Pets are part of many families and it's becoming more common for people to take them when they travel. But before you hit the road, you'll want to consider a few safety measures to make sure your pooch isn’t hurt in a crash.
Many people don’t realize that unrestrained pets can cause serious injury to passengers and to themselves.
“During a crash or if you slam on the brakes, pets can act as projectiles if they are not secured. And they can also distract drivers from keeping their eyes on the road,” explained Jen Stockburger, Consumer Reports auto expert.
The market is full of pet restraining products, everything from harnesses to carriers, but many labeled crash tested are based only on manufacturers claims.
The Center for Pet Safety - and Subaru - did their own independent tests in 2015.
They looked at harnesses, crates for bigger dogs, and carriers for small dogs and cats.
Overall, the top performing pet restraints are the SleepyPod Air Carrier for about $220, the Gunner Kennels G1 Intermediate crate for about $600 and the SleepyPod Clickit Sport which will cost you around $90.
If your pet's not used to travelling, or to restraints, condition them slowly by starting off with short trips.
And as you add distance make sure to bring along cold water snacks, just like you would for the rest of the family.
“You want peace of mind, because you never know when that crash is going to happen,” said Lindsey Wolko, founder of the Center for Pet Safety.
Also pets, just like the rest of us, can get motion sickness. When you feed them make sure you're stopped and off to the side of the road.
