Tips to Make Sure Your Dog Stays Safe in the Car When Traveling

  1. Dogs shouldn’t roam in the car. The safest way for your dog to travel in the car is in a crate that has been anchored to the vehicle using a seatbelt or other secure means. Dog restraints or seat belts are useful for preventing your dog from roaming around the car and being a distraction to the driver, but they haven’t been reliably shown to protect dogs during a crash.
  2. Leave the front seat for humans and keep your pet in the back seat of the car. If an airbag deploys while your pet is in the passenger seat (even in a crate), it might injure your pet.
  3. Keep those heads inside! Dogs and cats should always be kept safely inside the car. Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or made sick by having cold air forced into their lungs. Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck.
  4. Give your pet plenty of rest stops and stop frequently to allow your pet to exercise and eliminate. But never permit your pet to leave the car without a collar, ID tag and leash.
  5. Don’t ever leave your pet alone in a car.
  6. Use crash-tested crates. Crates are the best option to ensure your dog’s safety when traveling, especially in your car.
  7. Turn off power windows.