Travelling Safely with Pets

With so many Australians regarding their pet as a much-loved family member, it is common place for pets to partake in auto adventures.

However, how many of these pets are safely secured while travelling? It’s not unusual to see a dog hanging outside a car window barking, or standing unsecured in the back of a ute – both of which are extremely unsafe practises for not only the dog, but the driver and surrounding cars.

Supercheap Auto wants motorists to make pet travel safety a priority, and take the time to ensure their four-legged friend is safe, secure and entertained during car travel. 

As the RSPCA regularly treats dogs injured as a result of unsafe pet travel practises, it is vitally important to ensure your pet is harnessed securely.

According to RSPCA Queensland spokesperson, Mr Michael Beatty, “the most common injuries for dogs during car travel involve falling off the back of utes or placing their head outside a car window”.

“In addition, an un-harnessed dog can be very distracting while driving, with many accidents caused as a result of an excitable pet in the car”, continued Mr Beatty.

For these reasons, Supercheap Auto introduced pet travel line, which caters mostly for dogs, and includes safety harnesses, window grilles, water bottles, non-spill water bowls, toys, litter bags, folding pet beds, front and rear seat protectors, a well as a pet transporter, which is also suitable for cats.  

As with children, pets must never be left unattended in a vehicle, regardless of how quickly you expect to return, how much water has been provided, or whether the windows are down.  Temperatures can change dramatically in mere minutes inside a car, proving potentially fatal.