8 Simple Tips for Keeping Your Dog Safe in the Car

by K Marie Alto May 19, 2019 2 min read

8 Simple Tips for Keeping Your Dog Safe in the Car

Did you know if a car crashes going only 25 mph, any unrestrained item can be projected forward at a rate of 40 times its weight?

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Do you secure your fur baby when you’re going for a car ride?

After a collision, if s/he survives, your pup is not only likely to sustain an injury, but being unrestrained can cause your fur baby to injure other passengers in the car or even be ejected from the moving vehicle.

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As the weather is getting warmer walks around the neighborhood grow into bigger adventures.

How about a trip to the local dog park and maybe even a visit to the local pet store!  Just remember, even short trips aren’t safe.

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted in the U.S., approximately 52% of collisions occur within a 5-mile radius of the home.  That number jumps to 69% when we extend the distance to 10 miles.

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So, the next time you and your fur baby hop in the car, please consider the following 8 simple tips:

  • Never allow your fur baby to ride unrestrained in a vehicle.
  • Just like for small kids, the back seat is much safer than the front seat.
  • Say no thanks to tethers that connect to your pup’s collar and allow your pup to move around the back seat.
  • Use a harness with safety restraints (instead of a collar), so any unexpected force is distributed across your pup’s chest.
  • Look for safety restraints that integrate with existing safety components in your car.
  • Choose a crate that is both strong and somewhat flexible to withstand the force of a collision.
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  • Be sure to secure the carrier to the seat (with at a minimum a seat belt) to keep it from becoming a projectile.
  • When placing crates in the cargo area, be sure to secure it against the rear seat, away from the rear door.

What do you use to safely restrain your fur baby during a car trip?

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One more thing, if you are feeling like getting a little special something for your fur baby that is unique, made right here in the USA, 100% pup and cat safe, USDA certified organic and brought to you by a US company, check out Toe Beans online pet supplies store!

As always, if you found this content useful, all blog posts on toe beans are social media shareable. So, what are you waiting for to spread the love? Go ahead and hit any social media icon of your preference around the post for instant sharing with friends and family. Sharing is caring!

K Marie Alto
K Marie Alto

K. Marie is an animal lover, wife, kitty mom, dog auntie, writer, and co-founder of Toe Beans, a proud American family-owned online boutique pet supplies store focused on the improvement of the life of furry family members via pet parent education, better products, and advocacy. She has over 20 years of experience as a pet momma. She loves sharing her personal journey and experience as a pet parent via her blog and Facebook page where she currently has more than 40K followers (@furrytoebeans) and counting :-).

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