Since our dogs are our closest companions and frequent travel buddies, we want to be sure that 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 dog and people. Several states have distracted driving laws which could be enforced to include a dog that was losing the vehicle and garner a fine.So dog lovers everywhere want to know how they can safely restrain their friends during transport. There are numerous seat restraints on the market.
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 if they slip or fall.
The Center has performed tests on many of the commercially available pet harnesses. Sadly, there was only one device 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 product to the level of the standard that the Center suggests.The Center’s founder, Lindsay A Wolko explained that currently there is only one brand of pet restraint harness that has voluntarily complied with their guidelines. It is called the Sleepypod Clickit Sport. 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.
In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about the certified brand, here is the link to more info about the Sleepypod.Pet owners and the Center for Pet Safety have the singular goal of keeping dogs and owners as safe as possible.
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