We all know it’s not a great idea, regardless of how far you’re travelling, to let your dog sit on your lap while driving.
But recently, while researching offerings from dog day care services and walkers, I learnt some other not-so-great things about the quality of dog transport, especially in the eastern suburbs.
So before I kicked into ‘how can I make this all better’ mode, I made sure to have a look at the NSW laws around companion animals. This is what I learnt.
Your dog needs to be adequately restrained and cannot distract the driver (no front seat, no jumping from behind). You will receive fines and lose demerit points if the driver is distracted and loses control of the vehicle because of an animal.
You must ensure your dog is safely restrained in the tray/back of a ute. You might even receive a jail sentence if your dog is injured if you fail to restrain your dog.
If you want to nerd out some more, or need to have an arvo nap - check out the NSW Companion Animals Act.
So where does that leave walkers and dog vans?
many dog walking vans or collection vans let dogs sit on the passenger seat unrestrained, and in the back of the van, unrestrained
a friend had an Apple Airtag on her pup, and it tracked him being in the van for over two hours as they picked up and dropped off other dogs as far away as Marrickville (they are from Bondi)
dogs who have never met before are being placed in hot, cramped conditions with sometimes more than 10 other dogs - this is a stressful and potentially dangerous environment
if an accident occurs, the driver is wearing a seatbelt, but the dogs certainly are not
With all of this in mind, we secure your dog in the van. We have dog seat belts, connected to the structure of the van, and a range of body harnesses to fit every dog.
We ensure they are secured for every trip. Our van also boasts air conditioning for summer and underlay and rubber flooring, to ensure no slips and maximum comfort.
We have a portable ramp for older dogs, and play classical music, becuase, believe it or not, it calms the dogs down!
We have crates that can be secured to the base of the van, if your dog travels more comfortably that way, and we can also transport your dog separately and work on car-based fear with training.
We have a small dog and large dog divider, and for puppies, a secure seat at the base of the passenger seat (with belt). Puppy can see the driver, but not contact.
We would love to talk to you about your car’s safety for your dog, or how we can make car trips easier for your dog (and you)! Get in contact to discuss your options.
