Keeping Pets From Becoming Disabled

Fellow author Christina Selter is a pet safety expert and founder of Bark Buckle UP, a pet restraint manufacturer and advocate for pet travel safety. With its slogan "Be Smart, Ride Safe™," Bark Buckle UP tours the US and Canada, educating people about and promoting awareness of pet safety while traveling with pets.

National safety statistics conclude the number of pets traveling in vehicles is at an all-time high. Most of these animals travel unrestrained, and the corresponding risk to other vehicle occupants, to the pets themselves and to first responders called to an accident scene is of growing concern. Especially with the latter, there is a genuine risk: For first responders called to render aid, the challenge of securing a frightened or injured animal before treating victims can be of immediate concern.

Just as with people, it only takes a few minutes to safeguard your pet’s safety by buckling them up. Accidents do happen, and you owe it to your pet to protect them against possible injury. Christina hopes that unleashing this lifesaving message through Bark Buckle UP will increase the number of pets traveling safely, and will save both human and animal lives.

When riding in a vehicle traveling at 35 mph, a 60-pound, unrestrained dog can cause an impact force of 2,700 pounds, slamming into a car seat, windshield or another passenger. Even if the animal survives, it can impede the progress of rescue workers who need every moment possible to safely care for human accident victims.

This very real danger is acknowledged by many states and provinces, which now require pet restraints in moving vehicles, since they offer several proven advantages. In the event of a collision, they help protect

• pets
  
• other occupants from being struck by the pet
• first responders from frightened or injured pets who might be aggressive due to fear

Even without the specter of an accident, pet restraints are just a good idea because they:

• keep pets from running loose and distracting the driver
  
• prevent pets from escaping the vehicle through an open window or door
• keep pets from being injured through extending any of their body parts outside the vehicle
  

Bark Buckle UP has a Stat-Tracker program that collects and stores valuable, in-depth statistics about pet safety. The data and hard facts collected on an ongoing basis are compiled and used in improving pet safety laws.

Christina is often featured as a Pet Travel Safety Advocate at international auto shows, pet expos, on TV and radio. She's also quoted in news articles and appears at guest speaking engagements nationwide. She works closely with Fire and Police personnel who support her safety program. If you'd like her to speak at one of your events, you can reach her at 949-361-BARK (2275).