At some stage, most dogs will need to go for a car journey. While most of us will automatically fasten our seat belt when we get into a car, often we forget our pet safety in cars and allow them to roam around the vehicle. It is not only for their safety but also for your safety as well. It may also be a requirement on your car insurance that you restrain any pet while in the car. Seat belt harness By using a dog car seat belt you can insure your pet safety in cars. We have all seen dogs rushing round the car excited or sticking their head through the window.
There is no law at the moment that requires dogs to wear seat belts but the law does state that drivers must not : (a) Allow your dog to have free movement around the car (b) Permit your dog to sit on your lap while driving (c) Allow your dog to distract other drivers (d) Allow the dog to travel in such a way that it or any other passenger could be injured (e) Some states also require that dogs sit in the backseat or the boot. Make sure that you purchase a “Dog Seat Belt” and not a “Dog Harness”. A Dog seat belt will spread the force of any impact across the body whereas a Dog Harness may put all the force on the dog’s neck.
Pet carriers
Whilst in most cases the pet that will accompany us is our trusted dog, sometime we may need to take a cat, or some other animal to the vet, or to temporary accommodation. Cats are notoriously nervous in cars and may easily get scared and try to escape the car. A pet carrier is the best solution for your feline friend. Most pet carrier these days are made of hard plastic and only have holes for ventilation and a wire grill for a door. By positioning the door so that its view is obscured you can keep your cat calm on the journey. Do not place a cat in an overly large box as this increases the distance a cat can be thrown on impact. The carrier itself should be firmly held in place with a tightened rear seat belt.
Pet Cages
One group of people that travel often with their dogs are those people in the dog show community. If you look outside the venue, you will usually see cars with dog cages bolted to the floors of station wagons/estate cars. These cages are not overly large but large enough so that the dog can turn round if they wish to reposition themselves. They are bolted to the floor so that the cage will remain static in any impact. Because there is just a limited space in which the dog can travel inside the cage, they will be unlikely to sustain the sort of injuries they would receive if they were thrown onto a windshield or against the dashboard.
Whatever way you choose to transport your pets, an awareness of pet safety in cars is an absolute necessity for any responsible driver.
