How do you secure your pets in your vehicle ?

Lea_Ontario · Mar 7, 2009

We won't have seatbelts or UAS anchors to use to secure the dogs in our new van. We want to have both dogs in the very back, behind the 3rd row seats.

Even the cargo hooks aren't HOOKS, but little plasticy circle things.

Any suggestions ?

Pixels · Mar 7, 2009

What about an unused top tether anchor point for the third row? Sometimes you just have to do the best you can. The cargo hooks would be better than nothing. You could get one of those divider gates.

Kyras_Mama · Mar 7, 2009

I wouldn't go with a divider gate unless you can get one that's actually made by your manufacturer and bolts into the vehicle's frame. The ones that just pressure fit can just become one more flying hazard as they won't take the weight of your dogs hitting them and stay put.

ETA: We use ruffrider dog harnesses and seatbelt our dogs in but I would think that the ruffrider harnesses and then attaching them to your cargo hooks would be better than nothing.

Lea_Ontario · Mar 7, 2009

pixels99 said:
What about an unused top tether anchor point for the third row? Sometimes you just have to do the best you can. The cargo hooks would be better than nothing. You could get one of those divider gates.

I don't have an unused top tether anchor point, or I would use it.

rodentranger · Mar 7, 2009

We use the Pet Buckle harness and I attach them either to the tether anchors for the 3rd row or the cargo hooks. I took an unused LATCH strap off a crashed FPSVD and hook it between two TAs so the weight isn't all on one.

Patriot201 · Mar 8, 2009

I use a PetBuckle and seatbelt for my dog, but that won't help you much.

Lea_Ontario · Mar 8, 2009

rodentranger said:
We use the Pet Buckle harness and I attach them either to the tether anchors for the 3rd row or the cargo hooks. I took an unused LATCH strap off a crashed FPSVD and hook it between two TAs so the weight isn't all on one.

I do NOT have an unused tether anchor, or hook style cargo hooks.

keri1292 · Mar 8, 2009

Kashi said:
I do NOT have an unused tether anchor, or hook style cargo hooks.

I was just going to post the above in ALL CAPS!

What minivan is it? How is the rear bench set up? 60/40? I think I would take an unused LATCH strap and wrap it around the seatleg of the unused 40 part of the 60/40 split seat in the back row and attach it to the Ruff Rider harness. It's obviously not ideal and I don't know if you could get both dogs buckled there. What size are your dogs? We'll have the same problem if/when we have a 4th child. No room for the pooch.

Right now he rides shotgun because most rides it's just me and the kids. When dh is coming, I have to move the carseats around to accomodate the dog in the 3rd row.

Lea_Ontario · Mar 8, 2009

keri1292 said:
I was just going to post the above in ALL CAPS!

What minivan is it? How is the rear bench set up? 60/40? I think I would take an unused LATCH strap and wrap it around the seatleg of the unused 40 part of the 60/40 split seat in the back row and attach it to the Ruff Rider harness. It's obviously not ideal and I don't know if you could get both dogs buckled there. What size are your dogs? We'll have the same problem if/when we have a 4th child. No room for the pooch. Right now he rides shotgun because most rides it's just me and the kids. When dh is coming, I have to move the carseats around to accomodate the dog in the 3rd row.

Thank you !

It's a 2005 Kia Sedona. 50/50 split bench in the back.

Pugsley is a 22-lb pug/beagle mix.
Bo is a 55-lb shep/collie mix.

keri1292 · Mar 8, 2009

Kashi said:
Thank you !

It's a 2005 Kia Sedona. 50/50 split bench in the back.

Pugsley is a 22-lb pug/beagle mix.
Bo is a 55-lb shep/collie mix.

What is your setup in the 3rd row? I'm assuming you'll have one kid back there as you have just one anchor? I think that I'd wire crate the Puggie and rig

the LATCH strap as stated. I remembered your van set up post, so I think in your case I'd LATCH the big dog to the left seatleg away from the child. Will there be someone riding in the 3rd row with that child or do you just prefer the dog in the back? If it's just preference, you could also buckle the 3rd row drivers side outboard seatbelt and attach the tether through the seat bight. Maybe?

Wineaux · Mar 8, 2009

Velcro and duct tape?

Lea_Ontario · Mar 9, 2009

Wineaux said:
Velcro and duct tape?

Very tempting !! :ROTFLMAO:

Boo will be in the 3rd row, outboard passenger side. Nobody else (due to not wanting a RF seat back there, and there not being any more tethers).

I don't feel comfortable with a dog sitting beside him all the time. It would likely be okay if it were Bo, but Pugs and Boo don't mesh so well. Hard to explain - I don't think either of the dogs or Boo would be in danger if one of the dogs was beside Boo, but I don't like it.

I'll likely try to connect something in the back, I guess.

Stretchy Glue · Mar 9, 2009

I do have a barrier in my Envoy. I know it won't stop them, but it will slow things down a little. If I only have 1 dog, I use a wire crate. I prefer the plastic crates that are airline approved, but I need a crate with a side door for my truck. My dogs are never loose in the car. In DH's truck, they ride in plastic airline approved crates, that are strapped into the bed.

Morganthe · Mar 9, 2009

Kashi said:
Boo will be in the 3rd row, outboard passenger side. Nobody else (due to not wanting a RF seat back there, and there not being any more tethers).

I don't feel comfortable with a dog sitting beside him all the time. It would likely be okay if it were Bo,
but Pugs and Boo don't mesh so well. Hard to explain - I don't think either of the dogs or Boo would be in danger if one of the dogs was beside Boo, but I don't like it.

Perhaps one dog crated in the far back and the other to a seat leg bracket? Both dogs inside a crate together? Or one along side crated & a crate in the back?
I understand perfectly why you don't want your dog(s) & child alone all the way back there. Crating would protect everyone. Could always put a towel over to keep fingers where fingers belong.
I don't know if it's possible seeing their sizes, but those are the suggestion I can think of..

The way I look at it (a bit harshly, perhaps) --securing the dogs are not really to prevent any harm to them during an accident, but to keep them from flying around hitting people & windows. Along with the major desire to keep them INSIDE the vehicle if a door/hatch pops open or a 'rescuer' opens the door to the outside. I'd say that more dogs are hit or injured after the accidents from running loose than during the collision.

The safest thing for the pets is to remain inside vehicle and secure anyone from their distress where they might fear bite/attack.

good luck. Wish I could help more.

Starlight · Mar 11, 2009

awww!!! Congrats, Kashi!

Victorious4 · Mar 12, 2009

I was faced with a similar situation with 2 dogs

I opted to loop the handle/strap of the Ruff Rider Roadie harness around the leg of any seat that made sense, securing with a 200 lb. locking carabiner as recommended by the manufacturer . . . the point being not to eliminate the dogs' risk, but to reduce the risk of injury to my family.... I gave the dogs each a bone to chew & they were happy enough

Lea_Ontario · Mar 12, 2009

Starlight said:
awww!!! Congrats, Kashi!

Thanks.

canadiangie · Mar 12, 2009

Holy Smokes Kashi! I just noticed your siggie, man that was fast. I think I remember you saying you guys were thinking about adding to the B list like a few mos ago, and poof! you're preggo already. Huge congrats to you, and way to go on the Sedona. I've always quite liked the look of them, and the price is fantastic. :thumbsup:

Starlight · Mar 12, 2009

Was I the only one who noticed? Seriously?

(p.s MSK is the one who alerted me. Baby! Squeee!)

Lea_Ontario · Mar 13, 2009

Starlight said:
Was I the only one who noticed? Seriously?

(p.s MSK is the one who alerted me. Baby! Squeee!)

Nope - HoneyHas3 sent me a message as well. But it does seem to be taking a while.

How do you secure your pets in your vehicle ?

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