Is your vehicle pet friendly?

Narration: Approximately 62% of households in the US have a pet, and about 17 million of theses pets will travel with the family on vacation this year. At the recent 2012 New York auto show, demonstrations were held on pet car safety.

Charlotte Reed: People love pets. They are part of the family. If you had a bad day at work they are always happy to see you. And now there are so many other developments that really make us happy that we can take our pets along wherever we go.

Safety is always first when traveling with your pet. You want to make sure he wears a body harness and that he’s placed in the backseat. If you stop short or have an accident there is a possibility that he could go through the windshield. A body harness is great because it spreads the crash forces out the body. You don’t want your pet in the front seat

Narrator: At the auto show, James Bell of General Motors gave a lecture on the dos and don’ts of driving with animals.

James Bell: The smartest move is to attach the dog through the latch system. This is in many cars today including all General Motors vehicles. And LATCH stands for Lower Anchor Tether for Children. It’s really a system that’s there for attaching a car seat but when you attach your dog through that through an approved harness, that’s when the dog is going to be the safest.

Buying a car should be a very rational decision, and that includes your dog. If you have a small dog, a small car might do. But if you have a larger dog, give Fido enough room. Look at a Chevrolet Traverse or an Equinox, both of these vehicles are Chevrolet’s most popular crossovers; giving a lot space for your family, a lot of space for your dog, and great fuel efficiency.

Narrator: Features like tinted windows, rear cooling systems and power lift gates will enhance the road trip for your furry friend.

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