How to safely transport pets in the car?
With Covid-19 slowly under control we are all looking forward to the warm weather and possibility of travelling again.
It maybe that many of us will choose to travel by car. In this article we are going to talk about different ways of transporting your pets safely in the car.
Dogs
Let’s start with our most popular pets and go through different ways we can safely transport them
One of the popular ways and actually a very safe one is to choose a back seat, with our pooch safely in a harness strapped and connected to seat lock. That way in case of an accident or simply during hard breaking our dog is safely strapped and will not fly out of the car. Being strapped in also helps the dog to be securely attached in case you wanted to open a window for them so that they can enjoy that fresh air and tongue out.
Another safe option is to put the dog in a crate. There are a number of different crates available on the market. The safely strapped crate is a very safe environment for our dog. It helps them settle, and gives them their own personal space. Crate also provides safe space in case of an accident. Highway code states:
‘’57 When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.’’ – (https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/rules-about-animals-other-animals.html)
Smaller dogs can also be transported in carriers, like crate it gives them safe space and can be securely attached so that it stays in place.
Cats
Like dogs, cats can be transported in carriers, crates or attached to harness.
It really depends on your cat and the length of the journey.
Longer journeys may require more space and the ability to stretch and change sleeping positions.
Like us, our pets also get tired and need to stretch during long cars journeys.
Rabbits, Hamsters, Guinea pigs
Although you may think that transporting your small pets in your hand may be a great idea, it is not the best nor safest way to do so.
Like dogs and cats, putting them in their own personal space will make their journey much more enjoyable.
When transporting smaller pets make sure to put them in a smaller cage than the one you would most likely have at home, provide them with bedding and a little toy and treat.
This will enable them to calm down, and enjoy the journey in the safest way.
We would suggest for the crate to be with a dark roof and of course, make sure there are enough holes for air.
We would suggest investing in some sort of carrier or seat protector which will keep the cage in one place once secured.
That way you can transport your pet on your own, and even if having a passenger they won’t have to hold the cage on a long journey.
In conclusion
Whenever transporting your pet think of it as if the worst thing was about to happen and make sure that your pet will be safe if it happens. In event of a crash, your pet should be secured so that it can’t run out on to the road, or fall out of the window during breaking.
A safely secured pet means that you can focus on your journey without worrying about your favourite companion.
We hope you have the best time on your travels, stay safe and enjoy yourselves!