Summer time naturally means that you and your loved ones should pack up your bags and get out the door. Whether this means going away for the day to the beach, heading up to the mountains for the weekend or getting in your car and driving across country, traveling is a nice way to take a break from everyday life. However, for those of us who have pets, we are often hesitant in leaving them out of our sites for more than a few days. The stress of having to call our neighbor to feed the dog or cat every day can be high, especially if you worry that they will forget after the second day to even stop by. Renting out a kennel can become super expensive, and the idea of having your animal kept in a cage for over a week sends chills down your spine. So, what then can you resort to? Take your animal along for the ride, of course! Traveling with your animals can be a fun time for you and the family, especially if you have young kids. In order to be extra prepared for the bumpy road ahead, and the long hours in the car, here are a few tips to take into consideration when traveling with your furry friends.

The first step to take into account is that you want to have them properly restrained when you travel. While it always looks fun to have your animal prancing across the back seat of the car or truck, when it comes to safety that is not always the best idea. Depending on the state you live in, there are actually laws that forbid motorists from having an animal even riding in their lap, such as a small dog or a cat. In the state of New Jersey, they actually have made it a law that animals wear seatbelts. Investing in a restraint for your animal is crucial, especially for long distance traveling. Just as you would never want your child to be without a seatbelt in the event of an accident, the same goes for your animal.

There are a number of different restraints that can be used, and which one you choose will largely depend on the type of dog you have and their side. Having your pet unrestrained can result in severe injuries for your animal. These may include broken bones, injured lungs, and other severe trauma injuries if they are thrown from their seats in an accident. Also, many animals enjoy the fresh outdoor air, and if the windows are open you risk the possibility of them jumping out of the window of the moving vehicle, which can result in the above listed injuries and even death.

Particularly for animals that are under the weight of 25 pounds, having a proper restraint made for their size is crucial to their safety. Doggie seatbelts are easily transferable between cars and are simple to install, and can see your pets life deign your travels. This allows your animal to also enjoy the car ride as opposed to driving in the back of the truck in a crate or other sort of confining area. Another aspect of restraining your animal on car rides is to protect yourself as the driver. Driver distractions can result in tragic car accidents, and as cute as your pet maybe, if they decide to jump on your back while driving or they bump the steering wheel, this can harm not only the animal itself but also the passengers in your vehicle.

Make sure before getting on the road you take your pet to visit their veterinarian, please use our website to find one near you!