Since our dogs are our closest companions and frequent travel buddies, we want to ensure they can travel safely with us. It is an established fact that a dog running loose in a moving car is not a safe situation. Injuries to the dog could occur in the event of an accident, and even worse, an accident could be caused by the unrestrained dog, injuring both the dog and people.
Several states have distracted driving laws that could be enforced when a dog is loose in a vehicle. So dog lovers everywhere want to know how they can safely restrain their friends during transport. There are numerous seat restraints on the market, but are they all safe enough for your pup?
The Center for Pet Safety is an independent non-profit research and consumer advocacy organization. Their goal is to help dog owners make the best choices. They advise that dogs always ride in the back seat to minimize distraction. They also suggest that long lines, like a zip line product or a long tether, are not a good idea. Dogs that are improperly restrained can be an even worse distraction.
The Center has performed tests on many of the commercially available pet car harnesses. Sadly, there was only one brand that met their rigorous testing guidelines. Many brands claim that they have been crash-tested, but the Center found that most manufacturers are not holding their products to the level of the standard that the Center suggests.
The Center’s founder, Lindsay A. Wolko, explained that the only brand of pet restraint harness to voluntarily comply with their guidelines was Sleepypod, with their Clickit Sport and Clickit Terrain models. She did say that the Center has heard from several other brands that are working toward their certification, and these are anticipated later this year.
Visit the Center for Pet Safety’s website to make an informed decision about your pet’s travel safety products.
