Volvo Continuing Its Campaign for Pet Travel Safety

Seatbelts protect millions of people every day, but what about the pets we take along for the ride? It only takes a few minutes to safeguard your pet. For the second year, from June through September, select Volvo dealers will be hosting Pet Safety Days to promote awareness of pet travel safety.

In the event of a crash, an unrestrained pet becomes a projectile. Your Volvo is one of the safest vehicles on the road, but its safety equipment cannot protect you or your pet when the animal is not buckled in. Currently, many states required pets to be restrained while traveling in your vehicle. Restrained pets are less likely to be injured in a crash, distract the driver or jump out of the vehicle.

While keeping your pet safely secured in your vehicle is remarkably easy, the fact is that fewer than two percent of American pets are restrained while traveling. Volvo’s goal for Pet Safety Days is to create awareness of the necessity of seatbelts for dogs. Volvo is partnering with Bark Buckle UP founded by Christina Selter, a pet travel safety expert. Christina has been featured nationwide on television and radio and in news articles promoting her mission of pet safety. She has also appeared at international auto shows and pet expos and has made guest speaking engagements to get out her message. Christina will be participating in many of the Volvo Pet Safety Days events during the summer.

If you’re a pet owner, you may want to visit your participating Volvo dealer to pick up a Bark Buckle UP Pet Safety Kit. These kits will be offered free starting June 1 and include an emergency pet card and safety decal. This is where you can list important contact information to help emergency workers provide proper care for your pet that is traveling with you or may be home.

“Volvo believes this campaign to educate and inform consumers as to what can happen to pets after an accident will save lives,” states Doug Speck, President & CEO, Volvo Cars of North America. “This secondary, after-the-accident issue makes perfect sense. We all understand the obvious logic unrestrained pets pose, but we just never think about what can happen after an accident.” Volvo’s relationship is one of helping Bark Buckle UP get its message to people. “Volvo builds safety and Bark Buckle UP is safety,” said Christina Selter.

“Now is the time to educate consumers about the importance of pet safety restraints,” said Daniel Johnston, Product Communications, Volvo Cars of North America. “Summer is almost here, and, with many travelers wary of flight delays, families will bring their children – and their pets – to destinations accessible by car. Few people understand how dangerous traveling with an unrestrained pet can be. That’s why Volvo has partnered with Bark Buckle UP to support Pet Safety Days and provide the tools travelers need to keep all family members safe.”

With all of Volvo’s emphasis on safety, it’s not surprising that Bark Buckle UP chose the Volvo XC90 as the Pet SAFE vehicle of choice in this country. Here are a couple of events in June that you may want to note: June is Auto Safety Month, and June 20 is Bring Your Pet to Work Day. This is a good time to focus on traveling as safely as possible with your furry friend.