Dog Seatbelt Safety as it Stands Today

In preparing for this week's news, I felt it was important to share the history of dog seatbelt safety. But during my research, I realized that we ARE the history of dog seatbelt safety. Buckling up your pup is so new that it seems history is being shaped, right now as you're reading this.

I heard a quote recently that I'd like to pass along here:

"What will you do with the power that is you?  -Jamie Kern Lima

 This quote stuck to me. It's a reminder that we all have the ability to spread goodness in this world, make it a better place. We can all make a difference, in little ways and big ones too.  

So here's to changing the world's view on dog seatbelt safety! It starts with you buckling up your pup in a certified seatbelt, spreading the message, and goes from there. 

And since we're shaping the history dog seatbelt safety, let's talk today about the products that aren't certified and why. You already know what's certified, so let's discuss the main issues with what's not certified, discontinue its use, and work to steer your dog loving friends and families forward in the right direction.

Thank you for being a leader, a pioneer and a role model for dog seatbelt safety!

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Do you remember high school science fairs, where you had to create your own experiment? Thank goodness Lindsey, the founder of Center for Pet Safety, paid really good attention in science class!

She is the beginning of dog seatbelt safety.

In 2011, her dog Maggie was buckled up riding in the car with her, when she suddenly had to brake and Maggie got injured. The seatbelt harness Maggie had on didn't protect her! Lindsey launched into action to figure out what went wrong. She worked with a research facility to test 12 dog car harnesses, and watched them allfail in the crash test. Can you imagine? From there, Center for Pet Safety (CPS) was born.

In a world where standardized test procedures for dog seatbelts didn't exist, Lindsey created one, based on the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 for Child Restraint Systems. She's a true advocate for dog safety, raising the bar for what's acceptable for our pets. Thanks to her work, dog parents can have peace of mind that if they buckle up their pup in a CPS certified seatbelt, their pups are in the safest gear possible.

Although CPS's test standards are not currently required by manufacturers, and isn't law (yet), several brands have worked with CPS to ensure their products meet quality guidelines, with 11 certified seatbelts to date. Beyond the certified seatbelts, there are countless more products with claims to keep pets safe. Although these inventions are created with the intent of doing good, 2 types of dog car safety restraints in particular can actually pose a greater danger than safety to your pup if there's a crash. These are tethers and booster seats.

First and seemingly most popular, tethers. Quick and easy, your dog is connected from the harness or collar to the seatbelt buckle. However, Center for Pet Safety has an advisory out against any standalone tether or seatbelt product with a tether. In a crash, if a tether is strong enough not to break, your dog is launched forward, then snapped back from the point of connection (back or neck), and all that pressure increases the risk of spinal damage and paralysis. These are the injuries which my dog Piper sustained when she didn't have any restraint at all, back in our car crash in 2017. So you know that saying, “something is better than nothing?” Tethers are a case where having something could be like have nothing at all. Such a high and unnecessary risk to take. Tethers may be tempting to use due to the simplicity of the device, but it's best to stay clear.

Next, for little pups who are too small for a certified harness, a booster seat is in fact adorable. In theory, it's an awesome idea, giving the pup some elevation and the ability to see out the window. It's like a car seat, right? Unfortunately, dogs are connected to the booster seat with a tether…and given the info on the dangers of tethers, booster seats are not ideal for protecting your pup in case of a crash. If there was a booster seat that secured dogs without the use of a tether, you could have a winner. One day, it might exist. Who knows, will you be the one to invent it?

When it comes to the non-certified harnesses, crates, kennels and carriers, these forms of dog car safety restraints are on point, but the quality needs improvement. Some of them might actually hold up in a fender bender, but some might not. It's a gray area, and you have to really dig into the research behind it. There have been stories of both, products that didn't hold up in a hard brake, vs. products that held up in a major crash. It's important to remember that there are several factors that come into play in a car accident, from side of impact, speed, number of vehicles involved, weather, etc. The thing is, you never know what the situation will be, and how tough you'll need the seatbelt to withstand. That's why it's important to have high standards such as Center for Pet Safety's, so you can trust the seatbelt your furbaby is in will give the highest protection possible if you ever need it to.

There's definitely lots to celebrate when it comes to dog seatbelt safety over the last decade (from no seatbelts to 11 certified ones now!), and still so much work to do. Laws and legislation in this area are fuzzy from state to state, but one day, buckling up dogs in certified seatbelts will be the norm, from the moment they are rescued to the transport home, and then on all the riding certified adventures to come. Dogs deserve the very best and with your advocacy, that day will absolutely be here! Can you see it? 

You and your pup are history in the making, right now.