You are very welcome JKPal, I just want our babies to be safe! I know that the are no regulations on the Pet Safety Industry in the United States (not sure about Canada) so companies can pretty much make whatever claims they like about the safety of their products.
And I've tried so hard to educate my favorite online retailer about how unsafe the products that are selling are. My e mails are ignored and all I got in my review of the Snoozer was that they make "no claims as to safety, the Snoozer is designed as a distraction prevention device" and that the fact that the Snoozer tether I had purchased broke was not important because the "harness makes the dog safe" (how can a harness keep a dog safe if the tether is broken that connects the harness to the seatbelt?)---Despite this, I just got an e mail a few days ago urging me to buy their products to "keep my dog safe". I know that they have a business to run and bills to pay, but I want us all to be informed so that we can make the best decisions for our babies.
If having something that is designed for distraction prevention (rather than pet safety) is ok for us, then we can make that decision based on that information. For some pet parents a dog freaking out in an enclosed carrier is worse than the risk posed by a car seat. And that is totally their decision. But they have the right to have the actual facts in hand in order to make that decision.
I am hopeful though, because some companies like Sleepypod are working with the Center for Pet Safety to improve their products so that they pass the stringent tests that the Center does. Most of us remember the days when car seats were not required for children. My mother remembers her friends telling her that she was cruel putting my brother in one, in fact. And today they are regulated and mandatory.
I'm hopeful that one day our pets' safety will at least be ensured by regulations that require companies to be truthful and that not-for-profits like the Center will continue working with companies to improve their products so that we have safe options for our canine kids.
Ok, enough of my rant for this morning! Thank you all for listening and big hugs to all of your beloved Yorkies and other kids
