There’s nothing more fun than traveling with your best friend — your pet. Whether it’s a short jaunt for a day trip or a long road trip, you’ll want to ensure your pet’s safety for the entire commute.
While traveling with your pet can be fun, it can also be dangerous. Even if a car crashes at a speed of only 25 mph, this can still prove fatal for your dog. Despite this startling fact, 84% of dog owners don’t restrain their dog during travel, and 60% have driven while distracted by their pets as passengers.
To make sure your trip stays fun, put safety first. Read these tips before your next drive. Your pet will thank you!
How to Have a Fun Road Trip With Your Pet
Don’t let your pet in the front seat or on your lap
Think of your pet as a young child — they’re not big enough for the front seat. While it may be fun to have your pet in your lap or next to you in the car, it’s not worth the risk.
Restrain or crate your pet
Don’t let a sudden stop or crash lead to serious injury for your furry friend. There are a variety of ways to restrain your pet in the car comfortably. This includes seat belts designed for pets, harnesses, crates, backseat barriers, or carriers.
Don’t leave pets in a hot car
Like children, you should not leave your pets in a hot car for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, this happens all too often, leading to hundreds of pet deaths each year.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a short trip to the grocery store or if you cracked the window — the car can heat up much faster than you might expect, leading to potentially fatal heat exhaustion for your pup.
Don’t travel with your pet in the truck bed
Just like you wouldn’t want a small child in the back of your truck bed while it’s moving, your dog shouldn’t be in there, either. They could seriously injure or accidentally kill themselves. Not to mention that they can distract other drivers on the road.
Only drive a safe, reliable car that’s fully tuned up
Now, this last safety tip isn’t just for pets — it’s for everyone. Long road trips are risky if you can’t trust your vehicle to get you there safely.
Drive Safely With Your Pet in and out of Madison, WI
Does your vehicle need a tune-up? Schedule an appointment at our service center to make sure your oil, brakes, battery, and more are road trip ready.
Is your vehicle on its last legs? Explore our large inventory of new and used cars for sale in Madison, Wisconsin.
Next step? Make sure you check off all the items on our essential road trip checklist.
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