Are you one of those pet owners who love to travel with your dog? I mean...they are a part of our family, so why shouldn't they hop aboard with the rest of us, right? If so, then you need to consider a Dog Safety Harness for your best friend! I'm sure you've heard of the 'Click it or Ticket' campaign for you and I, but did you know it's also a law for dogs in several states? Not only can you possibly be fined for not strapping your dog in but the following are even more reasons to think about.

• Reason 1 - Safety. Plain & simple. The same reason we are required by law to wear a seat belt - if in an accident (or just have to stop really quickly), this will help prevent your dog from flying forward as you hit the brakes or as someone else hits you! If you've ever been in an accident, you know it doesn't take much to be injured when shaken especially at high speeds. This would also prevent your dog from landing on someone else in the vehicle (such as a small child) and injuring that person as well.


• Reason 2 - Prevent Distraction. Just as we are distracted by our cellular phones and texting, our dogs can also be a huge distraction for us while driving. It's just smart and makes sense. Those of us with small children often are bewildered when we think about what it was like when we were younger - remember just climbing all over the car? Can you imagine if our children did this now? Of course not, because it would be a huge distraction!!! This rule (or law) should really be applied to our dogs too.


• Reason 3 - Accident Assistance. Just try to imagine for a minute what it would be like if you really were in an accident with your dog. More than likely your dog could be a bit confused & possibly in shock as to what just happened; he could be injured and would probably become very protective of you & other family members when approached by flashing lights of emergency vehicles and technicians. A Dog Safety Harness would keep him in place so the emergency responders could do their jobs quickly and safely.


• Reason 4 - Can't Jump Out. I know this sounds crazy because we all see dogs with their tongues hanging out of their mouths as they stick their heads out of the window but some do jump out! And unfortunately I know this from experience. It was a horrible moment (I felt like the World's Worst Dad) and after speaking to our animal clinic learned this occurs more frequently then what I realised! Luckily, my dog was not seriously injured but did walk away with some road rash and bruises. So watch out - this could happen to you if you don't restrain your dog from the urge of feeling like he's flying through the sky!

So whether you're planning a long trip halfway across the country or just running errands locally, think about using a Dog Safety Harness while in a vehicle. It doesn't take much for injury or even worse so why take the chance? Invest in a good quality Dog Safety Harness and keep your canine companion safe!