What Does Your New Puppy Need?
Love may be number one on the list, but there are a few
other specific requirements:
Dogs and cats frequently have differing opinions, not the
least of which is whether or not car rides are the best thing ever or an
exercise in sheer torture leading one to doubt one’s human’s sanity. Whichever
is the case in your car, it is important to do everything you can to make a car
trip safe for your pet so that it can also be as enjoyable as your pet could
possibly find it.
Do’s and Dont’s of Car Travel with Pets
There are two big dos and do nots for car travel with pets.
First, we cover the do:
Do safely restrain your pet while traveling in the car. Many
dogs love the excitement of wandering around in the car, trying their paw at
the steering wheel or letting their tongues flap wildly in the wind. But none
of those enjoyments are safe for them, for you—or other people on the road for
that matter. An unrestrained pet can distract a driver into making dangerous
driving mistakes. And in the event of an accident, an unrestrained pet has
nothing to prevent him from becoming a dangerous projectile. At the same time,
pets more fearful of car travel, whether cats or dogs, can become a distraction
and a worry. Keeping them safely restrained in a snug-fitting harness or a
properly secured crate will give them the extra security and safety they need
to stay at least somewhat calm while preventing them from distracting the
driver.
Do not ever leave your pet alone in a parked car. We cannot
stress this enough, even with the windows cracked, no matter what the weather
is. Even when it is “only” in the 70s, your fur-coat-wearing pet can quickly
experience oven-like temperatures that can kill him or her in just minutes.
Which leads us to one last do:
Do leave your pet at home if you do not plan to bring him or
her with you once you get to your destination. What are your tips for car
travel with pets?