Tips for Transporting Your Pets in a Car Safely and Humanely

If you need to bring any pets along for the ride, you’ll want to do everything possible to keep your furry friends safe. Taking the right precautions can also make the transporting experience easier and more enjoyable for you and your pets. Here are four tips that can help you ensure that all your pets are transported in your vehicle in a safe and humane way.

Restrain Pets Safely

Unrestrained pets that are left free to roam around the inside of a vehicle can pose safety hazards and cause more distractions for you while driving. You’ll want to restrain your pets in the safest way possible, and you can do this by choosing a restraining method that limits their movements without being too confining. Pet carriers that allow pets to see and breathe easily often work well for cats and small dogs. There are also zipline harnesses and harness seatbelts that may be good options.

Be Mindful of Food and Hydration

Making sure that your pets are well-fed and receive adequate hydration will be especially important when taking long road trips. It’s generally best to feed a pet a light meal three to four hours before you take them for a ride so that they’re satiated. Trying to feed a pet while on the road could cause them to develop an upset stomach and leave a mess inside the vehicle. You’ll also want to bring along some bottled water from home so that you won’t have to give your pet water that comes from a different location than what your pet is used to, as this may cause your pet to become sick. A vinyl car mat inside your vehicle can make cleanup easier if your pets end up leaving a mess because of food or water that made them sick.

Disable Power Windows

Most vehicles nowadays are equipped with power windows that open in close by pushing a button or flipping a switch. As convenient as these power windows are, they could pose safety hazards if any of your pets accidentally open one while you’re driving and jumps out of the vehicle. Even if pets are restrained, they could still break free from the restraints and accidentally open a power window. As a safety precaution, it’s best to turn your power windows off while transporting pets.

Don’t Leave Pets Unattended for Long Periods

Just like with children, leaving your pets alone inside your vehicle can put their health and safety at risk. The temperatures inside of vehicles can rise quickly to dangerously high levels on hot days, and leaving pets inside a vehicle increases their chances of developing heat stroke and other potentially fatal health problems. If you need to leave your pets alone inside your vehicle on a hot day for a short period (10 minutes or less), you’ll want to crack some of your windows to provide more air. Leaving your pets alone inside a vehicle on a cold day can also be dangerous.

It’s possible to transport all your pets safely and humanely if the right precautions are taken. Planning your road trip in advance with your pets’ safety in mind can help you all get to your destination unscathed.