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Study Finds Most Pet Travel Seats Not Effective During Car Crashes

720 views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  Zoe093014 
#1 ·
Subaru of America and the Center for Pet Safety joint pilot study have garnered some interesting results. Four years of testing leads to overall recommendation of best travel safety products for pets.


If you're like me, the first thing you do when you hop in the car is buckle up. Aside from being the law, it's become part of our culture - we buckle up for safety. Yet in spite of knowing that seatbelts save lives, my feline Shelby was permitted to free range. Yep, she made such a fuss in her cat carrier that I found it easier to let her sit on my lap or roam around the car when I drove. Like everyone else, I considered myself a good parent and it simply never occurred to me that this indulgent action could have placed her in danger. Thankfully, I never had to learn this lesson the hard way.
So while I don't judge when I see pets leaning out car windows, sitting on owners laps or lying in the car's back window as it barrels down a highway, I think we all know there must be a safer way to shuttle our little guys around town.

Read the full story here at Petguide.com
 
#2 ·
I have been researching this for a long time now, the safest, or one of the safest, kennels is the Variocrate. But very spendy and needs to be in the back to work. (it has a crumple zone). Sophie's crate sits in the seat next to me crosswise and is strapped down tight (I would never let my dog ride loose in a car either very dangerous, I have to admit I do judge when I see people letting their dogs ride loose it is just so risky) but it's a regular vari-kennel so not the toughest one out there. but I needed a door at both ends so had to buy 2 and cut both in half and bolt the door ends together. They just don't make the smaller sizes with a door on each end in any plastic kennel I've found.

There is also Ruff Tuff Kennels which are more sturdy than vari-kennels but they are narrower and smaller doors plus no door on both end like I needed. Gunner Kennels is another safer, sturdy one. They did studies on seat belt harnesses and found they are really no better than not using any restraint at all.

I agree I wish there were even better ways of traveling with our four legged family.
 
#3 ·
I am currently using one of those booster seats attached to the car seat belts, and she rides next to me. I am keeping my eyes open as I realize it's probably not the safest solution for a long car trip. She does enjoy being a co-pilot and being able to see out.
 
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