Taking pets on a trip? How to keep them safe in tow

Center for Pet Safety finds best products to restrain pets in car

SAN ANTONIO – With summer underway, and fall and the winter holidays right around the corner, you may be planning a trip with family pets included. But before you hit the road, you’ll want to consider a few safety measures before bringing along your furry friends.

Many people don’t realize that unrestrained pets may cause serious injury to passengers and the pets themselves.

“During a crash, or if you slam on the brakes, pets can act as projectiles if they are not secured. And they can also distract drivers from keeping their eyes on the road,” said Jen Stockburger, Consumer Reports’ auto expert.

The market is full of pet restraining products, everything from harnesses to carriers. However, many labeled “crash tested” are only based on manufacturers’ claims.

The Center for Pet Safety, along with Subaru, conducted tests in 2015. They tested harnesses, crates for bigger dogs and carriers for small dogs and cats. They concluded among the top performing pet restraints are the Sleepypod Air Carrier for about $160, the Gunner Kennels G1 intermediate Crate for $500 and the Sleepypod Clickit Sport, which runs about $70-$80.

"You want peace of mind, because you never know when that crash is going to happen,” said Lindsey Wolko, founder of the Center for Pet Safety.

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About the Author:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.