We are all in the habit of using our seatbelt whenever we drive. Most pet owners, however, do not think about using a safety harness for their pet. It is time we do!
According to the American Automobile Association, unrestrained pets cause more than 30,000 accidents annually. That's thousands of fatalities and injuries that could have been avoided with the use of a simple pet restraint, harness or crate.
Bark Buckle-UP founder, Christina Selter, warns that an unrestrained dog can be dangerous to everyone in the vehicle. "In a 30 MPH accident, a 60-pound dog can cause an impact of more than 2,700 pounds, slamming into a car seat, windshield or other passenger."
And let's face it, any one of us would be heart-broken if our dog was injured, or worse, killed in an accident because we were too rushed or lazy to buckle them into a safety harness. (Hint - leave the seat belt attachment in the car at all times so it is easy to snap onto your dog's harness. It will be one less thing to remember as you leave home, too!)
So...let's make a New Year's Resolution to buckle up our pet every time we go for a drive - no matter how short the distance. To make things easy, I am going to review a few of the travel harnesses we carry on our website:
1) Kurgo Tru-Fit Safety Harness: This is probably the easiest harness to put on your dog that I am aware of. Once adjusted for size, you simply slip it over your dog's head and then buckle the strap around its chest. That's it! It comes with a loop that you put your seat belt through and attach to the harness to keep your Furry Traveler in place while you drive. It is made of high-quality automotive seat belt materials and has a broad padded chest plate for extra protection and comfort. Good for dogs over 10 pounds. Price: $22.99 - $28.99.
2) The PetBuckle Seat Belt Harness provides protection in a standard vehicle by using the vehicle's seat belt, LATCH bar system or cargo area to securely restrain a harnessed dog. Just slip the seat belt through the web loop on the harness and buckle up. For dogs over 15 pounds. Crash tested for safety. Price: $49.99.
3) For the more fashion conscious, we offer a variety of comfortably padded safety harnesses in a variety of colors and patterns. Many of these styles snap right into your own car's seat belt buckle - very easy to use.
Whatever your choice may be, just remember that having your dog restrained is one less distraction for you and so much safer for your Furry Traveler!
To view all our safety harnesses, visit www.FurryTravelers.com.
Happy New Year from your friends at Furry Travelers!
