deputy, I would give tickets and they would hold up that they could cause distraction and/or an accident. California Vehicle Code 22350 "No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property."

 

ctmodern said:

all animals ride in towed veh. not in tow truck. some exceptions, cat in a box, small shitzu. no that is not a curse word.

 

kstowman said:

all animals stay in the towed vehicle....exception might be a really hot day 100 degree temp...etc., but 99.9% of the time the animal does not get in the tow truck...too many liabilities, what if it bumps the gear shift, gets under the driver's feet or worse yet attacks the driver, had a 2 hour trip with a dog barking the entire way, never again will a pet like that ride in my vehicle....also what if it pee's in the truck? that is a biohazard, plus it could get fur on the seat and then the next customer might get hairy.....

I treat my truck like my home, a customer is in my home, don't put your feet on my dash, throw your trash on the floor or pee on the running board (had that happen once and the bill got way higher) and don't mess with the radio or climate control, you are welcome to come into my home, but lets leave your pet in your home!!!

Jason Strickland
Strickland Road Service- South Haven, KS
Strickland Towing- Wellington, KS

 

Jared Allpoints said:

animals stay in cust vehicle. i will not allow them in my trucks. jared

 

The Tow God said:

I simply explain to people that as an emergency service provider, I come into contact with many people who must ride in my truck. And since some people are allergic to dogs, cats, cigarette smoke, etc., that I can not allow anyone other than human beings in the cab of my truck and absolutely NO SMOKING either. I explain to them that the animal most likely won't know the difference that the vehicle is being towed or driven, and that I can take them to a safe place so that they might call someone to pick-up the animal. Usually seems to work for me.

DJ
Freddie MAC's, Inc.South El Monte, Ca

 

myerstowing said:

I would just calmly explain that it is a safety hazzard, to the driver and the equipment plus not having the proper restraints in the tow truck to safely transport the animal.

 

Gigarange said:

no animals in the truck...period. It may be a company truck, but I'm responsible for keeping the interior clean, and as some have mentioned the alergy factor.
I've had lots try to bring animals into my truck, most simply accept the no animals in the truck policy without question.

I have only had three times that I can remember that I've had a real problem with a customer insisting on letting there animal in the cab of my truck.

One got left on the side of the road with there Rotwieler (sp?) to wait for her husband to pick her up while I towed the car to the dealership.

Second was billed 1/2hr standby time for me having to sit on the side of the highway (not a safe place to leave her) "arguing with her" and then ended up caving once the cab that showed up to pick her up wouldn't take her German Shepard.

Third refused to the bitter end about leaving her bird in the car, and wouldn't let me tow the car unless her AND her bird could ride with me to the drop. It was an autoclub call, got dispatch to call there autoclub and got the OK to bill a service call to them which they would be billing to the customer.

Why is it that all seem to be women with REALLY big or add animals that are so insistent?

 

WEBOSLH said:

Gigarange, I have not a thing against a woman who loves her pets. (Why is it that all seem to be women with REALLY big or add--odd?-- animals that are so insistant?) I think it is a natural bond with the pet and a "motherly" concern for it. Which is why women and a few men are so insistant on having their pets in the tow truck with them. It's when the men and women want to leave the kids in the towed vehicle that concerns me. But we won't go there , wrong forum.

 

Bigtows00 said:

No animals in my trucks. 2 reasons:
1. Customers with allergies
2. The smell.

I had a lady pull the same thing on me and I was nice and told her that her poodle (full size Poodle) would have to ride in her vehicle. She said that was not acceptable and I advised her that I do not allow animals in my trucks. She then advised me that she would just stay on the side of the road and wait for a ride (trying to guilt trip me of which you can ask my ex wife does not work). I told her that was her choice. She then began to curse me on the side of the road and I lost my temper. I asked her why the dog could not ride in the car and she actually told me what if he gets scared. I looked at her and told her she needed a reality check! After all was said and done she rode in the truck with me and the dog rode in the car. She did not say 2 words to me on the way to Tires Plus. When we got there I helped her get the dog out and said see he is just fine. She stomped away mumbling something under her breath. The store manager would not let her bring the dog inside either!

Jason Ray

Heavy Duty Specialist/TRIP Supervisor
School of hard knocks Membership # 05101978 (Charter Member) 

"My Views may not reflect the views of my employer"

 

ExpressTowAaron said:

No customer pets in my trucks, if the customer asks I tell them that MY dog is in HER truck and she doesn't get along with other dogs invading her territory.

 

annettemcd said:

Our problem is cold, not heat. A large dog or a sled dog can ride in an unheated vehicle at zero or below with no problem, but a house pet can not. Public transportation isn't available and rides, if available at all, may take hours to get there. House pets can ride in the tow truck, when it is cold.

 

myerstowing said:

Isnt it always cold in Alaska?

 

annettemcd said:

No, in the summer, it gets up in the high 90's around here in the Interior.

 

AIKTOW4U said:

i understand the service pets but sorry i have no way to ensure the safe transport of myself and you while the pet is unsecured. I am willing to call you a taxi or ask the police department or a relative to accomadate and I will remain on scene until the transport asked for arrives. This is as far as I am going, safety for me and the other persons is first and formost. what is safe about a pet, service or otherwise, roaming the cab while I am trying to navigate? as the driver, are we not responsible for any mishaps whil driving? I am not going to willingly increase my chance of fault or liability. The towing and recovery business is for the transportation of vehicles, if people want a ride, get a cab. the taxi has insurance for people transport and I have insurance for towing. I have never towed a person!

 

Greenwich Towing said:

Our policy is the pet (any size) remains in the vehicle being towed, that way there is no mess or smell.

 

fixdent said:

Well....I just got bit for the last time....I've got one sore, swollen hand.
-- Gordon

 

AIKTOW4U said:

bite back!!!

 

Towbc said:

i wonder if a driver wrecked after being bit would that nice persistant customer sue!!!! after his or her dog bite you i bet they would just a thought.

 

P64 said:

we have a pet fee. that helps alot

Yeh, that a good one.
$50. The choice is yours.

 

Unknown Member said:

i'm usin that one...... $50 pet fee sir or your pet can ride in your vehicle!!!......i LIKE IT!!!

 

BlackAutoload said:

Just dealt with this issue. Lady insisted on small poodle, ride with her. Told her my common allergy response and she said she would pay for the cleanup and how much would it be. Rambled off 50 bucks, she agreed and away we went. Paid fee and was happy.
Now it did take me about 15 minutes with a shop vac but got it clean and made money.

 

 

 

Related 2017 Story Topic:

http://www.golocalprov.com/news/aaa-refused-to-pick-up-blind-woman-stranded-with-service-dog

 

 

[Ed Johnson]

Last year in Virginia an attempt was made to pass a state code regarding animals riding in tow trucks. The law would have made it illegal to tow a vehicle while a "companion animal" was in it. I can understand a seeing eye dog or other essential well trained animal to ride with the owner, but there was no definition of "companion animal". Even the legislature understood that any animal could be considered to be a "companion" such as a dog, cat, snake, ferret (they bite real good), reptile (includes snakes, alligators) and that since there was no definition in law of a "companion animal", the legislation was voted down. 

 

After experiencing an unpleasant experience years ago with a dog riding in the truck, I established a policy - no critters ride in the truck. Critters should include bad children, but the law does not allow them to ride in a towed car (just a joke, I actually tie the little brats to the bed of the truck). When a person wants to have their animal ride in the truck, I explain that doing so would be upsetting to the animal since it would be in a strange vehicle that smells, rides, and sounds different than they are used to . I explain that animals in such situations will get scared and bite the stranger riding with them (ie: the wrecker driver) or  bite the dash board or relieve themselves suddenly and in a very messy way. They are told that animals normally are much happier in the vehicle they are familiar with. These explanations normally are sufficient enough to encourage the animal owner to let their pet ride in the towed car. In the almost 35 years that I have followed this policy, there have been no problems.

 

People love their critters and as long as we understand that and explain simply what the problem is with their riding in the truck, things normally work well. 

[TowZone]

I still say that the day will come when no customers ride in the truck. This will be dictated by the insurance industry and will place a hardship on those companies in rural areas who will have to adapt. Likely working with those who work for such companies as Uber & Lyft or setting up their own program. This may not happen this year or the next few year, but it will happen eventually.

[ESC]

I had the situation one time where it was an issue.  The woman insisted her dog come in the cab.  She had already been standing outside her car waiting on me.  It was snowing and the dog was very hairy, covered in snow and ice from them being outside.  We were half mile from her home.  Honestly, I would have made it work had the dog not been such a wet filthy mess.  I have no issue with animals, but my thought is what about the next customer thats allergic, etc.  Not to mention I didnt want to have to clean up a filthy mess after taking her half mile.   We were in a bad spot in the roadway, and I wanted to get out of there.  She would not allow the dog to ride in her car alone, so she ended up walking home in the snow with her dog.

 

Afterward when I thought more, I considered what would have happened had she been hit on the side of the road, or slipped and fallen on ice.   Another one is the service animals.  I remember another post on here somewhere about it being illegal to refuse a service animal- which i wouldnt personally have any issue transporting under most circumstances anyway.    A new feature to our area in the past year or so is Lyft and Uber.  My drivers have the app on their phone now..... order the customer a ride and add it to their bill.   We have actually used that in other cases to transport people.

[Louwo]

Never did think to have a driver with a uber account and add to the bill. My roomate ubers on the side. That's a great idea for options. Dogs and owners does oppose a issue. I've had dogs in the car for pver a 100 mile tow and had a few in the cab.

Think the owner would of stayed in the towed car with her animal since it was a wet mess?

[Kjband13oc]

I just have to do this:

How can you say no to this face

Or this one