COLUMNS
August 22, 2009 Most of us wouldn't think of going anywhere in a car without buckling up for safety.
We use car seats to protect our young children.
And we look for vehicles that have safety features, like air bags and antilock brakes.
Yet most pet owners don't consider their pets' safety when buying a car.
Bark Buckle UP, a pet safety organization, has teamed up with Edmunds.com to name their choices for the top ten pet-friendly and pet-safe vehicles.
The list includes the Ford Flex, the GMC Acadia and the Subaru Tribeca.
Pet-friendly features include back-up cameras to avoid accidentally running over a pet, fold-flat seats to allow larger animals to ride in comfort, and doors that open wide for easy access.
But if you're not in the market for a new car, there are several things you can do to help your pet travel more safely in the vehicle you have now.
A carrier is usually a good idea, especially for cats and small dogs. Just be sure to secure it with a seat belt so it doesn't bounce around and frighten or injure the pet inside.
Dogs don't necessarily have to be confined in a carrier if you use a restraining harness that buckles into a seat belt. You can find one to fit your pet at most pet supply stores.
One of the neatest pet travel items I've seen is a combination pet carrier, car seat, and stroller. If you're on the go and want to take your cat or small dog with you, it's a great idea.
Traveling with an unrestrained pet is never a good idea.
Just one example from the Bark Buckle UP website says the challenge of securing a frightened or injured animal before treating victims in a traffic accident poses very real problems for police and medical personnel.
Want to see if your car made the list of the top ten pet-friendly vehicles? Visit the website at www.BarkBuckleUP.com.
And remember that whatever vehicle you drive, whether the trip is out-of-state or just across town, it's in everyone's best interest to make sure that our best friends are safely secured for the journey, when we're speaking of pets.
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