For Safety Sake, Don't Let Your Pet Ride in the Car Unrestrained

Whether it's a quick trip to the grocery store or a family vacation, Fido (and maybe even Fluffy) love to go too, and we pet owners love to take them when the weather is apropriate. In fact, open the back door of the car and they're likely to jump in even if they're not invited. Everyone's happy and ready to roll, right? Not so fast!

Every passenger, including Fido and Fluffy should be restrained. The fact is, three out of four occupants that are ejected from cars during a crash are killed. The best protection is a seat belt.

That's reason enough to restrain your pets. But there's more. An unrestrained animal is dangerous to the human passengers as well. Even in a crash of only 30 mph, a 15 pound child can cause an impact of more than 300 pounds. So a 60 pound dog can cause an impact of 1,200 pounds, slamming into a car seat, a windshield, or another passenger. Even if the animal survives, it can impede the progress of rescue workers for whom every moment is precious.

Plus, pets moving around freely in a car can seriously distract the driver. They just don't seem to get the importance of not trying to nest under the driver's feet. Imagine if Fido ended up there and you had to stomp on the brake, only to find your best friend in the way. It happens. You may remember that author Stephen King was seriously injured in an accident when he as a pedestrian was mowed down by a driver who said later that he was distracted by his dog.

We may love to have Fido sit on the lap of the front seat passenger, or on the front seat itself if not otherwise occupied. But the Human Society of the United States says the safest place for a pet is either properly restrained in the back seat or cargo area, or if the pet is very small, in an appropriate size pet carrier. This is especially important for cats who like to cozy up on your shoulder or position themselves to peer into your eyes, unaware that they are endangering their own lives and yours if you are the driver.

Pet Restraints

Don't make the mistake of thinking that standard safety belts will work for your pets. Designed for humans, they can cause severe injury to a pet's body. Fortunately specially designed pet harnesses are available in a variety of sizes and are not expensive.

Here are some possibilities:

Visit canineauto.com and check out their restraints for pets of various sizes, from the extra small (less than 8 pound) pooch to the extra large, over 80 pound dog. The price range is $17 to $22. The harness works with an ordinary lap or shoulder belt and can also double as a walking harness.

Ruff Riders has a variety of safety harnesses, including a desert pack that can carry food and water. The prices range from about $40 to $70. They can also be used as walking harnesses and fit dogs from 7 to 160 pounds. These harnesses were developed by an orthopedic vet, and are available at ruffrider.com.

Check pet-expo.com for harnesses and car seats for small dogs, as well as carriers for the traveling cat.

In Some States, It's the Law

In California, if you are stopped by an officer and found to be driving with unrestrained pets, you may be fined at least $50 for violating the "tether law." States including New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts place restrictions on letting most dogs ride in pickup trucks.

You may think this is too restrictive, but chances are your pets will feel more secure when restrained. Think how they get thrown around when you have to hit the brakes hard. For everyone's safety and well-being, make sure all your passengers, furry or not, are buckled up.