If humans are safer when properly restrained in a vehicle, animals are, too.
That message comes from the Humane Society of the United States, which recommends that animal owners buckle up their pets when they bring them along for the ride.
“In an accident, a fast stop or a sharp turn, animals are subject to the same kinds of injuries as humans,” said Kathy Bauch, project management director for the humane society. “They can be tossed out a window in an accident or get hurt banging into things.”
The humane society suggests that pets be crated in a portable kennel or secured in the rear seat or the cargo area of an enclosed vehicle using restraints designed for animals.
Letting a pet ride unrestrained in the front seat poses several risks, she said.
“Picture a dog in the front seat. If it is bouncing around because of an accident, it could obstruct your vision or knock your hands off the steering wheel. A small dog or cat can become a missile,” said Bauch.
A pet riding in the front seat of a vehicle with an air bag is exposed to the same risks that endanger children and small adults, who are the people most likely to be killed or injured by a rapidly deploying air bag, she added. Even large breeds such as golden retrievers and German shepherds usually weigh less than 100 pounds, not enough to take the full force of an air bag.
Dogs and other animals can’t be buckled with seat belts, so owners would have to purchase crates, harnesses, special leashes or other devices to safely restrain them.
Most pet-supply stores carry this equipment, and some car companies, including Saab, Ford and Volvo, offer pet-safety devices, fitting some items to specific vehicles.
Saab, which has a strong reputation for human safety, offers the most extensive list of pet-safety devices.
When Saab surveyed its owners three years ago about their interests, hobbies and lifestyles, 60 percent said they owned pets, the vast majority of them dogs, and they frequently brought their pets on road trips, Saab spokesman Steve Janisse said.
Having a dog ride along on an outing may be fun for the family, but “it’s sort of a safety hazard,” Janisse said. “An unrestrained animal could get hurt or distract a driver. Or, in an accident, it could even fly into the driver.”
Saab launched its Pet Gear collection when the 9-5 station wagon went on sale last spring, and Janisse said the canine safety equipment has been a hit with Saab owners. The two most popular items are the BatziBelt, a $19.95 restraint that attaches to one of the rear seat belts, and the VersaLeash, a $49.95 restraint for the 9-5 wagon. The VersaLeash lets a dog move around but restricts the animal to the cargo area with a wire that attaches to tracks in the floor.
Both restraints require a $24.95 harness that fits around the dog’s torso. Restraints should not be attached to a collar because they could choke the dog or injure the neck.
Saab offers several other accessories aimed at dog lovers, including a travel bowl with a flexible top that cinches tight to keep water or food from spilling, a canine backpack that lets dogs carry some of the gear on a hike and a Pets Welcome Book that lists lodging, parks and attractions that allow pets. The Pet Gear is included in Saab’s accessories catalog and in its Internet store, www.saabcatalog.com. Pet gear can be ordered through Saab dealers, by phone (800-SAAB-USA (722-2872)) or on the Web site.
Ford did similar lifestyle research of potential buyers for its new Focus and found a significant number owned dogs. Ford encourages Focus owners to personalize their vehicles with an assortment of T4U (tailored for you) kits, one of which is the Have Spot, Will Travel kit for dog owners.
The kit comes with a harness that attaches to a universal mounting point for a child safety seat and a “hot and cool pet bed:” a plush pad that can be heated or cooled with tap water and inserted into a waterproof liner to keep Bowser comfy on long trips. Ford says the hot and cool bed works by “using some ionization principle you slept through in high school.”
Other items are an insulated beverage bottle and a bowl with a shoulder strap for hiking, a folding water bowl (which Ford says “holds up to two goldfish comfortably”) and a water-resistant food bag for carrying treats and other pet goodies.
Not everything in Ford’s travel kit is for Spot.
An air purifier mounts behind the center console in the Focus and removes odors. “You love your pet,” Ford says in its come-on, “but on trips with the windows up things can get a little close.” There also is the Super-Duper Lint roller for removing pet hair. It fits in the Focus’ rear cupholder “so you’re always neat for your next appointment.”
The Have Spot, Will Travel kit is $189 and is available through Ford dealers or www.icollection.com, an Internet site that sells Ford accessories.
Volvo offers a steel barrier with a dog gate that keeps pets penned on one side of the cargo area and protects them from flying luggage. The pet and cargo barrier is available for the V40 and V70 wagons. Saab offers similar steel barriers.
Land Rover North America offers the Dog Guard, metal bars that install behind and above the rear seats that restrict the hounds to the cargo area of the Range Rover and Discovery sport-utilities.
While seat belts, air bags, child seats and other safety equipment for humans must pass federal requirements, there are no regulations covering pet-safety equipment, Bauch said.
The humane society approves of Saab’s Pet Gear program because they are “putting it out there in a consumer-friendly way,” but does not endorse the equipment offered by Saab or any other company.
“Nobody is safety-testing them, so you have to use your own judgment,” she said.
Unlike with humans, there also are no statistics for pet injuries and deaths in vehicles, Bauch said, only anecdotal evidence.
Letting a frisky pet roam in a vehicle is the same as “having an extremely rambunctious child” on the loose and can be a major distraction for the driver, she said. One story she heard from a friend is that a cat crawled under the brake pedal while the car was being driven, causing the driver to panic.
There also are stories about dogs with a strong hunting instinct leaping from a moving vehicle into traffic when they see a squirrel or cat. That is one reason dogs should never ride in open cargo beds of pickup trucks. Another is that a sudden stop could send the dog crashing into the hard steel sides of the cargo bed.
At the very least, Bauch said, restraining a pet in a vehicle means it can’t bolt as soon as someone opens a door.
