Pet travel safety goes far beyond safety for your just pets. We have all seen the cute “Precious Pet Cargo” stickers on cars. Transporting a pet, whether it’s a quick trip to the vet’s office, a joy ride for some fresh air or a road trip, needs to be thought out. Not starting bad habits with your pet is the first step; second is how to safely secure the pet, while thirdly, you need to make sure you are not distracted while on your journey.
Dog and Cat Safety Steps:
It is recommended to invest in a proper sized carrier or universal seat belts for your pet. All puts must be secured in the vehicle.
Never let a cat ride on the dashboard or back window area is a distraction to the driver, as well as dangerous for the cat.
Always use dog seatbelts with a proper fitting harness for bigger dogs.
Never put a dog or cat in a bucket seat, carrier or seat belted in the front seat of a vehicle! All vehicles have air bags; if an airbag goes off…your pet would be seriously hurt or die.
Always secure your pet in the back seat or rear area of a vehicle.
Never let a pet set on your lap while you are driving!
Always have the pet’s collar with ID and rabies tag on them, in case they do escape they can be returned or cared for. (*Some states require rabies vaccinations and Veterinarians might be required to have proof of rabies prior to emergency care.)
Never let your pet ride with their face out the window, to avoid debris damage to their eyes.
Always get your pets micro chipped. Keep your micro chip update with all your information.
Black Paw 101: Vehicle safety is not just about the pet, keeping everyone in the vehicle safe is important.
Bobbi Wilson, CPPS since 2018