Man’s Best Friend Would Have Hated Car Rides in 1935
Most pet owners are devoted to their furry family members and lavish them with attention, toys, treats, and lots of adventures. Whether it’s a walk in the park or a ride in the car, dogs want to go wherever their owners are willing to take them. And, on these adventures, responsible pet owners invest in their dog’s safety with the right leash, harness, collar, safety belt, or pet carrier to ensure that their beloved animal is happy, healthy, and secure from point A to point B.
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So, it’s quite a shock to discover what passed for a good and safe idea back in the day when it came to bringing your dog along for a car ride.
According to Daily Mail writer Victoria Woollaston, the “Dog Sack” made its debut in an issue of Popular Mechanics in 1935. This misguided invention was designed to combine two things of vital importance to drivers—the ability to take Spot on a car ride while keeping their automobile free of dog hair, dirt, and well, the dog. Because, as Woollaston reports, the dog sack was placed on the outside of the vehicle– yep, the outside–the dog was placed in a bag that was attached to the running board of the vehicle with hooks on the window.
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Woollaston cites the original copy in the Popular Mechanics issue that explains the absurdity of this unbelievable invention:
“According to the original article: ‘When you take your dog along for a ride, but prefer not having it inside the car, it can ride safely and comfortably in this sack, which is carried on the running board.
‘The bottom of the sack is clamped to the running board and the top is fastened to the lower part of an open window with hooks, covered with small rubber tubing to prevent marking the car.’”
Did you notice that the copy referred to a furry family member as an “it”? No wonder the invention never made its way to production.
The Dog Sack appeared in a 1935 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine
Photo: Popular Mechanics
News Source: Daily Mail, Oddee
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