Volvo, crate and safety restraints pass a reader’s crash test
By Keith Turner
April 9, 2008
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. However, as a writer I contend that just a few words can be worth a million pictures. But I digress. . .
As a DogCars.com reader, Ed from Philadelphia has been aware of the current push by many states to make it a law to properly secure all dogs while traveling in a moving vehicle. But it didn’t hit him how important the situation is until something hit him — or rather, hit his car.
We’ll let him tell the story:
I drop my Cairn Terrier off at a place to play during the day and transport her in a crate held in by the PetBuckle products “kennel system restraint.” These straps appear to be made of the same material as seat belts. I have no financial interest or relationship with the company besides being a satisfied customer.
I was recently in a bad accident - and, I believe, saved by my Volvo. I was unable to get the crate out of the car afterward. Luckily my dog wasn’t with me BUT if she had, she would have been okay. I’ve attached two pictures showing the crate in the car after the accident. It pains me to see people driving with their dogs on their laps or bouncing around the car. It just doesn’t make sense!
You can bet I have a new crate and PetBuckle in my new Volvo, too!
Thanks for your note and the pictures, Ed. We are very happy to hear that you and your pup are safe and sound.
(Crossposted from the DogCars.com blog.)
It still drives me crazy to see a dog bouncing around the back of a pick-up truck!
Comment by Colorado Transplant — April 9, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
I’d like to see crash stats on various crates.
Comment by Christie Keith — April 9, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
We’ve tried various things and I’m not sure we’ve yet come up with the best solution. Kasey cries and cries in a crate in the car, but we aren’t going to let him loose either. We’ve found a tether strap that attaches to his harness—not his collar!!—and to the metal loops in the trunk of my forester. The lead on them is very short so he can’t wander around or get too tossed around in an accident. But like I said…I still don’t think we’ve found the perfect solution.
Comment by Lori — April 10, 2008 @ 6:18 am