04/07/2024
SUMMER TRAVEL SAFETY TIP. Please read, this is very important. And, in NJ, IT'S THE LAW. It is considered 'animal cruelty' and if you are pulled over, you could be fined $250 to $1,000. Yes, you read that right.
One of the most important things we can do for our pets is to ensure they are safely restrained when we travel with them by car. Would you let your kids bounce around your car unrestrained?
There are several reasons for this. First of all, restraining your pet is the same as you wearing a seat belt. It keeps you from flying around the vehicle and getting injured from the secondary impact during an accident. Restraint will protect your dog from sustaining possibly serious or fatal injuries should you get in an accident. Restraint will also keep your dog under control while you are driving, so you don't need to worry about them jumping in the front seat with you or obstructing your view.
Restraining your pet will also prevent your dog from getting out and running off if the door pops open due to the accident. Even the best trained dog will bolt from an accident scene and probably right into traffic.
Proper restraint will keep your dog safely in the car when you open the door when you reach your destination. Recently one of our volunteers was at the vet's office and another client almost lost their unrestrained dog when they opened the car door. The dog jumped out and ran off. They had to chase the dog around the parking lot (next to a very busy road) and were able to catch him. But if the dog was properly restrained, this would not have happened.
There are 2 different ways safely restrain your dog. One way is to use a travel crate, like this one in the photo. This is a heavy, impact-resistant crate. The hard plastic airliner type crates are a good option if an impact resistant crate like the one shown is cost prohibitive. A folding wire crate is better than nothing at all.
It is important that the crate be level and secured. You can level the crate in the back seat using a pool noodle or a rolled towel by the back of the seat. You can use a leash around a headrest, or a dog seat belt tether to keep the crate from moving around. The crate below is attached with ratchet straps to the tie down rings in the cargo part of the car. You should be able to push hard on the crate without moving it. This will help your dog feel more secure as well. A wiggling / sliding crate is upsetting for your pup.
The 2nd option is using a car harness and tether. The harness must be specifically made for use in the car, or it must have wide straps and the dog must not be able to get out of it. This could double as your walking harness that is escape proof. If they can slip out of a harness, then they can pop out during an accident. You can get a good car harness for under $50. You want the tether short enough so that they can sit or lay comfortably, and not so long they can move around too much. It should keep your dog pretty close to the seat, not able to move all over or jump onto the floor of the car.
Note that it is NOT SAFE to tether your dog using their collar only. If you get in an accident, this could cause serious or fatal injuries to your dog as their neck will take all the force of the impact. It could crush their trachea or break their neck.
Please, take the extra couple of minutes to make sure your dog is safely restrained in your car before you head out. It could literally save their life.
For those who don't think my information is accurate - here is a summary of vehicle restraint laws by state. Multiple web pages share the same information. This website mentions that your insurance claim could be denied - I am assuming for vet bills for your injured dog.
https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/state-laws-require-pets-to-be-restrained-in-vehicles/
