With Halloween just days away and the holiday season fast approaching, website BarkBuckleUP.com, a tremendous online resource which was formed to advocate safe pet travel and has risen to become an expert in the field of promoting pet safety while traveling, recommends pet owners treat their precious cargo to comfortable and proven travel safeguards on Halloween, as well as any other time our pets join us for a ride. 

Says Christina Selter, who is a nationally recognized pet safety advocate, founder and spokesperson for Bark Buckle UP:

“Let’s celebrate the holidays safely and responsibly by buckling-up our pets when driving.  Protecting them and others is a gift everyone should consider.

Selter makes sure to buckle in her dog Betty, even if she’s just driving to the supermarket:

“In the event of an accident, an unrestrained pet can escape and be hit by another vehicle, cause another collision, or attack emergency crews trying to reach an injured party. It only takes a few minutes to safeguard your pet and by properly securing them, you are protecting yourself, your passengers, and your pet from injury, not to mention protecting other drivers and first responders trying to help.”

According to Bark Buckle Up, 82% of dogs travel in the car and on vacations. Since so many families consider their pets to be part of the family and take them along on Halloween as well as holiday travel, here are a few pet safety tips Bark Buckle Up recommends:

• When driving 35 mph, a 60-pound unrestrained dog will have an impact force of 2,700 pounds.

“Imagine a baby elephant riding in your back seat, slamming into your car seat, windshield or passenger.”

• Even if the animal survives, it can impede the progress of first responders who need every moment to safely care for accident victims.

• Pet restraints offer several advantages:

1. Help to protect pets in the event of a collision.
2. Keeping pets from running loose and distracting the driver.
3. Prevention from escaping the car through an open window or door.

The Humane Society of the United States also recommends the following safeguards when driving with pets on board:

1. When traveling with a dog or cat, it’s a good idea to keep your pet in the backseat of your vehicle due to the possibility that a front-seat passenger side airbag may deploy, which may cause injury to your pet in an accident.

2. Dogs should not be allowed to have their heads out of the window, due to possible injury by flying debris.  They also advise not letting dogs do this because they may become ill from having cold air forced into their lungs.

3. Never transport a pet in the back of a pickup truck.

4. Never leave your pet unattended or alone in a parked car.  Not only will the temperature in the vehicle rise quickly on warm days, but an unattended pet can also be stolen from a rest stop or parking lot.

For more great tips on driving and traveling with pets, see Driving with Pets: 20 Tips for a Better Ride.

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