Pet Auto Safety

Checklist:

• Before bad weather comes, get your car checked - especially the tires.
• Keep extra clothes and blankets in your car.
• Depending on the stretches of road you plan to travel, you might want to keep food and water in your car. If you have an accident and go off the road where no one can see you, at least you will be able to eat, drink, and keep warm until help comes.
• Keep a windshield scraper and de-icer in your car.
• It wouldn’t hurt to have a flashlight with you. Extra batteries for the flashlight is a good idea. This is good to keep in your car all year around.
• Don’t forget jumper cables. This is also good to keep around all year.
• Make sure you have a spare tire and the tools needed to change a tire. This should always be kept in your car, no matter what time of year it is.
• Another good all-year-round item to keep in your car is a First Aid Kit.
• I’ve heard that kitty litter can help you get out of a tight spot, say if your car slides off the road and into an icy ditch. Kitty litter might help your car get some traction over the ice.
• If you have a cell phone, bring it!

Tips:

• Obviously, don’t drive so fast! Seriously, no matter how late you may be to an appointment, it is not worth your life. And it’s not just your life you could be risking. There are millions of other people out there on the road. Drive defensively, not offensively. And remember that in wet or icy conditions, even driving the speed limit could be considered too fast.
• Leave more space between you and the car in front of you.
• Don’t use cruise control in rain or snow or ice. Cruise control will not know to slow down when there is black ice in the road. It won’t be able to control how fast the tires spin when your car hydroplanes over a wet road and you could easily lose control of the car.
• Be careful over bridges and shallow places in the road where extra water and ice might have accumulated. Bridges and shallow dips in the road tend to hide more black ice.
• Make sure that your headlights and taillights have all been scraped free of snow and ice. If it is snowing, it will already be difficult to see you. Keeping your car lights visible can help.
• Make sure you scrape all the snow and ice off your outdoor car mirrors.
• And don’t forget to scrape the snow and ice of all your windows too. You want to be able to see as well as possible in bad weather.
• Don’t forget that you and all your passengers, including pets, should be wearing a seat belt or should be safely strapped into the vehicle.
• The best tip is to stay home in really bad weather. Obviously, you will have to drive your car somewhere at some time, but weigh the risks first.

Pet Auto Safety.com has lots of pet car seats. The most comfortable ones are made by Snoozer. Check out the Lookout pet car seat, the Lookout Deluxe pet car seat, My Buddy pet car seat, the Snoozer Console pet car seat, Lookout Perch pet car seat, and the RollAround pet car seat. All these pet car seats are all made by Snoozer.

The Lookout pet car seat is very thickly padded. So is the Lookout Deluxe pet car seat. The only difference is that that the Lookout Deluxe pet car seat has a storage tray on the bottom of the pet car seat. Both these items have several colors to choose from.

The My Buddy pet car seat is just like the Lookout Deluxe but much bigger.

The Snoozer Console pet car seat is like the Lookout pet car seat but much smaller and made to strap on to the console rather than strap in with the car seat belt.

The Lookout Perch pet car seat is a different style and is made for larger pets.

And the RollAround pet car seat is also a pet carrier and back pack.

Please be careful any time you drive in bad weather.  But since millions of people will be on the road this holiday season, take extra care for not only yourself, but for others.  It is cold out there and the roads might be bad.  There could be rain, snow, sleet, or even ice.  Check your tires, drive cautiously, and buckle up.  Don’t forget to buckle you pets in too.

Check out this article where there have been hundreds of wrecks in bad weather.  Mt. Airy News.  According to the article, even a dog was involved in a car accident.  The dog ran away from the wreck but was luckily found in good condition about two miles away.

A 6 year old Golden Retriever name Chloe was ejected from a vehicle during a car accident on Interstate 295.  She is now missing.  We are not sure when the accident occurred but the article was published on December 19th.  Chloe is wearing Florida tags and the owner asks that you contact her at (570) 242-7618.  For more information on the article and on Chloe, check out the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Above photo courtesy of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Still need Christmas gifts for your dog lover friends or family?  Tomorrow, Monday, is the last day you can order from Pet Auto Safety.com and have the item arrive by Christmas.  BUT PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL PRODUCTS APPLY.  Not every item on our site is available to arrive by Christmas.  We can ship some items via USPS Priority Mail on Monday.  But large items like the metal pet car barriers and most pet car seats and hammocks can not be shipped in this way.

 Items which can be shipped via USPS Priority Mail include:

• All our dog seat belts and pet car harnesses,
• The backseat pet barrier and the front seat pet safety barrier,
• Most dog seat covers:  Brown Paw Print dog seat covers, Camouflage dog car seat covers, Cruising Companion quilted seat covers, Cruising Companion Houndstooth dog car seat covers, black dog seat cover, and the Slumber Pet quilted dog seat covers,
• Guardian Gear Sightseers pet car seats and the Skybox Booster pet car seats.

The Guardian Gear Dog Car Harness and Cruising Companion Dog Car Harness is manufactured by the same company. The Guardian Gear black and black paw print dog car harness share the exact same design as the Cruising Compaion camouflage dog car harness. However, the Cruising Compaion houndstooth padded harness is of a different design. The padded Cruising Compaion houndstooth padded dog car harness is more comfortable than the Guardian Gear dog car harness or the Cruising Companion camouflage dog car harness.

All designs of Guardian Gear dog car harness and Cruising Companion dog car harness use a strap which buckles directly into the seat belt receptacle while the Tru-Fit Smart Dog Car Harness uses a looped strap in which the seat belt of the car goes through. Both designs are just as safe, but the styles affect how your dog rides in the car.

The straps of the Guardian Gear dog car harness and Cruising Compainon dog car harness tend to be a little long so there is still the danger of your dog being thrown onto the floor of the car and possibly hurting themselves. The extra small and small-medium sized dog carharness is usually adjustable enough to prevent this, but the large and extra large dog car harness doesn’t shorten much. If you have the floor of your car covered, say with the Extend-A-Seat or a backseat dog hammock, then the danger of your dog being hurt if thrown onto the floor is eliminated. The pro of using the Guardian Gear dog car harness or Cruising Compainion dog car harness with the extendable strap is that your dog has more room to move around in the back seat. If your dog is active and doesn’t like to hold still for long, this dog car harness is best.

The looped strap of Tru-Fit Smart Dog Car Harness is more restrictive than the straps Guardian Gear dog car harness or Cruising Companion dog car harness. This is good because in the event of a sudden stop or car wreck, your dog will not get thrown onto the floor or around the car. However, the looped strap is much more restrictive. It is difficult for your dog to stand or move around when wearing the Tru-Fit Smart Dog Car Harness. If your dog prefers to rest or is rather calm when in the car, the Tru-Fit Smart Dog Car Harness is the best.

The Tru-Fit Smart Dog Car Harness also has the added benefit of being crash tested in conjunction with the University of Ottowa. The Guardian Gear dog car harness and Cruising Companion dog car harness does not have the benefit of official testing. This dog car harness is still safer than wearing no dog car harness at all, but for ultimate protection we recommend the Tru-Fit Smart Dog Car Harness. Because my dogs are more active in the car and because I use the Extend-A-Seat to cover the car floor, I prefer the Guardian Gear dog car harness.

Are you going out of town this Holiday Season?  If so, what are you going to do with your dog?  You can take them with you or you can have someone else take care of them while you are gone.  If you take them with you, consider airline regulations and/or pet auto safety devices.  If you have someone else take care of them, consider a boarding kennel, a pet sitting service, or enlist a friend to take care of them.

For the pros and cons of each of these options, visit the American Dog Blog.

Traveling with your dog this holiday season? Want to stay in a hotel? How do you know which hotels will allow dogs? The perfect answer can be found at Pets Welcome.com. I am traveling a long distance and need to stay overnight at a hotel which allows dogs so I checked out Pets Welcome.com. I have used this site before, but now it is even better. It has been re-built to be easier to use and more informative. I selected the top tab for Lodgings, then the drop-down option of US Lodgings. From there, I selected the state I wanted to find lodging in. And then on the left, I selected the city. A very comprehensive list of hotels for dogs appeared on Pets Welcome.com.  The list included the names of several hotels, their addresses, their phone numbers, and sometimes additional important information about the hotel. It was easy and quick. Within 5 minutes, I found a hotel and called to make a reservation. Super easy!!

Pet Auto Safety.com isn’t just about protecting your pet in the car. It’s also about protecting your car from your pet. For the pet lover friends on your Christmas list who often take their dogs with them when they drive, fashionable pet car seat covers will make a great gift. Pet car seat covers will help to keep the dog hair from getting embedded in the fabric of the seats. They will also help to keep doggie odors and dirty paws from ruining the seats of the car. Pet Auto Safety.com has a number of pet car seat coversto choose from including a brown paw prints pattern, black or blue quilt, pink or brown houndstooth patterns, camouflage pattern, and more. Pet Auto Safety.com also has single pet car seat covers, but we don’t recommend that you put your dog in the front seat unless your car does not have passenger-side airbags or unless the passenger-side airbags have been disabled.

Now that you’ve brought your new friend home, it’s time for the fun part — and the hard part! This is your chance to really prove to your parents, yourself, and your pet that you’re a responsible guardian. It’s a lot to live up to, but don’t worry…you can do it! All you need to know is what your pet’s needs are, then meet them. Here is some great information put together by term papers:

Food

• Be sure you know the diet and feeding schedule of your new pet. Get information from your veterinarian or the pet store.
• Most animals need to be fed once or twice a day. Sometimes baby animals need to be fed more.
• Don’t ever give your pet table scraps — people food (especially chocolate!) can make most animals sick.
• Introduce changes to food or feeding time gradually — food changes can be stressful for an animal.
• Feed your pets in a quiet, protected place, so they feel safe and comfortable when they eat.

Water

• Make sure your pet has plenty of clean, fresh water.
• Water should be changed at least twice a day.
• If your pet is a fish or turtle and lives in water, be sure to clean the tank at least once a week.

Shelter

• Your pet needs a place to call home — whether that’s a tank, cage, or doghouse.
• If your dog or cat spends a lot of time outdoors, make sure shelter is available at all times. Shelter keeps pets protected from cold, wind, and rain in the winter and from the harsh hot sun in the summer.
• Even if your pet spends most of the day outdoors, he should sleep indoors at night. This will protect him from cars, bad weather, and animals such as coyotes that will attack pets.
• When it comes to shelter, remember that animals who are treated like part of the family are better-adjusted and will be more closely bonded to you. And after all, your pet IS part of your family, right?

Potty

• All animals need a place where they can go to the bathroom. Unless you’re able to train them to use the toilet, cats need a litter box, gerbils need a cage, and dogs need to go outside or in a special lined area.
• Make sure you create a safe place for your pet’s bathroom needs and — this is REALLY important — clean it regularly! After all, think about how gross it is to use a toilet that doesn’t flush.
• If you have a dog and live in an apartment with no yard, you need to make sure your dog is walked often. If he goes in a public place, be sure to pick it up and dump it in a trashcan.

Exercise

• Dogs need plenty of exercise. Physical activity keeps them healthy, happy, and fit. Make sure you walk, run, hike, or play fetch with your dog every day. Not only is exercise good for your pup, but it’s good for you, too!
• Cats, especially if they live indoors, also love some quality playtime with you. This is a chance to have fun and get creative with cool cat toys.
• Rodents like hamsters and gerbils will thank you for putting an exercise wheel in their cage to make life a little more interesting.

Grooming

• It’s a good idea to brush and comb your pets every day to get rid of loose or shedding hair.
• Poke around to check for fleas, ticks, leaves, and other things that might be tangled in your pet’s fur.
• If you can, bathe dogs once a month and cats every few months. But don’t overdo it! Too many baths take away the natural oils from a pet’s skin and can cause itching or rashes.
• Cats will have fewer hairballs and shed less if they’re combed on a regular basis.
• If your pooch has killer doggie breath, try brushing his teeth when you bathe him.

Training, if you have a dog

• Yes, Bowzer is your buddy, but you need to be his boss! If you don’t set up rules for him to follow, he may act aggressively and out of control. You don’t want your dog dashing into oncoming traffic, jumping on little kids, or growling at your neighbors, right? So you need to set up rules for him to follow and help him follow them.
• You can do this in a very gentle manner without raising your voice or becoming mean. Work with your parents to determine the rules of the house. If there’s a “no dogs on the sofa” policy, don’t let Spot on the couch the minute your parents leave the room. It’s best when all of you work together to teach your new family member how to behave.
• An obedience class is a great way to learn how to speak a dog’s language and teach her the rules of your household. But don’t expect her to be perfect — there will be accidents! Just be patient and loving, and eventually the hard work will pay off.

Health care

• Just like we need annual checkups with our doctor and dentist, most pets need regular checkups, too.
• Veterinarians, or animal doctors, check your pet’s general health, can answer any questions you might have, and make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date.
• If you bring home a new dog or cat, you should take him to the vet right away to get checked out.

Love & affection

• Just like people, pets thrive on attention! The more love you give, the more you’ll get back.
• Give your pet plenty of hugs, kisses, gentle pats, and love. Okay, so maybe you can’t pet a fish, but you can still show you care by talking to it, watching it, and feeding it special treats.

Get your house ready for a new pet
Before you bring a new animal into your home, make sure your house is pet-ready. Take a tour around your home and yard with your parents, using this as a checklist:

• Are there any holes, broken concrete, drains, or swimming pools that your pet could fall into or get stuck in? They need to be fixed before your pet arrives.
• Are there any gaps in the fence, or a broken gate, that might allow your new pet to get out of your yard?
• Are there any poisons, like snail bait, antifreeze, or other toxic chemicals just sitting out? These things are super-poisonous to animals. Make sure containers are stored away in locked cupboards far out of reach.
• Check for dangling electrical cords in the house or outside. Puppies, kittens, and rodents love to chew them, thinking they’re toys. Cover cords or tape them down with industrial tape.
• How about your toys? Do you have any Legos or other small pieces lying around that an animal could choke on? Keep your things out of reach of little paws.
• What about stuff that breaks? If you don’t want something to get knocked over or stepped on — maybe your mom’s valuable vase or your favorite model airplane — put it up high or away for a little while.

Pet “Don’ts”

• Don’t use insect sprays and weed killers around your pets or allow antifreeze to spill in any area where pets hang out. If animals get poisons on their fur or paws, then lick themselves, they can get very sick or even die.
• Never leave a pet alone in a car on a hot day…even with the windows cracked open. Temperatures can go up quickly and cause an animal to overheat, which is sometimes fatal.
• Don’t ever feed your pet chocolate, no matter how much they might beg. Dogs can’t digest chocolate and can die from eating too much.
• Don’t let your dog wander the neighborhood without you. She could get lost, hurt, or catch a disease from another animal. Always keep her on a leash when in public areas, like a park or busy street.
• Never give pets human medicine. Keep all medicines — human or pet — out of your pet’s reach.