Enjoy the Ride

One thing we all know our furry friends love to do is prop themselves up in the car and stick their head out the window.  My pup even knows how to push the button to get her window to go down.  However, recent data suggests that traveling like this isn’t safe for me or my dog, Bella. 

According to pet safety Web site barkbuckleup.com, when driving 35 mph, a 60-pound unrestrained dog can cause an impact of 2,700 pounds, slamming into a car seat, windshield or passenger.  Keeping our dogs restrained is the first step toward the comfort and well-being of all living things within your automobile.

For small dogs and pets, purchasing a portable kennel is the simplest answer, particularly a carrier that’s already familiar and comfortable to the pet.  These can easily be securely strapped down in the back of a station wagon, minivan or SUV or, with appropriate fastenings, in the backseat of a passenger car.  “In-vehicle pet restraints should be part of every dog owner’s safe travel practices,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.