Breakdown cover and pet transport

mrsyardbroom

I currently have breakdown cover with Britannia Rescue but I've just found out that if you break down and you have dogs in the car the rescue driver won't necessarily agree to transport your dogs. This means that if I broke down on a busy road I could be left alone and stranded and in danger.

After an incident at the weekend where three women were left in this situation by the RAC I want to change my breakdown cover. Can anyone help please? I know the AA have a pet rescue policy but are they the only ones?

Sadly the ladies who were left by the RAC ended up having their camper van wrecked by a lorry, some of the dogs were killed and one of the ladies is in intensive care. You can see why I'm worried.

WTFH

You've got a slightly skewed version of the story - the ladies had 12 dogs in their large campervan, the first vehicle the RAC sent out did not have room for 3 people + 12 dogs, nor was it capable of towing it. The RAC driver offered to take the 3 ladies. They refused.

The ladies were not "left by the RAC", but chose not to go with them.

So yes, if you carry lots of dogs in a big vehicle, you might want to consider a policy which definitely covers that scenario.

mrsyardbroom

I don't want to get into a discussion about the incident. I'm not sure why the RAC sent someone who couldn't recover the vehicle with the ladies and the dogs. I just want to know if there's a breakdown service anywhere that will guarantee to get me and my dogs home if the car breaks down.

maninthestreet

mrsyardbroom wrote: »

I don't want to get into a discussion about the incident. I'm not sure why the RAC sent someone who couldn't recover the vehicle with the ladies and the dogs. I just want to know if there's a breakdown service anywhere that will guarantee to get me and my dogs home if the car breaks down.

Just what sort of recovery vehicle exists that can accommodate 3 passengers, 12 dogs and a camper van-sized vehicle???

WTFH

You don't want to discuss it, but you're still prepared to repeat misinformation!

Anyway, to answer your question:
http://www.prprescue.com/html/showstart.html

AdrianC

Agree with WTFH here... Blame where blame is due. The main issue here is not the dogs, but the size of the vehicle and the behaviour of the women.

Highway Code, rule 275. If you break down on the motorway, GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, and stay well away from the edge of the hard shoulder.

RAC recovery Ts&Cs - maximum vehicle length 5.5m

RAC recovery Ts & Cs - General term 10 - If there are any domestic animals in Your Vehicle,their onward transportation is at Our discretion and solely at Your risk. We will not insure any animal during any onward transportation We undertake. Unless there is a safety issue, guide dogs for the blind, or hearing dogs will always be transported with their owner.

You'd think that people travelling in a (guesstimate) 6.5m long motorhome signwritten "The Canine Chronicle" would bother to check whether the cover they had suited their unusual requirements. The RAC were under no obligation to recover a vehicle that large at all, and under no obligation to recover any animals. The fact that they were making attempts to recover not just one dog, but a dozen, and an oversize vehicle is above-and-beyond the service which had paid for.

Of course the HGV driver should not have failed to spot a socking great big stationary white lump - and one he will very likely be facing prosecution for. But that's PRECISELY why nobody with any sense stays in a vehicle on the shoulder, even for a minute.

If the RAC hadn't yet reached the motorhome, would they be being abused here?

tykesi

mrsyardbroom wrote: »

I don't want to get into a discussion about the incident. I'm not sure why the RAC sent someone who couldn't recover the vehicle with the ladies and the dogs. I just want to know if there's a breakdown service anywhere that will guarantee to get me and my dogs home if the car breaks down.

Of course you don't because doing so your sensationalist comments will be exposed as exactly that!

You're also asking people on a forum which companies offer this service - would it not be better to ask the companies themselves?

mrsyardbroom

I'm sure a recovery vehicle exists that can tow a camper van with dogs inside it but as there are several different versions of the events leading up to the tragic accident it doesn't really seem a good idea to discuss it.

I simply want to know if a breakdown service exists that will cover my dogs. Please can anyone help with this?

AdrianC

mrsyardbroom wrote: »

I simply want to know if a breakdown service exists that will cover my dogs. Please can anyone help with this?

^ points up to link already given.

BUT - you are, again, ignoring one important detail. If they had been in a normal-sized vehicle, they would have almost certainly have been recovered - with the dogs staying in the car. The fact they were not was because the vehicle was TOO LARGE to be recovered under their policy, not because of the number of animals in it.

If the three people had followed the Highway Code, and been well away from the vehicle, they would have been uninjured.

DebsDD

I think your main question is whether they will take the dogs in the breakdown vehicle with you. I broke down with 7 dogs in the car, the RAC towed us home, we took the dogs into the house and then the RAC chap towed us onto the garage of our choice. The dogs stayed in our vehicle throughout. Not a problem.

mrsyardbroom

My main question is whether or not I could travel with my vehicle with the dogs in it. I wouldn't expect anyone to take the dogs in the cab as they may be allergic, or the dogs may get frightened and start to struggle. What I wouldn't want is for my vehicle to be towed away and for me to be separated from it while the dogs are inside.
I have contacted the Showstart people who guarantee to transport your animals so that may be the answer.