On the pet calendar, every New Year starts with the celebration of National Pet Travel Safety Day (Jan 2). It’s an opportunity to highlight that pets love going places with their pet parents and a reason to check that you have all the accessories for comfortable and safe outings whether it’s a road trip or a visit to the dog park.
An unrestrained pet in a vehicle is a potential danger to themselves, people in the vehicle and, if they escape, and run into traffic, a hazard to the lives of others too. They should be restrained every time they get in a vehicle whether you are just shopping locally, making vet visit, or embarking on a long-distance journey. It’s not about distance traveled, but speed and a serious accident involving a pet can happen at a sedate 30 mph too. At this low speed, a 60 lb. dog becomes a 2,600 pound projectile.
The other benefit of restraining a pet in a vehicle is that they can’t be thrown out or run away out of fear. It’s illegal for pets to be unrestrained in the back of a pick-up and equally dangerous for a dog to be sitting on a passenger or a driver’s lap.
Dog Restraints
There are numerous crash-tested doggie seatbelt options that will prevent a dog from being flung forward. Crates should also be tied down for ultimate safety. Crash-tested crates are designed to sustain impact if hit from the front, the back and the sides. So, do your homework before you shop. Never allow a dog to sit on the front seat. Apart from the distraction, the weight of a large dog can deploy an air bag, which could be fatal. A zipline to which a leash is attached is not as safe as a specially designed doggie seatbelt but definitely better option than allowing a dog to stand and jump about.
For a smaller dog, consider a doggie booster seat that doesn’t actually rest on the seat itself. Or a crash tested carrier which is also buckled in place on the backseat. Alternatively, the safest place for a carrier is the floor area of the rear seat section.
Traveling With a Cat
Cats should always be in a carrier under the same conditions outlined for small dog carriers. If allowed to roam, they can get under your feet and in the way of the pedals and brakes.
Temperature Control
Air conditioning in a vehicle is the best option to keep pets at an even temperature. Cracking a window open a little is fine but never let your dog put his head out as dirt and detritus, even loose flying chips of gravel can get embedded in an eye.
At the start of the year, colder weather often means snow on the sidewalks across the country. Salt used to melt snow is tough of paw pads. Disposable booties are a good option. Otherwise, be sure to wipe your pooch’s feet when you return home. It’s good to inspect feet to ensure nothing is caught between paw pads too. And beware if you keep antifreeze in the garage. Back in 2012, manufacturers voluntarily agreed to add a bitter additive to antifreeze as a deterrent to pet licking it, but pet owners should still take precautions.
For night outings, collars, harnesses and leashes and even coats with a reflective strip will help draw attention to your dog. There are harnesses with a built-in flash light too.
Having Water Available
It’s important to always have water in your vehicle. Delays happen even on intended short outings and pets can dehydrate quickly. Keep a collapsible water bowl permanently in every vehicle. For longer planned trips (even plane trips) freeze water in a bowl night before. This way you can keep pets properly hydrated while traveling as they can lick the ice as it slowly melts.
ID Tags/Up-to-date contact info
Proper identification is a lost pet’s ticket home. If you are planning a long trip with lots of stops, consider adding temporary paper ID tags to the collar giving information about your en route locations over and above your home address. Microchipping your pet – both cat and dog — is essential as collars can come off or be removed. GPS devices will only work if the collar is intact too.
And seeing it’s the start of a New Year, make it a resolution to ensure all identification information is up to date on tags and in databases too.
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