In Australia, we love our pets. Visit any Australian household and there is a pretty good chance you’ll find a dog, a cat, or both…and they are considered as much a part of the family as human children. Australian pet owners invest a significant amount of time, money and energy into giving their fur babies a loving and safe home environment. Pets often accompany their owners in vehicles when they are out and about, and therefore, the safety of pets in vehicles is paramount. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 clearly states that pets must adequately restrained when travelling inside a vehicle for both their own safety and that of human drivers and passengers. During an accident, unrestrained pets could be thrown around a vehicle and can cause major injuries. Let’s elaborate further on how to restrain pets in your vehicle.
If your dog or cat is relatively small in size, they should ideally be kept inside an enclosed pet container, cage or carrier when traveling in a vehicle. Dogs should be kept either on the backseat in a restraining device or in the open cargo area of a wagon type vehicle behind a cargo barrier. Pets should never be kept on drivers’ laps as they can easily cause distraction to the driver and lead to an accident. Additionally, an unrestrained pet can cost drivers a hefty fine. Smaller animals can be placed in pet booster seats or pet baskets within the vehicle. For bigger dogs traveling in a vehicle, a safety harness secured to the seat belt is the best way to ensure their safety. Hammock seat covers and front seat barriers should also be included if your pet is seated in the rear of your vehicle.
If your dog is traveling in a Ute, trailer or wagon, they should be securely restrained via a strong tether or a cage with adequate breathing space to stop them from jumping or falling out of the moving vehicle. Like humans, pets are also prone to a heat stroke which could ultimately be fatal. Therefore, it is important that your vehicle has adequate ventilation and is equipped with ways to provide a cool environment for pets when driving in hot weather. Cages should ideally be made of rubber or plastic material as they are less likely to cause heat-related injury to pets. Over the years we have seen a lot of pet owners who have landed themselves in legal trouble for leaving their pets in a parked vehicle without any ventilation or shade on a hot day. So, do not leave your pet in an unattended vehicle.
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