Pet Auto Safety

Pet car seats helps to protect your pet by keeping them secure in a nice doggy bed. Most pet car seats should have a strap which will clip onto the back of your dog’s harness for added security. And most pet car seats should easily be able to be strapped into your car. Pet Auto Safety.com has numerous such pet car seats. The difference in them is in the way they strap into your car, how cushioned they are, and how much of a boost the seat gives your dog so he can look out the window.

Some pet car seats strap to the seat of your car. These have two sets of long straps - one which wraps around the headrest and one which wraps around the body of the seat. All these types of pet car seats give your dog a good boost so they can look out the window.  And all should have a shorter strap on the inside where your dog sits.  This short strap clips onto the back of your dog’s harness.

Some pet car seats are strapped into your car by using the seat belt of your car. The seat belt of your car loops within the pet car seats and buckles them safely in.  The seat belt also goes through a loop strap which will then clip onto the back of your dog’s harness.

And some pet car seats are strapped around the console of your car so that your dog can sit in the front with you. This is the safest way for your dog to sit in the front seat if you have passenger side airbags. Airbags are not safe for dogs so if you can’t disable your passenger side airbags, your dog should not be sitting in the front passenger seat of your car.  A strap is included on the inside of the seat where your dog sits.  This strap should be clipped on to the back of your dog’s harness.

A variation on pet car seats are pet hammocks. There are various brands and all of them work by hanging off the headrests of your front and back seats. If you don’t have both front and back headrests, then the pet hammocks won’t work.  Pet hammocks are more for preventing your dog from injury by keeping them from being thrown onto the floor of your car.  Most pet hammocks should have an opening to allow for seat belts so that your dog can also wear a dog car seat belt.

Visit Pet Auto Safety.com to see photos of the different pet car seats and to compare prices.

Both the Kurgo Cargo Cape and the Hatchbag Cargo Liner are at Pet Auto Safety.com. The Kurgo Cargo Cape is similar to the Hatchbag Cargo Liner in that it protects the cargo area of your SUV from dirt, muddy paw prints, and general wear and tear. And like the Hatchbag Cargo Liner, the Kurgo Cargo Cape is waterproof.

It is different from the Hatchbag Cargo Liner in that the Kurgo Cargo Cape comes in just one size. The Hatchbag Cargo Liner is custom made to fit your vehicle, whether you have a small SUV or a large one with both the 2^nd and 3^rd row seats out or folded down. Because the Hatchbag Cargo Liner is custom made to fit your vehicle, it takes some time before it is shipped out.

The Hatchbag Cargo Liner lines the interior edges of your cargo area. It lines the walls up to the windows and lines the back of the front seats. The Kurgo Cargo Cape simply lines the floor and has short edging to trap dirt.

Another difference in the Kurgo Cargo Cape is that it is made from durable canvas material while the Hatchbag Cargo Liner is made from durable Vinyl. Both materials are hardy and waterproof. But where the Hatchbag Cargo Liner can be wiped clean, the Kurgo Cargo Cape would need to be machine washed.

Both the Kurgo Cargo Cape and the Hatchbag Cargo Liner are great high quality products. If you needs something quick, relatively inexpensive, and/or just for the covering of the floor of your cargo area, then the Kurgo Cargo Cape is for you. However, if you need something to custom fit your vehicle and to protect the entire cargo area, then the Hatchbag Cargo Liner is best.

Pet Auto Safety.com has recently added a new product from Kurgo. Kurgo is a brand which represents high quality pet auto safety products including the Skybox Booster Seat, the Wander Hammock, and the Tru-Fit Smart Car Harness. If you have had any experience with Kurgo products, then you know that the Kurgo Cargo Cape is also going to be a durable and first-rate item.

Protect the interior of your vehicle with the Kurgo Cargo Cape. Protect it from dirt, dog hair, muddy paw prints, and other possible doggy messes. The Kurgo Cargo Cape is made from waterproof durable canvas-like material which is machine washable. The Kurgo Cargo Cape comes in just one size and fits most average sized SUVs.

Pet Auto Safety.com is joining U-Wash Puppy for the annual Suds of Fun event to benefit the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. This is our third year at the event and we love it. For just $5, you can utilize the facility of the self-service dog wash at U-Wash Puppy. 100% of your money goes towards the animals at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. You can also check out great dogs for adoption and the products of some local pet vendors, including dog car seat belts from Pet Auto Safety.com. Check out the Suds of Fun event at 4pm - 7pm on July 7, 2010 at U-Wash Puppy located at 75^th and Nieman in Shawnee, Kansas. For more information on this event, visit the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City.

Today, I saw no less than three different people over a 5 minutes time period leave their dog in the car while they went inside the grocery store!  It was an overcast day but 80 degrees outside.  Can you imagine how hot it was inside the car?  I am absolutely appalled that despite all the media information given out on TV, in the newspaper, and online, that people still leave their dogs in the car.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, “…the inside of your car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even if you’re parked in the shade.”  Since dog’s don’t sweat, they cool down by panting.  And if they are panting hot air, they are not getting cool.  Every year, thousands of pets die because they were left alone in the car.  Most owners claim that it was “only for a few minutes”.  Sadly, it is too late for them to realize that a few minutes is too long.  So PLEASE don’t leave your dogs alone in the car.

 And do your part to educate the public.  Don’t confront anyone.  You can call 911.  That is what I did.  Or you can slip a flier in through the car window.  There are some great fliers at http://mydogiscool.com/b_flyer.php.  My favorite is the one that says, “”A Hot Oven or a Hot Car… It’s the Same Thing”.

Yes, his name is Lester - Don’t laugh. It is a name passed down from his mom and dad through his AKC registration papers. Although Lester is a pure-bred Cocker Spaniel with papers, his current owners did not buy him. He was adopted from the local shelter. Lester was given up by his previous owners because he had separation anxiety issues and they had no time to keep up with his grooming. The shelter said that when Lester was turned in to them, his hair was so long and matted that when it was shaved off, they found a batch of maggots living in his fur.

But Lester is a happy dog now. He has a great home with people that love him and take care of him. It was a trial helping him to get over his separation anxiety, but he was worth it. His owners love Lester very much. But they never thought about him wearing a dog seat belt until it was almost too late.

One day when Lester and his family were on their way to the dog park, another car ran a red light. The family car was right in the intersection when it happened and they got t-boned. The passenger side of the car was smashed in and glass went flying everywhere. The human passengers were jostled and bruised, but poor Lester was thrown across the back seat of the car. He was terrified and in awful pain. Medics came and was able to tend to the human passengers and lift them into stretchers. But it was some time before anyone could help Lester. Because he was so scared, he would try to crawl away every time someone came near him. The police were afraid he would get out of the car and try to run so they stopped trying and called animal control for assistance.

Lester was eventually taken to the vet. He suffered a broken paw and bruised ribs, but he was otherwise okay. His owners realized the close call he had had and immediately began searching for a dog seat belt. They found us and ordered the Pet Buckle brand dog seat belt. The Pet Buckle brand dog seat belt is the best on the market. It is strong, durable, and easy to use. And it is the only dog seat belt which has been crash tested. If you know of another brand of dog seat belt which claims to have been crash tested, ask them for proof. The Pet Buckle Brand dog seat belt will not hesitate to provide you proof. In fact, you can find a link to the actual crash test video on this blog site. Just put “crash test” in the search field.

Thank you, Lester’s Family, for sharing this story.

Check out Maya in the car with the Breeze Guard Window Barrier in place. I use the Breeze Guard Window Barrier so that my dogs can get a good breeze without having to stick their heads out the car window. While many dogs love to stick their head out the car window, there is a small danger of them being injured by flying debris.

The Breeze Guard Window Barrier also keeps your dog from jumping out of or being thrown out of the car window. Since my dogs wear their dog car harnesses, I don’t need to worry about this. But flying debris is a real issue. Next time you visit your vet, ask them if they have ever had a dog brought in who had their eyes, nose, or mouth damaged because flying debris hit them when their head was out the car window. I bet most vets will have a story to tell.

I love the Breeze Guard Window Barrier because my dogs can enjoy the fresh air without the danger of flying debris. But I also love it because it is easy to install and use. I can roll up the windows all the way if I want so I can leave the Breeze Guard Window Barrier in all the time. If for some reason I want to take them out, it is very simple. But not so simple that my dogs can get through them. The Breeze Guard Window Barrier is strapped very securely to the car. Very strong velcro straps wrap around the door frame of your car without damaging the car and without any hindrance to being able to fully close the door of your car. I have used the Breeze Guard Window Barrier for a few years now and it is still in as good of shape as it was when I first got it.

Please note that while the windows in the car are only halfway down, the Breeze Guard Window Barrier can be used with the windows all the way down. (Unfortunately, my car doesn’t allow for my windows to go all the way down.) Please also note that just because you can keep your windows down and have the Breeze Guard Window Barrier in place, it does not mean that you can leave your dog unattended in the car. Never leave your dog alone in the car, even if the windows are rolled down. Windows down or not, a car traps heat - even in mild weather.

All our dog car hammocks cost the same to ship. All of them have a zipper hole which allows the seat belt buckles to come through. And all our dog car hammocks set up by hanging off the headrests of the front and back seats. So if you do not have headrests in the back seat, then dog car hammocks are not for you. Pet Auto Safety.com has four different dog car hammocks to choose from with one to two color choices (black or tan). The four brands of our dog car hammocks include Cruising Companion/Guardian Gear (same company, sometimes a different brand name used), Kurgo, and Outward Hound. The differences in the dog car hammocks are outlined from lowest cost to highest cost below. Cost does not include shipping.

1) Back Seat Dog Car Travel Hammocks
Made by - Outward Hound
Size - 56” L x 59” W
Material - 600 denier nylon.
Cost - $24.99
Color - Black only
Care - Scrub stains with mild detergent, hand wash with cool water, line dry.
Special Features:
* Water resistant
* Cover unzips down the middle to allow passenger to sit alongside the pet.
The quality of these dog car hammocks (in our opinion) are decent as compared to the cost. They are good for average use by an average dog. However, we do not recommend them for constant use by multiple high-energy dogs.

2) Khaki or Black Dog Car Hammocks
Made by - Cruising Companion/Guardian Gear
Size - 63” L x 57” W
Material - Nylon
Cost - $44.99
Color - Black or tan
Care - Machine washable
Special Features:
* Includes covers to protect the front seat headrests.
* Heavy-duty nylon
* Scratch-resistant
* Cover unzips to allow passenger to sit alongside the pet.
The quality of these dog car hammocks (in our opinion) are good as compared to the cost. They are very good for any dog.

3) Pet Travel Wander Dog Car Hammocks
Made by - Kurgo
Size - 60” L x 56” W
Material - PVC backed coated 600d polyester.
Cost - $52.99
Color - Black or tan with orange details.
Care - Machine washable
Special Features:
* Waterproof
* Stain resistant
* Anti-microbial fabric which repels dirt and moisture.
* Heavy-duty material.
* Comes with a travel bag.
* Cover unzips down the middle to allow passenger to sit alongside the pet.
The quality of these dog car hammocks (in our opinion) are far superior to all our other hammocks. The material and make is very durable and we highly recommend them for use by any dog.

1) All Season Car Seat Covers (Dog Car Hammocks)
Made by - Cruising Companion/Guardian Gear
Size - 63” L x 57” W
Material - Teflon-coated nylon on one side, warm fleece (100% polyester) on the other.
Cost - $59.99
Color - Black on one side, gray fleece on the other.
Care - For nylon side, wipe clean with a damp cloth. For fleece side, unzip fleece cover and remove from car seat cover. Machine wash fleece cover cold on gentle cycle. Line dry.
Special Features:
*Water-resistant
*Two sided
The quality of these dog car hammocks (in our opinion) are very good. Although not as durable as the Wander Dog Car Hammocks, it is well made and can be used for any dog.

Jeffrey from the state of Washington likes to go hiking and camping. He takes his three big dogs with him and they all have a great time. While the hiking and camping are fun, the trips there and back are not. His three dogs used to have free range all throughout his SUV while he was driving. And it was a big distraction. All three dogs were constantly going from window to window and from front to back seats.

The situation was not at all safe. In fact, Jeffrey almost got into a car accident when two of his dogs started scuffling in the front seat. That was when he decided he had had enough. But he didn’t want to give up taking his dogs on these trips so he contacted us instead. Our recommendation was the Euro 6-Bar Pet Car Barrier. Jeffrey measured the inside of his SUV and determined that this pet car barrier would best fit his needs.

Once he received the pet car barrier, he says it was fairly easy for him to set up. And it kept his dogs from getting into the front. Jeffrey expected his dogs to try to get through the pet car barrier, but Rocky and Beaux could care less. Sasha was a bit upset at first. But soon she settled down and all was well. Jeffrey now has a safe ride with his dogs kept securely in the back with the Euro Pet Car Barrier.