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Wednesday, June 24, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Unsecured pets can
distract drivers
With summer travel sea-
son upon us, families are hit-
ting the road 4 and that of
course, means four-legged
family members, too. To
ensure safe travels for every-
one, it9s important to take
heed of a pet travel safety
issue 4 pets and distracted
driving.
When we think of dis-
tracted driving, the typical
culprits that come to mind
include texting, eating,
applying makeup, chatting on
the phone or even daydream-
ing. We seldom consider that
traveling with an unsecured
pet is a dangerous distraction.
TripsWithPets recently
polled pet parents who often
drive with their pets. The poll
showed that a whopping 60
percent of pet parents partake
in unsafe distracted driv-
ing habits involving their
pet. Additionally, 42 percent
of respondents admitted to
being distracted by their four-
legged travel companions,
yet 77 percent indicated that
they do not secure their pet
in their vehicle. According
to the poll, drivers were pet-
ting their dogs, putting them
in their laps, and frequently
checking their mirrors (or
turning around) to check on
them. Further, many drivers
(25 percent) snapped pictures
with their dogs while driving.
It9s pretty easy to under-
stand how an unsecured pet
can be a distraction while
driving. Some pets may
become anxious or excited
causing them to jump around
or bark while in the vehicle.
Additionally, a happy and
loving pet may just want to
be near you and crawl on
your lap while driving.
Oftentimes, pets can
be frightened and there is
always an element of unpre-
dictability with any animal.
When looking for comfort,
dogs and cats may naturally
opt to be near you and add to
the possible perils caused by
these distractions.
Properly securing your pet
in your vehicle is not only
about alleviating this poten-
tial driving distraction that
could cause an accident. It
is also a proactive approach
should there be an accident or
sudden stop 4 even a fender
bender can injure an unse-
cured pet. We wear seat belts
for our safety in case of an
accident and should take the
same care to secure our pets.
A pet that is not restrained
properly in a vehicle can be
seriously harmed or even
killed if thrown from a vehi-
cle. Airbags can go off and
injure a pet in your lap. In the
event of an accident, fright-
ened pets can easily escape
from a vehicle and run off.
Further, a pet that is not prop-
erly secured may not only be
harmed but could also put
others in danger through the
force of any impact from an
accident.
Ensuring your pet is safe
while traveling in your vehi-
cle means finding the pet
safety restraint that is right
for him. Options include pet
seat belts, pet car seats, travel
crates, and vehicle pet bar-
riers. Planning to have the
right pet safety restraint for
your trip will not only keep
you and your pet safe, but
also offer you peace of mind
and take one more distraction
away.
ISTOCK.COM/HUMONIA
Safely securing your pet in the
car helps to keep them safe.
Cultural organizations hit hard by shutdown
The majority of Oregon9s
cultural organizations are
facing suspension of opera-
tions or permanent closure
due to the COVID-19 impact,
reveals an Oregon Cultural
Trust survey released last
week.
The most comprehensive
survey of Oregon9s cultural
community since the crisis
began, the survey includes
data and comments from 330
cultural nonprofits represent-
ing 83 percent of Oregon
counties. Participants project
a collective loss of $40 mil-
lion and average losses of
$121,281 through June 30.
The majority of respondents
(54 percent) have annual rev-
enues of less than $250,000
and operate outside of the
Portland Metro area.
More than half (51 per-
cent) of respondents have
not applied for the federal
Payroll Protection Program
(PPP), likely due to the fact
that 44 percent employ less
than one full-time staff mem-
ber 4 relying mostly on a
volunteer workforce. Of the
49 percent that did apply for
PPP, only 73 percent have
received funds to-date. More
than 90 percent of those that
did receive PPP funds report
the funding is <not adequate
to support their financial
losses.=
<The PPP loan is a finan-
cial band-aid for the short
term, but for us to continue
to provide our essential ser-
vice&there will be a need for
continued relief funding well
into the next fiscal year and
possibly beyond,= reports the
Tillicum Foundation, which
operates nonprofit radio sta-
tions in Astoria, Tillamook
and Warrenton.
<Quite frankly right now
it looks grim,= reports the
Oregon Coast Council for the
Arts, <when the PPP monies
are gone we may be looking
at a 8staffless9 OCCA for a
while.=
Because most cultural
We’re In This Together
organizations rely on large
gatherings for ticket and
rental revenue, they rank
at the top of Oregon busi-
ness sectors most severely
affected by the crisis. They
also will be the slowest to
reopen, given the indefinite
ban on large gatherings due
to COVID-19.
<Without any earned rev-
enue, we are relying entirely
on philanthropy and govern-
ment support,= reports the
Portland Art Museum.
<[Without relief funding,]
we will have to close our
doors and lose the invest-
ment of our community over
30 years,= reports the Gilbert
House Children9s Museum in
Salem.
The survey also revealed
particular hardship for cul-
tural organizations in rural
areas. Bend9s High Desert
Museum reports that <muse-
ums and cultural organiza-
tions in more rural areas will
be hit hardest immediately
and will have a much lon-
ger recovery period 4 we
saw this during the recession
and the indicators point to a
similar pattern now&fund-
ing to help organizations like
the High Desert Museum be
resilient for the next 12-24
months is critical.=
Survey comments also
reflect the concern cultural
organizations have for the
vulnerable populations they
serve. The Shadow Project,
which provides learning sup-
port for children with dis-
abilities, reports that <during
COVID-19 these children
are even more vulnerable, at
highest risk of falling further
behind and exacerbated men-
tal health disorders.=
<Underserved rural popu-
lations define the youth and
families we serve,= reports
the Drexel H. Foundation in
Vale, where 21 percent of the
population lives in poverty.
Their outreach programs are
<free to all, reducing eco-
nomic barriers to learning,
cultural experiences, and
art participation for all eth-
nic groups. Grantors have
canceled funding opportuni-
ties we had counted upon&.
[t]oo many resources have
disappeared.=
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recommend making an appointment if an
in-person meeting is required.
For the well-being of our staff and clients
we are heeding CDC guidelines for
social distancing and masks.
The Nugget Office: 541-549-9941
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