Crate Ratings

Q: You once wrote something about car seatbelts for dogs, and how they’re not all equal in terms of the protection they provide when there’s a wreck or abrupt stop or swerve. We’ve always crated our dog in the car. I’m wondering if there are safety ratings about crates? A: You ask at the right time, as this info is brand new. I had always thought that a crate, any crate, offers a high measure of protection during a crash, but it turns out I was way wrong. There’s a big difference from crate to crate. The Center for Pet Safety (CPS), a nonprofit research and advocacy group, released earlier this summer the results of its Carrier Crashworthiness Studies, which evaluated the effectiveness of pet crates and carriers in crash situations. It’s worth noting that CPS also did the crash-worthiness study of safety harnesses that received a lot of attention. That one, and this one, were funded in part by Subaru, which has made traveling with Fido a big part of some of its targeted marketing. There are no standardized tests in the U.S. relating to safety aspects of crates intended for vehicle travel - does the crate stay securely in place in a crash, does it fly apart at impact? Remember: you want to keep the dog contained in a bad situation not just for its own safety but for that of humans in the car who can suffer grave injuries when a 70-pound projectile flies through the car. So crash tests were conducted, using doggie dummies, to see if the carrier or crate would contain the dog before, during and after the crash, and whether the connection points stayed secure throughout. Most of the crates and carriers flunked. Sometimes the dog dummy was ejected from the carrier, sometimes the crate flew off the connection points. The top performer was Gunner Kennels G1 with tie down straps ($450 to $600, depending on size). It withstood the most significant forces and has a dual-locking mechanism that testers said provided an extra level of safety in an accident. The Pet Ego Forma Frame Jet Set Carrier and the Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed also got high marks. The whole complete report is on the Center for Pet Safety website. What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, driving and repairing your vehicle. Email Sharon@ctwfeatures.com.