Tips From PETlane(TM) for 'Transporting Important Pets Safely'

Car Safety Tips for Pets for National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, April

SAN FRANCISCO, March 23 -- Lane Nemeth, founder of PETlane(TM), urges pet-owners to understand important pet transportation safety information. Nemeth's TIPS (Transporting Important Pets Safely) coincide with National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, April, which underscores that being prepared for an emergency is as important for the protection of your pets as for your family!

America's number one animal advocate, PETlane(TM) was successfully launched in June 2003 by Nemeth, the founder of Discovery Toys. PETlane(TM) is an educational home-based business committed to the advancement of the pet-loving community through educational in-home Pet PAWties, local fundraising benefits and distinct products exclusively designed to enhance the lives of our companion animals.

Traveling safely with pets is one of the most important messages Nemeth can offer to pet-owners. While children are always strapped properly into car and booster seats, pets are rarely given the same safety measures. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, driver distraction contributes to 20-30% percent of all motor vehicle crashes, about 1.2 million per year.

The protection of pets is as important for them as for the passengers in the car with whom they are traveling. Crash testing has proven that a pet's weight is multiplied by 30 in a 30-mph crash. For example, a small 10-pound dog would generate over 300 pounds of force, which, if impacting an individual, would be strong enough to cause severe injury or possibly death to other occupants in the vehicle, not to mention the pet.

While major crashes can kill animals, minor accidents can cause harm as well -- scared animals can jump out of broken windows or open doors into oncoming traffic.

Therefore, it is critical for everyone's safety to always confine pets while traveling, either in crates or via pet safety harnesses attached to a car's seat-belt system. Harnesses are available throughout the country in various sizes, including via PETlane(TM) (www.petlane.com).