AUTOMOBLOG IN-DEPTH: THE SCIENCE OF PET SAFETY
Nothing can compare to the warm welcome that I receive when I visit my family from our German Shepherd. Jack welcomes me with a warm and energetic greeting when I enter the house. He rushes up, pushing past my mother and brother. Turbo, the family cat of 15 years, is not far behind.
I’ll spend my entire time at home with these two attached to me.
Man’s best friend
In a study conducted last year, it was found that a dog’s heart beats in sync to its owner. WebMD states that pet owners have lower blood pressure and stronger immune systems. They also enjoy a more active dating life. It’s one thing to keep our pets safe at home, but how about when we travel? How can we keep our pets safe? What happens if our pet is involved in an accident? Can we do anything?
The Critical Moments
Lindsey Wolko discovered in 2004 that not all pet products live up to their claims. Wolko had to find a way to travel with Maggie after saving her from abuse. She bought a seat belt for Maggie in a pet shop, thinking it was the right decision. Wolko, with Maggie in the harness, had to brake to avoid an accident in Virginia on Interstate 66 a few months later.
Wolko remembered, “All I can remember is Maggie screaming.” The safety harness didn’t protect her.
Maggie’s rear legs were wrapped around the harness tether by the sudden braking. Even worse, she was thrown forward and hit the back of her front seat. The harness failed to hold her in place. Maggie recovered over time but Wolko was inspired by the experience to create the Center for Pet Safety. This is a research and advocacy group dedicated to pet safety. She found that as the organization grew most pet products did not meet any performance criteria.
Wolko: “I learned about how unregulated the industry is.” One of the most common questions pet owners ask is whether the products they purchase will save their pets if there’s a car crash.
Lindsey Wolko with MGA Research Corporation (right) during crash tests of a pet harness. Photo: Center for Pet Safety.
Uniform Standards
The Center for Pet Safety started crash testing pet safety devices in 2011. Additional tests were conducted in 2013 and 2015 by the Center for Pet Safety. In 2011, a certification program for harnesses and crates was established. A pet seat pilot study in 2015 followed. MGA Research Corporation’s crash testing and certification programs are voluntary. The products that pass are awarded a rating and a special packaging seal.
Wolko stated, “We are looking for manufacturers who have a clear understanding of our mission and the work we do to help consumers.” Once we have the funding, “ideally, we would offer something similar to what Insurance Institute for Highway Safety offers and test it in mass.”
The Center for Pet Safety has published the results from their controlled tests, including videos and data analysis. According to the 2013 Harness Study Testing, Sleepypod Clickit utility was true to its claims. Sleepypod Clickit Utility held the dog on the seat and restrained during each controlled launch. Some products did not fare as well. In one video, a dog is launched from the seat and then quickly snapped back into place by the harness. Slow motion video shows a test dog hitting its head against the seat. One harness failed so badly that the dog was thrown so far from the camera during the controlled launch. One harness even breaks apart entirely.
Wolko stated that “we have seen products break right before the manufacturer’s very eyes.” I’ve advised hundreds of brands that if their products are not tested to a standard they will never know if the product is going to work.
The Center for Pet Safety and MGA Research Corporation conduct crash tests on a pet seat. You can see the right upper corner of this photo. One piece of the harness is flying in the air after snapping off. Just behind the dog’s ear, you can see the rip on the black strap. Photo: Center for Pet Safety.
Care & Concern
Addison Edmonds bought his dog Gunner while he was in college. Edmonds, who looked forward to hunting trips with Gunner, was constantly bothered by his best friend when they traveled together.
Edmonds remembered, “I never felt comfortable with him in any of the crates available on the market.” “The only thing that I could find was an injection-molded plastic crate, which was, to use a more appropriate word, junk.”
Edmonds’ final straw was when Gunner, who was inside the crate, rolled in his truck.
Edmonds went on to say, “He is an amazing dog. I told myself someone needs to create the best dog cage available.” “Part of being best is being safest. So I thought about it for quite a while.”
Edmonds sold his advertising company and returned to Nashville, Tennessee. Gunner Kennels is a company that makes kennels for pets and other accessories. Edmonds put his all into it. Edmonds is going to hear from customers how Gunner products saved their dogs’ lives, but it wasn’t an easy road.
Edmonds explained that he wanted to do some crash testing as soon as the first model was made. “I looked online to see how crash tests with dummy dog worked.
Gunner Kennels in crash tests with MGA Research Corporation and the Center for Pet Safety. Photo: Center for Pet Safety.
Trial & Error
Edmonds found the Center for Pet Safety in Virginia and met with Wolko, MGA Research Corporation and Wolko. Initial tests revealed that the original design had a high failure rate: the door would open on impact, and the tie-down ends used to strap the kennel were bent out of position.
Edmonds explained, “I was surprised to find that the design wasn’t perfect. I went back to the drawing boards and enlisted the help of a few engineers.”
Second round testing went a little better, as the tie down points held. The frame was changed, but the door still had problems. In the crash tests, the dummy was repeatedly shown flying towards the kennel and hitting it. This is where the failure occurred. Edmonds was utterly appalled by this.
He recalled, “The door would just burst open.” I had to come up with a solution to keep the door closed. It was time to start again.
Edmonds, encouraged by his family and friends, was determined to make sure that the kennel was perfect. Edmonds continued to work on the engineering, designing new safety latches and strengthening the hinges. Each rivet was given extra attention and stainless steel replaced the aluminum. Final tests proved that the modifications were successful, as the door held in place. Edmonds had MGA Research Corporation test a machine that weighed 4,000 pounds. threshold.
Edmonds stated, “We broke their machine.”
Wolko said, “That thing is solid.” The tooling required to make the Gunner kennels is astounding.
Gunner Kennels’ G1 Intermediate travel crate is currently the only one to receive a 5-Star Crash Test rating from the Center for Pet Safety. Gunner-branded kennels are mainly used to house sporting dogs. However, the company has recently received requests for smaller kennels. Edmonds has been contacted by law enforcement and military branches.
He said, “I knew there was a market for it but I did not know that it would be so fast.” “These are some of the best-trained dogs in the entire world, and they have been carried in cheap crates for years.”
Gunner Kennels during rigorous crash testing. Photo: Center for Pet Safety.
Advice & Tips
Lauren Witt, an automotive product expert based in Detroit metro area, is a specialist of automotive products. She represents automakers in a number of events and trade shows throughout the United States. Heavy travel is common for Witt who also has two dogs; Capone, a six-and-a-half-year-old Pug and Karma, a two-and-a-half-year-old Labrador mix. She recommends that pet owners choose the best option for their pets, whether it is a harness or crate.
Witt explained that every pet in the car is different, so you should find out what method works for them.
Pets will adjust better to travel if you do little things like bring a blanket they love to put inside the crate. According to Witt, patience is key.
She said that pets are very sensitive to their owners’ emotions, and they don’t need anything else to make them anxious on their trip.
The Center for Pet Safety provides general travel tips for pet owners. The top recommendations include ensuring that vaccinations are up-to-date, packing a kit of first aid, and having extra food and drink. To avoid distractions, consumers should choose a harness that doesn’t have a tether. Both animal and automotive experts are in agreement that distractions should be limited.
Witt stated that pets in vehicles can be a distraction, and we are all aware of the dangers associated with distracted driving. “Not only do you put yourself and others on the road in danger, but also your pets,” Witt added.
Wolko suggests using the new pet safety device for a few shorter trips, and then increasing the length of the trip. It will give pets time to get used to the new device, whether it’s a harness or crate. Use a happy voice to reassure your pet and always put them in the backseat.
The discerning eye
This information may be too much for some pet owners who are concerned about their pets’ safety. According to the Center for Pet Safety’s testing, the purchase of a typical harness or crate does not guarantee that pets will be protected in an accident. Wolko hopes that her work will raise public awareness about pet safety products and encourage manufacturers to test and further study their designs.
She said that research and knowledge-sharing is important.
Pet safety products are being sold today with little or no oversight. It is important that consumers do their homework. The Center for Pet Safety warns that just because something says it has been crash-tested, doesn’t mean it was. The Center for Pet Safety warns that a product designed to protect pets cannot pass even the most rigorous crash tests if they are compared with products developed for humans. The Center for Pet Safety wants consumers to know that many manufacturers of pet safety products do not make their test results public. Pet owners should always keep an eye on the product they choose.
Edmonds advised: “Do your homework.” “Our pets are family members, and they need to be properly restrained in a car just like our children.”
Witt said: “I once read a quote and I’m not sure who said it, but whoever said that diamonds were a girl’s closest friend never owned a pet dog.” I couldn’t have agreed more.
Carl Anthony is a mechanical engineer at Wayne State University. He also serves on the board of directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation and is an avid Detroit Lions fan. He worked in both product development and experiential advertising roles within the automotive industry before returning to school.