All dog safety belts failed safety test!

[Sharonmarlow]

Hi all:

It's been awhile since I was on this board but I saw this link on facebook today and wanted to share it because of the discussions we've been having here about the safest way to transport our furbabies. I know a lot of you use doggie booster seats and harnesses. I thought it would be helpful to share this news report - it's graphic but important to share:

ConsumerWatch: Tests On Dog Harnesses Show 100 Percent Failure Rate CBS San Francisco

[ironmike86]

They didn't say what harnesses were tested. Until I see that then it really doesn't do me any good.

[brezofleur]

This article only talks about harnesses...what does that mean? Just a harness attached to the seatbelt? Harnesses attached to a booster seat? Maybe I read over that part.

However, according to the CPS' website, it looks like it was just a harness attached to a seatbelt:

The Science of Pet Safety, Center for Pet Safety, Pet Safety Testing, Pet Product Testing, Crash Testing, Scientific Testing, Criteria, Pet Safety Advocate

Because they did not release the harness names, and IMO did not properly tighten the lead (from harness to seatbelt) I have to say that I'm going to wait and see the next test.

[ironmike86]

Yup. And were they $9 cheap nylon harnesses or Buddy Belts?? Need to know the accuracy of the test. Are they gonna certify cheap harnesses and make them cost more?? Need to know more about the tests.

[KazzyK810]

I'd like to know exactly what was used....or the results lack real value.

While I've not been in an accident with a dog in the car...I have had a few close calls, where I've had to swerve and/or slam on my brakes HARD to avoid an accident....like this evening.

After a long day at work, I didn't feel like making dinner to I grabbed ZoE & drove into Flintown to get Halo Burger. On the way home, rush hour traffic & BOOM...accident. I swerved to avoid becoming a part of it and then slammed on my breaks to avoid a car coming from the other direction that had driven into my lane to avoid the accident himself. If ZoE hadn't been fastened in the back, she would have easily come flying into the front. A 3 car crash that thankfully didn't include us...and all those involved were ok...although the cars looked a mess!

I'm so glad that ZoE was buckled in & buckled in the backseat. I bought a new car 7-8 weeks ago and one of the features I was looking for when shopping for it, was a passenger airbag that shut off if light-weights were in the seat, so that ZoE could ride up front (She'd always ridden in the back of my previous car, a Ford Mustang, because it didn't have this feature). I tried putting ZoE upfront in my new car, a Cadillac CTS, for one ride into town and didn't like it at all! She seemed too high up in her carseat, and way too close to the windshield, so back into the backseat she went. I'm so glad she was safely buckled in the back tonight.

[Lil Sis]

I totally disagree with this finding....did they test all restraints? If the results are true why will they not tell the results.. the products they tested? Just doen't seam valid to me.

and... I use the pawrider by Choke*free (yes I sell them too.. because I really like the product) and I think it is very safe...tested to be safe



PawRider Pet Seat Belt Adapter

[yorkietalkjilly]

What's the point of doing the test if they don't bother to let us know exactly what brands to avoid? Can only wonder why they even ran the article with no more information than that and why they couldn't have gotten names. I'm glad Tibbe is in his hard-shell airline carrier seat-belted in when we go anywhere.

[Sharonmarlow]

The harnesses tested were four of the top safety harnesses on the market. (looking at one of the images, I think one was a ruffrider because I recognize the orange straps). Here's another report on that story with more information:

Do dog seatbelts keep your pet safer? - Video on TODAY.com

For me, a proper crash tested dog crate is the only way to go. I purchased my variocage a month ago and my dogs are really happy and (hopefully) safe in it. The company I posted about was having a sale on the small ones - here's the link again if anyone is interested:

Variocage U.S. - Mim Variocage Dog Crate, Variocage Car Crash Safety Crate

[Sharonmarlow]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

What's the point of doing the test if they don't bother to let us know exactly what brands to avoid? Can only wonder why they even ran the article with no more information than that and why they couldn't have gotten names. I'm glad Tibbe is in his hard-shell airline carrier seat-belted in when we go anywhere.

They say the reason they don't give the names of the companies is:
1) the companies were not violating any safety laws - ironically- because there aren't any!
2) they don't want to discourage people from not restraining their dogs AT ALL in the car. While the seatbelts might not actually do anything to save a dog in the event of an accident, they can at least prevent an accident from occurring caused by the pet distracting the driver.

[Sharonmarlow]

Originally Posted by Lil Sis

I totally disagree with this finding....did they test all restraints? If the results are true why will they not tell the results.. the products they tested? Just doen't seam valid to me.

and... I use the pawrider by Choke*free (yes I sell them too.. because I really like the product) and I think it is very safe...tested to be safe



PawRider Pet Seat Belt Adapter

Who tested it and under what standards?

[ironmike86]

Originally Posted by Sharonmarlow

The harnesses tested were four of the top safety harnesses on the market. (looking at one of the images, I think one was a ruffrider because I recognize the orange straps). Here's another report on that story with more information:

So were can we find what is rated the top safety harnesses on the market? I've never seen safety ratings on dog Harnesses?
There would be a safety rating if there was such a thing. Just like my personal harness
http://www.fallprotectionusa.com/DBI...x_harness.html

[appasquel]

Wow that is so wrong, I have Cachito in a buster sit, but I think that after seing his I am going to make some changes myself. This is the buster sit I have Cachito: Amazon.com: Solvit Tagalong Pet Booster Seat,... This one is a box that gets tied up to the sit and have a belt that attached to the dog walking harness, if someone has a sudgestion how to make it safer please help!!!!!!

[appasquel]

Thank you for sharing this information, I use a buster sit with a walking harness attached to it, after seeing this report i intend to make some changes to it myself to make it work better, maybe put a little crate inside the buster sit and put Cachito inside it. This is the buster sit if someone has an idea to make it safer please share. Amazon.com: Solvit Tagalong Pet Booster Seat,...

[appasquel]

Thank you for sharing this information, I use a buster sit with a walking harness attached to it, after seeing this report i intend to make some changes to it myself to make it work better, maybe put a little crate inside the buster sit and put Cachito inside it. This is the buster sit if someone has an idea to make it safer please share.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Sharonmarlow

They say the reason they don't give the names of the companies is:
1) the companies were not violating any safety laws - ironically- because there aren't any!
2) they don't want to discourage people from not restraining their dogs AT ALL in the car. While the seatbelts might not actually do anything to save a dog in the event of an accident, they can at least prevent an accident from occurring caused by the pet distracting the driver.

That last reason for calling it a "safety harness" is misleading. One would tend to automatically think anything called a "safety harness" would keep our dogs from flying around in the car as our seatbelts do. Instead, they are "safe" only because they restrain the dog? That's not much safety help in a violent collision.

Golly, a hardshell carrier seatbelted in place restrains the dog from distracting a driver, keeps it safe from the airbag - AND keeps doggie from flying around inside the car during a sudden stop or collision.