pet connection

In Germany, land of the no-speed limit autobahn, drivers are required to keep pets restrained while in the car. While Americans are required to let infants and toddlers ride in appropriate car seats, we have no regulations for pet restraints. Nonetheless, anyone who places a premium on safety needs to understand that unrestrained pets can become projectile missiles during a car accident.

Of course, at certain speeds and types of collisions, nothing will save any occupant. So the idea becomes:  What is the safest reasonable way for you to protect your pet?

According to the ADAC (sort of a German equivalent to AAA), the worst one is what most Americans use: a harness a dog wears that attaches to the seat belt. Unfortunately, one carabineer clip is not going to hold a dog in a 65-mph collision:

A comparative study of various pet restraint systems shows that good pet securing systems are available starting under €30.00. The decisive factor is where and how these systems are installed in the vehicle. At an impact speed of 50kph (31 mph) and using a 22kg (48.5 lb) dog dummy and a 4kg (8.5 lb) cat dummy, most of the systems failed. The only convincing and safe solution is using a pet carrier which is secured in the correct position. The test revealed that the safest place to put pet carriers is the floor behind the driver’s or front passenger’s seats or alternatively the boot.

How often do you go over 31 mph? I drive faster than that every time I drive. If you do too, their summary recommends a system with two ties rather than one.

The most flawed were dog restraint systems consisting of a harness with tie-in(s) to the vehicle belt or belt buckle. The system with only one tie-in is the weakest and cannot restrain the 22kg (48.5 lb) dog dummy. The carabineer connector breaks and the pet dummy crashes into the front seat backrest causing a deformation over 30cm (11 inches) deep.
…
Very stable harnesses can reduce the occupants’ injury risk provided they come with large belts with metal attachments and two tie-ins.

Their conclusion for the safest method:

Comparing the pet restraint systems, we found that a large dog can be safely secured and danger prevented for the occupants only by using a large carrier installed in the boot (trunk) and a stable partition grille.

Here is the ADAC report, if you want to read the whole thing.

If you use crates, the safest approach is to tether them to the car.

If you have a friend who is not convinced that their dog and cat needs to be restrained and you want to scare the crap out of them or scare some common sense into them (or you need a little convincing yourself) check out these ADAC videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYms1d6oyz8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpA798rXSc0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdai01PKVYY&feature=related
(it would help if you speak German, but you can understand the intent)

“Buckle up for safety” applies to all your occupants, furry and otherwise.

Image: Loose dog in truck. Illegal in some places, dangerous and irresponsible in all.

My friend Bob, the ultramarathoner who is so kind as to take my retrievers with him on his training runs a couple times a week, finally read the writing on the (auto mechanic’s shop) wall: His ancient VW bus was at the end of the road. It has been in and out of the shop for a couple of years, and finally refused to pass the smog check.

This morning he pulled up in his new car, a 2006 Honda Element. And yes, it’s all my fault.  I love the Element, and we named it the 2007 DogCars.com Best In Show DogCar of the Year. Since I got my first one to review and raved about it, I can count three friends who bought one, and about 20 readers.

Honda, you’re welcome.

Another heads-up to the latest review on DogCars.com …

Kia, the Korean automaker that is becoming a rapidly rising star in the automotive world, is introducing its first-ever big sport utility vehicle at a time when all eyes are turned toward the volatile fuel prices and faltering economy.

So how do the Kia executives justify the launch of a mid-size SUV into a retreating market? Value.

The Borrego is an SUV that is packed with extras and gets the best fuel economy of its class at a price that has typically reserved for mid-size and economy sedans.

Plus, it has all bases covered to make dog owners sit up and take notice.

For all the dog-eyed details, check out our review on DogCars.com. It’s there with a full list of vehicle reviews from a dog-lover’s perspective.

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Subaru shares the love with the ASPCA

If you’ve been considering purchasing a Subaru but have been waiting for just the right time, now may be your moment.

That’s because this holiday season the folks at Subaru are running a special program in which the Japanese automaker will donate $250 to charity for every Forester, Outback or other Subaru purchased or leased between now and Jan. 2.

Called the “Subaru Share the Love Event,” the program allows new Subaru customers to select one of five charities, including the ASPCA (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), to receive a $250 donation from Subaru. The program is expected to generate up to $5 million for charities during its five-week duration.

We have reviews of Subarus over on DogCars.com, of course.

According to the ASPCA website, Subaru’s program has the potential to provide even more support to the organization.

Since there’s no limit to the amount that Subaru is willing to donate, car buyers can help the ASPCA receive upwards of a million dollars (or more) in donations to help in our efforts to fight animal cruelty. The more vehicles that are sold, and the more people who choose the ASPCA, the higher the donation amount.

For more information, visit the ASPCA web site or Subaru.com.

(Keith Turner is editor of the PetConnection’s DogCars.com, which reviews vehicles for their “dog-friendly” qualities and offers reviews of pet-travel products, too.)

The folks at Honda sure know how to please a pack of DogCar drivers who are hungry for a vehicle with enough space and utility to tackle their daily pet projects.

First the automaker gave us the Honda Element, which made history by winning “Best of Show” honors in the first-ever DogCar of the Year announcement. The Element is so decidedly DogCar friendly that the Honda Marketeers decided to roll out some funny canine commercials to promote the boxy SUV’s appeal to those who love to travel with their pups.

Now Honda is upping the ante with the launch of the redesigned Honda Pilot, a mid-sized sport utility vehicle that — like the Element — fills many of the specific requirements to make it a decent DogCar:

• Seats that fold flat or are easily removable.
• Lots of usable cargo space relative to the size of the vehicle.
• Wide, square backs, with as little rear slope as possible, to maximize usable cargo space.
• Door and window locks, so a pet can’t accidentally unlock a door or roll down a window.
• All-wheel or four-wheel drive and high ground clearance for field training trips.

How many DogCar paws does the Pilot rank? Check out the full review here and reviews of many other potential DogCars here.

In this new day of desire to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, the term “flex fuel” is often tossed out as alternative to traditional gas-guzzling vehicles. A Flexible Fuel Vehicle has the ability to run on Ethanol, or E85, as well as gasoline.

That’s why the name of the 2009 Ford Flex is so confusing. People automatically think that this new model from Detroit runs on some new-age technology that offers an alternative to conventional fuel.

Alas, it does not. Ford named this boxy new model the “Flex” to highlight the vehicle’s flexibility for cargo (and canine) carrying.

Here’s how the Ford press folks put it:

“Surprising space and comfort, upscale details and features, and clever flexibility combine to give Flex a contemporary interior environment under the available multi-panel Vista Roof.”

Fortunately for dog lovers — especially for those who like to travel safely with their pups — that open interior space and cargo flexibility add up to a decidedly decent DogCar.

Read the full review of the 2009 Ford Flex and many other models at DogCars.com.