Buckle up Bella and Bailey

This week I heard two reports of car crashes caused by potentially unrestrained dogs. One was fatal, for owner and dogs. Another was lucky.

In the mountains outside of Colorado Springs, James McLaughlin lost control of his car, ran off the road and plunged 300 feet down the mountain, after his Jack Russell terrier, Dexter, suddenly jumped onto his lap. Both McLaughlin and Dexter survived, after waiting 12 hours for rescue.

I hear these stories all the time, yet nearly every week I see drivers with their toy poodle on their lap or their Labrador retriever unrestrained in the back seat, nose out the window. You buckle yourself in and restrain your children. Why wouldn't you restrain your family dog? And if not for the life of your dog, what about for yourself and other people on the road?

Unrestrained dogs in cars are dangerous for many reasons.

• An excited or nervous dog can interfere with the driver and lead to a crash.
• In a crash a dog is thrown around the car and can injure passengers, as well as the driver.
• In the event of an accident, the dog may get loose from the car or be released by rescuers opening the car door, then run away or into traffic, causing another accident.
• A dog with his head out the window can easily get eye damage or be injured by debris.
• Front and side air bags can injure a dog in the front seat.
• Even if there is no crash, many a dog has been lost by bolting out the car door when opened.
  

Medium and large dogs can easily be restrained by a $20 pet safety harness that buckles to the car seat belt. Pet barriers that keep a dog from accessing the driver can also be helpful. Small dogs may be restrained by a safety harness, but typically these are not made in small enough sizes for toy breeds. Small dogs can ride safely in a crate strapped to the car seat belt.

If Bella or Bailey prefer to see where they are going, a car booster seat may do the trick. A booster seat allows the dog to see out the window, but also secures them via a good harness to a safety strap. The booster seat is secured by the car's seat belt.


Sampson and Daisy both have their own booster seats - the Pet Stow-Away by Global Pet (but also sold now by other makers as the Pet Stow-Away or Pet Stow & Go). Riding in their booster seats keeps them from getting jostled around a car, which makes a car ride much less stressful. And because they can see out, there's no jumping around or on my lap. They also have a comfy bed to lie down in on long trips.

My parents, Grandma and Grandpa to my Yorkies, can attest to the booster seat too. A couple years ago I left Sampson and Daisy with them while I went on vacation. I left the booster seat too and at that time both dogs rode in one seat, using a leash coupler to connect them to the buckle. My parents decided to bring them home for me and save me a trip. They thought, it's only 10 minutes away, we don't need to belt in the car seat. My Dad drove and my Mom held them - at least that was the plan. They got a few blocks away and Sampson was especially anxious, jumping all over the place and my Mom was unable to restrain him. Dad pulled over on the side of the road so they could buckle in the car seat. Once in their car seat, they rode calmly. I'm grateful there was no accident and neither dog ran out the car door.

While I often recommend a car booster seat for small dogs, not all seats are created equal. Also, there's no Federally regulated pet safety agency, testing products and requiring safety standards. I seriously doubt that any of the product manufacturers do any safety testing of their own. Many of the booster seats on the market are more about fashion and fun, than a safe ride and survivability in a crash. Until pet owners have better choices, you'll have to use your best judgment.

What to look for in a pet car booster seat:

• Durable materials. Some of the worst are homemade from PVC pipe and fabric covers.
• Be wary of over the seat styles, which may not be secured well and may fling off in a crash or sudden stop.
• Check for a secure attachment method of the booster seat to the car seat belt. Make sure it will work with 3-point seat belts, which are common now in back seats.
• Check for a secure attachment method for the dog's harness to the seat. Make sure the strap is secured well into the seat and not just sewn on to a fabric cover.
• Never put your dog in a booster in the front seat. An air bag deployment would likely be fatal for them.
  

A well-secured crate is likely the safest option for your Yorkie. Look for a crate that is designed to be buckled in to a seat belt. Otherwise, place the crate sideways on the seat and pull a 3-point belt over the crate and tighten the buckle. You can also buy a special harness for securing a crate.