Protecting your pet on the road
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With lawmakers trying to ban driving with your pet on your lap in California, just how will you make sure your dog doesn’t go flying out the window if you get in an accident?
According to Christina Selter, co-founder of Bark Buckle Up, a San Diego nonprofit group that educates drivers about safely transporting pets in vehicles, the only way to ensure a safe ride is by tethering your companion to the seat. Ken Bensinger of The Times’ automotive blog Up To Speed explains:
Not only can untethered dogs get seriously injured in accidents, but 80-pound Dobermans and 4-pound Chihuahuas alike can become fearsome projectiles upon impact, hurtling through the air and possibly hurting passengers. (We’re not even going to mention the perils of flying pet porcupines.) On top of that, Selter says, ‘in a crash, a big problem is that first responders open the door, the pet runs out, it can bite someone, cause another crash or get hit by a car.’ Who knew driving Miss Fido could put so many lives on the line? To address the species safety gap, Bark Buckle Up has been touring the country offering clinics, giving away pet safety kits that include crucial data such as allergy information and veterinarian contacts, and letting pet owners play with a range of harnesses, pet seats and tethers.
There’s no shortage of options: pet car seats, harnesses, safety belts and straps -- even ramps to help the short-legged or elderly trot up and into the car.
-- Tony Barboza