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!

There are many back seat hammocks, but in my opinion, the Kurgo Back Seat Hammocks are by far the best on the market.   Made of durable, washable, waterproof canvas, this hammock fits most back seats by attaching around your head rests.  It is a great and easy way to keep your seats free of dirt and damage.   Unlike most other hammocks, the Kurgo Back Seat Hammock can also accomodate a passenger as well as a car seat, along with your dog.  Just unzip the the zipper in the middle of the hammock and you have legroom!  And of course, there are openings for your seat belt and dog's safety harness.   While we do recommend you buckle up your pet for safety, in the event you do not, the hammock can prevent your dog from sliding off the seat onto the floor and possibly being injured by a sudden stop.   The Back Seat Hammock is available in Khaki or Black and comes with its own carrying case and water bottle.      Retail price $59.99.  Buy here!

The following information was taken from the FDA Veterinarian Newsletter With the summer months rapidly approaching, vacation season will soon be here. We all need a little time away from the monotony of an everyday routine, so as you get ready to retreat, it's important to know how to care for your four-legged friends traveling with you. Most of us travel by car or plane, but each option brings certain drawbacks for pets. Car Travel Car travel is usually less stressful on pets because it allows Freckles and Champ to be close to you, so you can monitor their well-being and come to their aid when needed.  If you choose to drive to your destination, here are a few helpful hints to make the trip more enjoyable. Motion sickness: It's common for pets to experience motion sickness while traveling in a car. To help avoid an upset stomach, don't feed your pet a large meal before travel. Cracking a window to allow fresh air to circulate through your vehicle also helps. If Champ is prone to motion sickness or if Freckles' sensitive stomach acts up again, you may want to put them in the front seat next to you.  Riding up front helps because less motion is felt in the front of the vehicle.  Bathroom breaks: While Champ may snooze for the majority of the trip, it's still important to give him frequent bathroom breaks. Traffic is unpredictable, so if it has been more than a couple of hours, stop and give your dog a chance to relieve himself and stretch his legs. Sedatives: While sedatives may make your pet seem less stressed during car trips, these medications also have a tendency to dull the senses and lessen your pet's ability to react to the environment, which can be dangerous in an emergency. When traveling by car or by plane, avoid giving your pet any type of sedative.  If you think Champ or Freckles really needs a sedative to travel, talk to your pet's veterinarian before your trip. Air Travel For people, flying is often quicker and easier than driving, but flying can be a more stressful experience for your pet. If you decide to travel by air, it's important to keep a few things in mind. Cargo travel:  While you're snacking, reading, and sleeping in relative comfort up in economy seating, Champ is usually traveling in the cargo area below, subjected to temperature fluctuations and loud noises. A cat or small dog may be allowed to travel in the plane's cabin, as long as the pet is kept in a crate and the crate fits underneath the seat.  Check with specific airlines for more information about cabin travel for your pet.  Check on your pet: Make sure to tell the plane's Captain or flight attendant that you have a pet on board. If the flight staff knows about Champ in cargo, they are better able to check on him for you, especially if an unusual situation occurs, such as an unscheduled landing, extended taxi time, or long layover. Walk your dog: If you and Champ have a connecting flight, try to walk him before that connecting flight departs. Many airports provide dog parks just outside the terminal. A bathroom break and a short walk will help Champ relax and stay calm during the remainder of his journey. Crate your pet: During flights, most pets are housed in pet crates provided by their owners. It's important to prepare your pet's crate with safety in mind.  Pet crates should provide ample space for your pet to move around and should also meet the requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the International Air Transportation Association (IATA).  When your pet is crated, remember to include: A bowl of dry food; A bowl or other container of frozen water that will melt over the course of the trip, giving your pet constant access to cold water; Appropriate bedding, such as a soft towel or blanket, or shredded newspaper or wood chips if the traveling pet is a hamster, gerbil, or guinea pig; and A label on the outside of the crate that is clearly marked with your pet's name and your contact information.  You should include both your home contact information and your destination contact information. Be Prepared: If you plan to stay in a hotel while traveling, contact the hotel ahead of time to make sure it is pet friendly. Before your trip, research veterinary hospitals in the city or town of your destination in case of a pet emergency during the vacation. Hawaii and Abroad: Traveling outside the continental United States with your pet requires advanced planning.  For international travel, contact the appropriate country's embassy or consulate at least 4 weeks before your trip.  Different countries may require different documentation for your pet's entry. The state of Hawaii also has entry requirements for arriving pets.  For more information about traveling with your pets, please check the following Web sites:  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/ http://www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/TravelingPets.html http://www.avma.org/animal_health/travelingwithpet-faq.asp http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/traveling/traveling_brochure.asp http://www.avma.org/services/vprc/travel.asp  

For those cats and dogs who like to take a quick snooze on their way to the vet, the multiple award winning Sleepypod is the safest and the most comfortable environment to be in. This Pod is created so that you are able to transport it wherever you like, and builds a positive association for your pet due to your ability to bring it anywhere. When traveling, your pets will feel at home no matter where they go! The Sleepypod is easy to adjust in your car, just wrap your car's seatbelt around the outer shell and through the top handle to secure your Sleepypod like a car seat! With the Sleep Pod, there's no more need for pets to be anxious and restless during drives! http://www.furrytravelers.com/m7/3066--sleepypod-mini-and-standard.html

Dog Carriers and Slings Airline approved pet carriers, multi-purpose dog carriers and convenient dog slings to make taking your dog with you safe and easy!     

  The holiday's are almost here! And for a lot of people that means traveling. If you plan on flying with your pet this year, here's a list of 5 most pet-friendly airlines of 2009. You're pet will thank you!   Continental The airline's PetSafe program has a 24-hour Live Animal Help Desk that tracks your pet from origin to destination. It's more expensive than other airlines, but your pet will travel in climate-controlled vehicles for connections and you'll earn extra miles. The airline also allows small pets to be carried in the cabin on most domestic flights for $125 each way.   JetBlue Airways JetBlue launched JetPaws last summer, providing passengerspet carrier bag tag, two TrueBlue points each way, a welcome e-mail and pet-travel guide, all for no additional cost. But like almost every other airline, they have raised their in-cabin pet charge. One-way fees range from $75-$100.   Airtran Airtran is currently the least expensive airline to fly with your small pet: just $69 each way. They only allow small pets that can travel the cabin, so if you have a larger breed that needs to be checked-in, this airline isn't for you.   American Airlines The airline has assisted transporting animals from popular zoos in cargo. Although they allow a limited number of pets in the cabin, they ask passengers traveling with pets to make special notes for their animals flying in cargo and promise to abide by all requests.     United Airlines They accept small cats, dogs and birds in the cabin; rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs as checked baggage and other animals including parrots, cockatiels and ferrets in United Cargo. Shipping by cargo is for items, like some pets, that you can't check as baggage.   For more information about these airlines and their pet policies, click on the airline name above.

The Cruising Companion All Season Cargo Cover fits the cargo areas of trucks, SUVs and station wagons.  Two-sided design gives you water-resistant DuPont Teflon-coated nylon for easy cleaning.  The opposite side has a warm polyester fleece for the colder weather.  Color:  Waterproof side is black, fleece side is charcoal gray and unzips for easy cleaning.   Material:  Nylon Side: 100% Nylon fabric treated fabric protector. Fleece Side is 100% Polyester Size: Covers measure 59"L x 47"W Care: Nylon Side: Wipe clean with a damp cloth. Fleece Side: Unzip and remove from car seat cover. Machine wash cold on gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry. Instructions:   Fit the two loops over the headrests on the back seat of your vehicle. Spread the cover out to protect the cargo area. Cover can be used with the fleece or nylon side facing up.

The Coastal Pet Product SEAT BELT RESTRAINT can be used with any style of harness to safely secure your pet to a lap or shoulder seat belt. Two sizes:  5/8" for small to medium dogs.  1" for medium to large dogs.   This item has not been crash tested and should only be used on a harness, NOT a collar.  Product is designed to keep dog dog in place and not roaming around the vehicle.     Never leave a dog in an unattended vehicle.    

Cart your furry friend around in style and safety! Riding in style isn’t just for cars anymore. The Golf Cart Lookout is everything the name suggests: A safe, secure perch for best friends to ride along, look out and enjoy the view in comfort. Perfect for bringing dogs up to 25 pounds along wherever, the versatile Golf Cart Lookout can easily double as a dog bed. A comfortable foam-forming interior with lambswool padding provides a cozy place for dogs at home or on the road. The cover is removable and machine washable. Includes a securement strap. Snoozer Pet Products are manufactured with dogs in mind with the finest materials and utilize the latest technology. Now its easier than ever to bring best friends along for the ride. Features: Machine washable cover Includes securement strap Available in Black and Hazlenut fabric Holds pets up to 25 lbs Sizes: Small: 12 in. H x 21 in. W x 13 in. D Large: 12 in. H x 18 in. W x 16 in. D  

The Guardian Gear® Pawprint Seat Covers give pets a comfortable place to rest their paws during trips in the car.   Protects upholstery from pet hair, dirt, stains and damage 55"L x 42"W cover is large enough to fit most back seats Comes with attachment straps on the corners and bottom for a secure fit Cover has two seat belt holes for easy use in conjunction with a car safety harness Material: Made of 100% polyester Care: Machine wash warm, tumble dry low heat Seat Belt Slots: Two