Dog travel safety statistics revealed for Love Your Pet Day
February brings another special day to celebrate our pets. Love Your Pet Day is February 20, and I decided to pass along some information that Hankook Tire America Corp. learned about how drivers keep their dogs safe on the road in their latest Quarterly Gauge Index survey as announced in their recent press release.
Fifty-six percent (56%) of drivers surveyed say they regularly take their dogs out for a spin. Northeast owners seem to be more apt take their dogs for a drive as seventy-four (74%) of them say they regularly bring them along.
Sixty-six percent (66%) of owners keep their dogs in the back seat or in a crate. However, that still means one third (34%) ignore DMV pet travel recommendations suggesting drivers keep their pets in the back seat or crate due to air bag concerns in the front seat.
Twenty-four percent (24%) of owners say they strap their dog in with a seatbelt.
Eighty-nine (89%) of owners provide their furry loved ones with plenty of attention and talk to their dogs regularly while driving together.
Those that are ignoring the DMV pet travel recommendations are of utmost concern to me. I still often see pets loose in moving vehicles, heads hanging out the driver’s side window, obviously on the driver’s lap. Do you really want to risk your dog’s life? Food for thought.
Please take care everyone. The words “buckle up” applies to both you and your pet. Make sure your dog is safe and secure in his crate or pet-designed seatbelt to maximize car travel safety.
Hankook Tire recommends in addition to your spare tire and jack, keep a favorite toy or pillow near your pet to give him/her a sense of familiarity, as well as plenty of water. I say visit your local pet store. There are plenty of travel-related goods to purchase so you can travel with your pet safely and worry-free.
Thanks for reading!
Susan, Taurus and Gemini
