You love driving around with your dog or cat. They are just another member of the family. You don’t discriminate against their four legs. What could possibly go wrong when you are running errands or perhaps driving on the highway for a trip with your pet on board?
Actually quite a few things could go wrong if you are not using a pet booster car seat:
An overly excited pet may have trouble sitting still. They bump into you or perhaps jump on you, causing you to lose control of your car or turn the steering wheel just enough to slide into another vehicle’s lane.
A scared or nervous pet seeks comfort by jumping into your lap. Separated from the steering wheel, you lose control of your vehicle.
You are distracted by the destructive behavior of a pet in the back seat and an accident takes place before you can pull over.
These are just three of the things that can go wrong when you are traveling with a pet without a pet booster car seat. Just as you would never drive down the road without strapping a small child into a safe car seat, you should never go anywhere with your pet without strapping them safely into a booster car seat as well.
]]>
Using a pet booster car seat is for your own safety as it will block the pet from doing anything destructive while you are driving, but it also protects your pet. If you are in a car accident not caused by the pet, they have a higher chance of surviving uninjured just as your children have a higher chance of surviving uninjured when they ride in car seats.
The Comfort Factor
Many pets actually find booster car seats to be soothing or comforting. Small or young pets may feel out of control and fearful when placed in a large vehicle that moves quickly and turns corners sharply. If you have ever seen the way a puppy grabs onto the car seat and backs into the back of the seat when rounding a corner, you know that they do feel a bit off balance and out of control.
When you place them in a pet booster car seat you give them back some of the control. While they are prevented from moving their own bodies around, they are also not sliding around or being thrown of the seats. There is a sense of being controlled and safe when they are strapped into their booster car seat.
At the same time, you will feel a great sense of comfort or relief knowing your pet is secure and cannot bump into you or try to jump in y our lap while you are driving. You also know they are restrained from destructive behavior which can occur when a pet feels insecure and fearful.
Thinking Ahead
Securing a pet so they are safe during family road trips or just short jaunts around town takes a bit of thinking ahead. You need to find the appropriate style of seat for your pet and get a size that will fit them comfortably.
The most popular type of pet booster car seat is a firm cushion that holds the pet high enough to see out of the window comfortably. Select plain colors that are easy to wash and simple designs and you will find them quite affordable.
