The pet car seats you have at the ready to take your dogs out and about are not going to help in a low-speed crash. Never good news, especially before a series of busy holidays.
Pet safety is something all dog lovers expect of any product they buy. We buy food, toys, treats, and equipment, assuming they are tested for safe use and won’t hurt or kill our pets. But did you know consumer laws do not cover pet products?
For the majority of pet products, manufacturers can make a product and sell it on the internet, with no quality standards to meet, no safety testing, no liability insurance and they are doing nothing illegal.
Pet Car Seats, A Short Detour
Since we have established and improved safety standards in car seats for children over time, let’s hope we’re not getting taken for the same ride through history in the pet car seat safety space as children’s travel safety had. Is it just me, or do these look familiar:
The Yes and No of Pet Safety Developments
Most products are in a pet safety legislation-free zone. I say most because in 2013’s Food Safety Modernization Act, the FDA imposed new rules on the pet food industry: they must now (?!) follow current good manufacturing practices, and analyze the potential food safety hazards of their products.
I’m always happy for progress, but given the current push by grocers to use out-of-date yogurt and other expired food items in pet foods, the pet food industry may next be adding nutrients to pet food that include the plastic packaging. How is plastic not hazardous to health? A little progress, more “whack-a-mole”?
The state of pet product safety is in the hands of each manufacturer. They know that is cause for scrutiny via independent testing, and while it may at first be a source of unease to some, what better way to position your brand as consumers top choice?
Manufacturers need to get ahead of this freight train and get their products tested by Center for Pet Safety to correct any problems. Several have, and are working toward certification. So many more need to get started. The testing failure rate has been astonishing and deeply concerning.
The Pilot study tested 4 popular brands:
- Pupsaver
- Snoozer Lookout I Car Seat (Medium)
- PetsMart Top Paw Booster Seat (Private Label Solve-It)
- Kurgo Skybox Booster Seat
Have you had safety problems with pet products? Have you reported them? Please share in the comments. Lindsey Wolko, Founder & CEO, Center for Pet Safety, also talks about how to report incidents and information is also available on the CPS website. Join us for the interview!
(Historical Photos: Petrolicious)
Many thanks to 4Knines for sponsoring this podcast!
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