Pet Travel Survey Reveals Increase in Automobile Safety Precautions

[Asfand]

Want to go for a ride? Those six little words are often music to a dog's ears. Whether you're bringing them to the local dog park in order to visit friends and family, many dogs enjoy a road trip. You probably ensure that you and your family are buckled up before going, but are you also keeping your pet safe when they are riding in the car with you?

Trips with Pets, the leading authority on pet travel and pet friendly hotels, conducted a poll to find out how many pet owners are securing their furry companions while on the road. 53% of the 765 participants reported taking proper safety precautions, which is up from just 44% only two years ago. Many states are in possession of pending legislation regarding the use of pet restraints in a vehicle, so if you already have got your pet loose in your car, it's time to consider using one of the following methods:

Vehicle Pet Barrier: This became the most popular pet travel constraint in the survey, specified to be employed by 41% of pet owner participants. These barriers are used in the products part of the vehicle, keeping your pet safely away from you and your passengers, and more important, away from the auto glass in the event of an accident.

Pet Travel Dog crate: 32% of pet owners in the poll reported putting their pet in a travel dog crate or carrier while inside the car. Make sure it's well-ventilated and large enough for your pet to stand, sit, take a nap, and turnaround in. There are a variety of cord, nylon uppers, 

international pet transport hard plastic and soft-sided carriers available to fit your pet. If you're buddy hasn't been familiarized with a dog crate environment, it will be important to do so prior to venturing out.

Pet Safety Belt: Buckle 'em up like 9% of the people in the survey do. Dog seat belts are made to easily slip onto your existing vehicle seat belt and acts as a harness to keep your pet safely in the seat in case there is a sudden stop or impact. It also keeps pets from distracting drivers.

Pet Carseats: For smaller pets, pet travel baby carseats are the perfect answer when you're on the go, and are a good option for 8% of the survey participants. Reminiscent of a booster seat, your pet is able to keep an eye out and see the proceedings while your vehicle's own safety belt holds it in place. Your pet is secured in the carseats with a lead which is attached on to their harness.

Roaming Free is Not a good Option: It's encouraging that owners traveling with their four-legged family members want to keep them safe, but 47% of the people who took the survey do not currently secure their pets in the car. Letting your pet have free rule in a vehicle or sit in your clapboard while driving can have serious consequences. Apart from the obvious ramifications during a crash, if the scared pet gets free from the vehicle, he could stroll out into the road or try to hamper the efforts of rescue workers. And although dogs adore to stick their heads out windows, doing so can actually damage their eyes and ears, not to mention put them susceptible to falling out in clumps. The same also applies to truck beds.

An unrestrained pet can multiply its weight by hundreds or even thousands of pounds during an automobile accident. Some vehicle accident statistics report loose objects, including pets, to be one of the top five reasons for automobile injuries. Don't put your beloved pet in harm's way when you take them for a ride.