Pet Travel Safety

As a sitter, I am sometimes asked if I can pick up a dog at their home or drop them off.  It’s one of the options that I offer and love to do.  However, here in  New Jersey, all dogs must be harnessed in when travelling in a vehicle.  Driving with pets loose in the car is a violation of animal cruelty law. Drivers cited for failing to properly secure their pet can face a fine totaling anywhere between $250 and $1,000 and as much as six months in jail.  Also, you can be cited for each animal that is not properly restrained. That means that if you have two dogs, you will be fined twice.

According to a 2010 Triple A, survey, 20 percent of people admitted to driving with pets loose in the car and 31 percent said doing so was a distraction.  Some may find this inconvenient but think about the ramifications if you are ever in an accident.  Your pet can be seriously injured or even killed.  If you are required to buckle up, then your pet should be too.

Seat-belt harnesses have several major benefits:

• Even at low speeds dogs can be ejected in an accident. They can be propelled at 20 mph or more through a windshield.  Like a human seat belt, the harness can absorb deceleration forces reducing a serious injury.
• If an accident was to occur and your dog is not harnessed they can easily collide with you or a passenger in the force of an accident, causing injury to both you and the dog.
• The restraint also removes any chance of the dog interfering with driving, tangling with police, or bolting in the event of an accident.  Many dogs have run out and have gone missing this way.

There are many types of restraints available, it’s a matter of finding one that is comfortable for your dog but most importantly keep them safe while in the vehicle.

There are many harnesses available for purchase, here are just three that recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

 EzyDog DRIVE Dog Car Harness

Pros – Users of this particular model love the fact that it has a “Mag Lok” that allows them to only fit the harness once and then use this system to remove their dogs.   The harness itself is also quite light, making it easy to throw into a bag when you are traveling. Since there is a good deal of padding in the harness, you get a personalized fit that is unbeatable.

Cons – This harness fits almost exclusively based on the size of your dog, which makes some users uncomfortable because they have dogs that are small but weigh more.

Sofi’s Dog Car Harness

Pros – For small dogs, this harness is perfect because it takes into consideration their weaker points (necks) and takes the pressure off of them. When you stop, you won’t have to worry about a collapsed trachea or discomfort.

Cons – Note that as the harness gets larger, the reviews seem to go down quite a bit. If you have a bigger dog, you may want to take some of the sizing into consideration.

If you already have a harness you can purchase a strap that buckles into the seat belt lock and the other end attaches to your dogs harness.  This is what I use for Ginger.

Mighty Paw Safety Belt, Dog Seat Belt

Pros – Extremely easy to install and use, this is made out of premium materials that will last for quite a long time.

Cons – The design of this is pretty boring and doesn’t really add any aesthetic appeal to your car. It also isn’t compatible with some harnesses, including European models.

I hope the information above was helpful and remember even if your state is lax about this please restrain your dog, it’s the safest most loving thing you can do for them.

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