GMC/Chrevolet Warning!!! Hazardous to Dogs!!!

[Sara Steele]

Hi All,
I have a GMC Safari (it's Chevrolet equivalent is the Astro), which has rear
door problem, which is dangerous to dogs. If the automatic (electronic)
control is not working (due to some problem, like a fuse blowing out or
other damage to the electrical system), there is no manual way to open the
rear doors! Those of us dog people who have these vehicles, got them so that
we could take advantage of those rear doors, by facing our crates to the
rear and having our dogs enter and exit from the rear.
If the doors are not operable, then we have no way of getting the dogs out
in (or out) an emergency.  If the automatic system blows out, we are faced
with having to turn the crates around, with dogs averaging 90-110 lb INSIDE
these crates, in order to get our dogs out. We have had to do this, now,
three times (!), when the electrical/automatic system failed for various
reasons. Fortunately, none of these three times was in an emergency, when
time was of essence. My GMC Safari is at the dealer service shop right now
having its eletrical system worked on. I asked whether they could fix it so
that the rear doors have a manual option. They said no, it is not possible.
I told them that dogs could die because of this. He told me, in so many
words, tough s.., very few of GMC's customers around the world use these
vehicles for dogs. I explained to him that should all the dog people around
the world stop buying the GMC Safari and Chevrolet Astro, GMC's pocket book
would notice it.

After my recalcitrant vehicle comes back from the GMC shop, I am taking it
to STS. I talked, today, to a mechanic there, and he thinks he might be able
to render the rear doors manual. I will let you all know how this comes out.
In the meantime, avoid getting the GMC vehicles, as not having an option for
manual operation for the rear doors could be lethal to your dogs!!!  I will
be writing a letter to GMC about this. I may also send cc's to the AKC, CKC,
etc---get the word out.

Any feedback on this subject?
Sara Steele