You wouldn’t put a baby or a child in a car without making sure they were safely secured and comfortable. Nor would you get in a car without doing up your seatbelt.
Did you know that it is important to take the same care for your pet?
Drivers who don’t secure pets within the car could risk fines and penalties.
Further, a new survey by Compare the Market AU finds that almost 30 per cent of Canadian pet owners don’t secure their animals when taking them for a drive. An extra 9.7 per cent say a passenger holds the animal but they aren’t kept secure. Almost 30 per cent say they use a collar to seat belt attachment, but these can be dangerous in an accident.
With the survey finding over 80 per cent of Canadian pet owners take their pets in the car, and many make plans for road trips, it is important to take into consideration how to keep a pet comfortable in the car and how to best secure them.
Securing your pet
For dogs, the first option is to use a harness.
A harness helps distribute impact across a dog’s body for a more secure hold. To ensure a comfortable fit, leave enough room so that two fingers can fit between the harness and your dog.
When a dog is in a harness, they should be able to stand, sit, or lay down comfortably, without having to brace themselves while you’re turning, reversing or stopping, ICBC says.
Four Paws Pet Grocery and Boutique in Sidney sells both a rated and unrated car harness in store, or check in with other local shops for products.
Another option is to use a crate. Unsecured crates can bounce around and even become dangerous to other passengers, so make sure they are secured by a seatbelt, cargo hook or placed by the rear seat.
While you may be used to your cat rubbing up against your legs at home, ICBC warns that leaving cats loose in your vehicle can potentially result in them interfering with gas or brake pedals.
Instead, opt for a cat carrier. The BC SPCA recommends the “airline type” which also helps prevent injury in the event of a crash. Cats are also often more comfortable in a vehicle when they are in a carrier, says the Government of Canada travel page.
Easing car anxiety
Is your pup or kitty nervous in the car? Pawsitive reinforcement goes a long way, so offer them treats, food and familiar toys or blankets inside or around harnesses or carriers before going on a car trip. It’s also a good idea to bring along toys that can calm anxiety, like chew toys.
For persistent anxiety, Christine Leman, co-owner of Four Paws in Sidney gives plenty of ideas to try.
“At Four Paws, we carry both CBD and calming chews which may help ease your pet’s anxiety while travelling in the car,” she said. “However, they are not always effective for every pet and in those cases, you’ll want to schedule a visit with your primary care veterinarian for medications that can help reduce anxiety and control car sickness. As well, consider consulting a dog trainer/behaviourist for an effective training program to help ease your pet’s travel woes. Remember to take it slow and prepare well in advance and soon your pet will love travel as much as you do!”
Rules of the road
Section 72 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act prohibits the transport of an unsecured pet in the back of a pickup truck. If you must transport your pet this way, the cage or crate must be attached securely so that it cannot fly out.
Both the SPCA and BCHP say pets shouldn’t travel in leashed crates on hot summer days.
It’s also good to know that in B.C., drivers can be ticketed $367 for driving “without due care and attention,” a fine that also comes with six penalty points. Driving with a pet in your lap or reaching into the back seat to interact or take a photo of your pet while driving could be cause for a ticket.
Pet insurance
Of course, no one likes to think about the possibility, but should something ever happen during an incident, pet insurance can help pay for veterinary treatment.
Michelle from Trupanion, a North American pet insurance company said that their basic pet insurance plans cover injuries from car incidents, whether they are secured or unsecured in the car. She added that it is worthwhile to get pet insurance before travelling.
While there are some things to get sorted before you write your tail of two cities, or leave the barking lot for new adventures, these tips will make your pet travel adventures pawsitively safe and enjoyable.