pet connection

The new “Cash For Clunkers” program is creating quite a stir in auto dealerships across the nation, as many people realize that incentives like this don’t come around very often in the auto industry.

The “Cash for Clunkers” program, initiated by the federal government as a part of the stimulus packages for the auto folks, allows customers to trade in their current gas-guzzling vehicle and get credit for buying or leasing a new one that gets better mileage.

Of course there are several caveats to the plan –  such as your car must be no older the 25 years old, and it must get less than 18 mpg in fuel economy. But if you do qualify, the deal is pretty attractive: You get a credit (sorry, despite its name, no cash is provided) toward the trade-in value of your clunker for a new vehicle that gets four mpg ($3,500 credit) or 10 mpg ($4,500) better than your beast.

The program is funded by a $1 billion federal grant, and when it’s gone, so is the deal. That’s why many DogCar owners are wagging their tails. Because lots of us have been driving gas-guzzlers just to accommodate our canine crates and barriers. Now we can take a good look at what’s out there in the new car market and see what DogCars would fit those “Cash for Clunkers” guidelines.

Over on our sister site DogCars.com, reviewer Kim Campbell-Thornton just offered up a critique of the 2009 Mazda5, which she says “looks like a minivan that shrank in the wash.”

The Mazda5 gets up to 22/27 mpg in city/highway driving, which certainly is an improvement over the 12 mpg that old minivan in your driveway is getting. And the Mazda5’s price starts at just over $18,000 (although Kim tested the Grand Touring edition that sells for $23,425).

OK, it may be efficient and economical, but is it DogCar worthy? We’ll let you track the answer to that over on DogCars.com.

But here’s a hint: They don’t call it the Mazda5 for nothing.

Update 4: Click on the image to jump over to “Good Morning America” and view the segment:

.

Not really a surprise consider that we also run DogCars.com — thanks to Kim and Keith! — we have a more than passing interest in getting people to take their pets with them when they hit the road, and do it safely.

Seems everyone’s pretty interested in that now, especially car companies, who have figured out that pet-lovers are worth chasing. Point of fact: We caught Honda completely unaware in 2007 when we named their Element the first DogCars.com Best In Show DogCar of the Year.

Didn’t take them long to see the opportunity, though, and they’ve  recently released a special Element with a package of dog-friendly options. Toyota jumped on it, too, aiming the Venza at dog-lovers.

Toyota and Honda: You’re welcome!

It’s not just the car companies, though: The after-market accessory folks are hot on the trail of canine travelers, too.

Our Dr. Marty Becker broke  it all down this morning, with a “Good Morning America” segment on dog-friendly cars and all the latest in canine travel accessories. Check it out!

While some other automakers are grabbing all the headlines with their financial issues, Mazda has quietly been busy producing vehicles for drivers who like to hit the road with their beloved four-legged family members.

Recently, DogCars.com reviewer Kim Campbell-Thornton was given the opportunity to test drive two of Mazda’s newest models: The 2010 Mazda 3i and 2009 Mazda 6 Grand Touring editions. While neither of the sedans proved to be entirely dog friendly for large breeds or multiple dog families, they each sported similar qualities that gave Kim a reason to smile.

Mazda calls it “Zoom Zoom Zoom.”

Check out Kim’s insightful reviews on these two Mazda models — along with many others — on DogCars.com.

In an effort to keep the dog-loving world up to date with how today’s vehicles rate as potential canine carriers, the reviewers at our DogCars.com Web site have been busy testing some of today’s top automotive products with an eye toward how they meet the needs of our four-legged family members.

Most recently, we tested a trio of new Toyota models: the all-new Venza, redesigned RAV4 and the fourth generation 4Runner.

The Venza was introduced earlier this year as a true DogCar because Toyota is offering a host of accessories that are designed to keep your pups safe and comfortable while traveling in the crossover wagon. Popular pet products manufacturers Kurgo and Solvit have signed on to outfit the Venza with harnesses, booster seats, barriers and even a ramp that can all be ordered and installed through the dealer.

While the RAV4 and the 4Runner are veterans in the Toyota lineup, each has gone through a series of redesigns that make them better now than ever before for dog-loving travelers.

For complete reviews of these and many other vehicles from a dog-owner’s perspective, visit DogCars.com.

Today at the New York Auto Show, Honda introduced a new concept version of the dog-friendly Element that is designed to push the SUV ahead of the DogCar pack.

You’ll recall that the Element was named the 2007 DogCar of the Year by the expert reviewers at Pet Connection sister site DogCars.com, making it a trailblazer as the first vehicle to receive that honor. At the time, the news of the award caught the Honda marketing folks off-guard, forcing them to scramble out a new advertising campaign that focused on the highly lucrative pet products market rather than the twenty-something surfers and cyclists that they had been targeting.

Now we learn that Honda has not only embraced the Element’s DogCar attributes, but in fact is introducing a new version with a plethora of dog-friendly features, including a few that have never before been seen on the pet market.

Some of the standout dog-friendly features that have our tails wagging include:

• Extendable pet ramp that stores underneath the bed platform
• Pet restraint systems in the second row and cargo area
• Second-row seat covers
• Electric rear ventilation fan
• Spill-resistant water bowl
• Dog-friendly badge on vehicle’s exterior.

Of course, all of these are in addition to the Element’s already dog-friendly attributes such as an easy-to-clean urethane floor, wide and flat cargo area and wide-opening side doors.

In Honda’s press release announcing the new Element concept, the company not only mentioned the DogCars.com award, but also showed that it hasn’t lost its sense of humor even in these tough economic times.

“In an interesting turn of events, cars are now chasing dogs,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. “Factory integration of a cushioned pet bed, restraint systems and other components are intended to transform the Element into the ultimate dog car.”

While today’s announcement was just about the conceptual version of the dog-friendly Element, it is expected that the model will debut on the market this fall.

Guess you can say that the Honda folks have finally decided to embrace their inner dogma.