Animal Safety & Comfort are Pet Projects for GMC Acadia

The GMC Acadia prevailed over two dozen other entries vying for the award.SAN DIEGO, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ — The very attributes that make the GMC Acadia crossover one of the most comfortable and safest vehicles for people have been recognized by leading pet safety advocate Bark Buckle UP, which recently gave Acadia its Pet Safe Choice Award for 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il5A3veguX0The GMC Acadia prevailed over two dozen other entries vying for the award. Acadia features GM’s OnStar safety and security technology that includes emergency services and hands-free navigation; standard third-row bench seating for restraining pets and ample room behind the seats for pet crates; tinted windows, tri-zone climate controls and a large, power-operated sunshade for comfort; and top federal and insurance industry scores for crashworthiness.In addition, Acadia enjoys best-in-class fuel economy for owners who take their pets along for the ride, with an EPA-estimated 24 mpg highway for front-wheel-drive models.Sixty-three percent (or 71.1 million households) own a pet, according to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association, and devoted owners spent more than $43 billion on pet products and services in 2008.”Many of our customers treat their pets like members of the family, and Acadia provides the pet-friendly safety and comfort features they are looking for,” said Cheryl Catton, executive director of advertising and promotion for Buick, Pontiac & GMC. Catton accepted the Bark Buckle UP award at the recent Chicago Auto Show, where dogs from the American Kennel Club S.T.A.R. program and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office helped demonstrate the importance of restraining pets in vehicles.”Not only does the Acadia provide first-class transport for our customers’ pets, it is filled with safety and security features that enhance pet safety — including technology such as OnStar, which can direct owners to the nearest veterinary clinic in the event of an on-road emergency,” said Catton. “In addition, GM has been a leader in urging that pets be restrained in vehicles and not be left unattended in parked vehicles.”"With so many pet owners traveling with their pets today, safety is key — not just for pets, but for humans who travel with them — to making a conscientious purchase,” according to Christina Selter, a pet safety expert and founder of Bark Buckle UP. “We believe the GMC Acadia has earned high marks in this area for its outstanding leadership in car design and function.”Selter said more pets are on the move than ever, with an estimated 300-percent jump in car travel from 2005. Unfortunately, statistics from the Traffic Safety Evaluation Guide show that 98 percent of pets ride unstrained, she said.The laws of physics mean that in a 35-mph crash, a 60-pound pet can cause an impact equivalent to 2,700 pounds, injuring itself and human occupants in the vehicle. In addition, an injured pet that is unrestrained can escape from a wrecked car, biting first responders or causing another collision.For more information on the GMC Acadia, visit www.gmc.com. To learn more about other Bark Buckle UP 2009 winners, visit www.barkbuckleup.com.General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), one of the world’s largest automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 244,500 people in every major region of the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries. In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.SOURCE General Motors CorporationWebsite: http://media.gm.comWebsite: http://www.gm.comWebsite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il5A3veguX0Website: http://www.gmc.comWebsite: http://www.barkbuckleup.comContact: Debbie Frakes, Director, Buick, Pontiac and GMC Communications, 313-667-2579, debbie.frakes@gm.comMedia Bark Buckle UP, 619-239-BARK (2275) bark@barkbuckleup.com

Pet Safety in Cars

March 3, 2009 written by: Jil McIntosh in Canadian Driver  

Oshawa, Ontario – We’ve all seen them: dogs happily sitting on a front passenger’s lap, wandering back and forth in the back seat, or with their heads hanging out the window. But just as we’ve learned the importance of securing children into a car, it’s time to start buckling up our pets.

Sitting up front, a dog can risk fatal injury from an airbag, even in a minor collision. In the rear, it could be thrown with enough force to seriously injure human passengers. And if the collision is severe enough to require first responders, an unsecured pet could attack the firefighter or paramedic who’s trying to save you, or run into traffic once a door is opened.

“We suggest avoiding the front seat, because of the airbags and the distraction, as we tend to reach over and pay attention to them,” said Christina Selter of Bark Buckle UP, a pet safety advocacy group based in San Diego, California.

“It’s safer to be in the back seat, or further back in an SUV or station wagon, with a travel harness that works with tethers or the human safety belt. They can sit down or move around, but they can’t fall off the seat, and they can’t get out of the vehicle. For cats and smaller dogs, they should be in a carrier that’s secured with tie-downs, because if you just sit that on the seat, it’ll fly through the car.”

Selter cites a chilling statistic: in a collision of just 56 km/h (35 mph), an unsecured dog that weighs 27 kg (60 lbs) will launch with a force of 1,224 kg (2,700 lbs). “If it hits you in the back of the neck, it would break your neck, or be launched through the windshield,” she said.

If a front airbag deploys when you have a pet on your lap, the airbag will almost certainly kill the animal. Not only that, but Selter said that the force of the bag – which deploys at around 321 km/h (200 mph) – will push the pet into your abdomen, possibly causing human internal injuries. And pet injuries don’t necessarily have to be from a collision. Just slamming on the brakes can tumble an animal off the seat, which could result in broken limbs or lacerations. A pet that gets behind the pedals can prevent you from fully applying the brakes, even as it suffers injuries from being jammed between the pedal and the floor. And it’s not unusual for a dog to be so interested in something outside the car that he jumps out through an open window.

Should your pet survive a collision, it’s not going to be inexpensive to deal with any injuries. Dr. Steve Snider, of Callbeck Animal Hospital in Oshawa, Ontario, estimates that it could easily be $1,500 to $2,000 for your vet to treat a serious fracture. “That’s a lot of money for something that’s easily prevented,” he said. “Vets see all different types of trauma – spinal fractures, broken bones, contusions of various organs like the liver, and abdominal injuries. Whatever they hit could cause crushing trauma, lacerations and fractures.”

An unrestrained pet could also make it difficult for you to obtain first aid, if the collision is serious enough. “An animal can be very protective of its owner, and may want to bite a first responder,” said Stephan Powell, District Chief of Toronto Fire Services. “In the rare instance where an animal won’t let someone in, we’d have to wait for police or animal services. It definitely makes everything more difficult. An accident scene is never pleasant, and it’s another complication in an already complicated process.”

Powell said that it’s very common for pets to dart out of a vehicle when the door is opened, and first responders may not even be aware there’s an animal in the car, especially if it’s cowering under the seat. Should the dog or cat run into traffic, it risks being hit by a car, or drivers swerving to avoid it and possibly causing another collision. And even if someone can grab the dog’s collar, the pet is still an issue. “Someone has to hold onto this animal, and it will use one more of our personnel that could be helping you or someone else in the accident,” Powell said. “If we have to tie up one person just to hold an animal, that means one person who isn’t disconnecting the battery, or not applying first aid to one of your passengers, or it may mean we’re requiring (someone else) to come out and help. We may be able to rely on a police officer or EMS, but now that’s removing them from what they’re doing.” If the dog is safely tethered in the car, Powell said, it isn’t necessary to assign someone to hold it.

Most pet stores sell several varieties of tethers. A trip to PetSmart revealed travel harnesses from $30 to $40, carrier tethers for $30, and seat leashes from $20 to $23. All of them secure the animal to the human safety belt. Snider warned that seat leashes must never be attached to a collar, which could cause choking. They must be used only with a harness, and it shouldn’t be a light-duty model that’s meant for walking the dog. “I would use the harnesses made for that purpose,” he said. “They have the correct, really wide straps that even out the pressure in case of an accident, to avoid internal injuries.”

Many people use pet barriers, but Selter doesn’t recommend a barrier that isn’t specifically made for the vehicle. These model-specific barriers are usually available at dealerships. While she said that Bark Buckle UP hasn’t tested every “one-size-fits-all” on the market, the group has examined many of them and has yet to find one that holds properly. “You can push on most barriers and pop them out with just the strength of your hands,” she said. “Velcro or suction cups won’t hold a 60-pound dog.” Some aftermarket barriers require that you strap them to the assist handles over the rear doors, but Selter warns that these handles haven’t been tested to hold the force that would be exerted in a collision. And even if the dog is behind a barrier, tethering to a harness is still essential. “The barrier keeps him from flying through the car, but a firefighter may open that hatch in a collision,” she said. “They jump out and run, and that’s when they get hit by another car.”

The best advice, the experts say, is to always consider the worst-case scenario when preparing your pet for a car ride. If you absolutely must put your dog in the back of a pickup truck – not an ideal situation in any case – then make sure he’s tethered, and snugly enough that he can’t jump over the side and be dragged. If you put a pet carrier in the back of your SUV, secure it to the cargo tie-downs so it can’t be thrown around in a collision.

As the weather gets warmer, remember that pets can suffer hyperthermia quickly, and it isn’t enough to leave the windows down slightly. A study by McMaster University, funded by GM of Canada, found that within 20 minutes, the temperature of a previously air-conditioned small car on a 35C day (95F) exceeded 50C (122F) within 20 minutes, and soared to 65.5C (150F) within 40 minutes. Leaving the window slightly open did little to prevent the car reaching a dangerous temperature. Even an outside temperature of 20C can result in a vehicle becoming hot enough to injure or kill a pet. And if you do leave the windows open, Snider warned that a dog could bite if a well-meaning passerby reaches in to pet it. “A lot of dogs inside any confined area become extremely aggressive,” he said. “They have this territorial issue that comes over. People can reach in the window and get bitten. They may be totally sweet dogs outside the car, but they turn into Cujo because they’re stressed. And some dogs have separation anxiety. If a dog is left alone, some of them will tear the car apart. I’ve had clients where the dog’s chewed a hole in the seat.”

The experts concur: when it comes to cars, pets should be treated like children, properly secured and never left alone. If your pet must come with you, plan both for his safety, and for yours. And if it’s at all possible, the safest thing is to leave him at home.

For more information, visit Bark Buckle UP or http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/03/03/feature-pet-safety-in-cars.htm?page=all
Jil McIntosh is a freelance writer, a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) and Assistant Editor for CanadianDriver.com

Chicago Auto Show Pet Safe Winners Bark Buckle UP GMC Acadia takes TOP DOG

Who Let The Dogs Out
Chicago Auto Show Goes to the Dogs

Chicago IL, February 12, 2009 – so you’re saying Who Let the Dogs Out, isn’t the Kennel Club Show next week in Chicago? The Chicago Auto Show has truly gone to the dogs with Bark Buckle UP being featured for the second year, today announced the Pet Safe Choice Award Winners.

With more then a dozen graduate dogs from the American Kennel Club S.T.A.R. puppies hopping in and out of cars, stealing the show, special first responder guests Kane County Sheriff Patrick Perez and Fire Chief John Schuldt, distinctive executives Christina Selter Pet Safety Expert-Bark Buckle UP, Cheryl Catton Executive Director of Advertising & Promotion, Buick, Pontiac & GMC, Robert Allegrini Vice President Communications, The Americas Hilton Hotels Corporation and Judi Gorman Manager Sales Promotions & Community Relations, American Airlines. The competition was colossal this year, nearing two-dozen auto manufactures registered and only ONE to take TOP DOG.

So Who Won? 2009 Bark Buckle UP Pet Safe Awards Winners:
Pet Safe Vehicle of Choice GMC Acadia
Pet Safe Hotel of Choice Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Pet Safe Airline of Choice American Airlines
Pet Safe Retailer of Choice PetSmart

Bark Buckle UP the recognized leader and experts for pet travel safety announced today the Pet Safe Vehicle, Hotel, Airline, and Retailer of Choice 2009. The Pet Safe Awards are earned by premium products and services each year and are tested and selected by judges including first responders, pet experts, safety and travel experts.

Millions of Americans love pets. Bark Buckle UP, the organization dedicated to pet travel safety, the leader in pet safety education and travels the country to work closely with first responders, safety experts and pet industry leaders. Bark Buckle UP was created to educate the public that pet safety is connected to human safety.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states, “Wearing your seat belt costs you nothing, but the cost for not wearing one certainly will.” Durring the summer of 2008, Bark Buckle UP met with the NHTSA Occupant Safety Division was then featured at the International Police Chiefs Association Occupant Safety Conference to discuss the necessity to secure pets during travel. Not just for our pets’ safety, but the passenger, driver and our first responders. Bark Buckle UP travels the nation teaching pet safety, tests products and is creating the safety standard regulations. Pet and human safety is connected.

In a car crash, an unrestrained pet can be seriously injured, but that pet can also injure human passengers or first responders such as firemen. Equally dangerous is the fact that an unrestrained, injured pet can escape from a wrecked car and cause another collision or bite.

In a 30 MPH accident a 60-pound pet can cause an impact of 2,700 pound
Pet travel has increased 300% since 2005, 82% of dogs travel in the car and on vacation
98% of dogs travel unrestrained in a moving vehicle. (Traffic Safety Evaluation Guide)
63% of US households – 71.1 million homes – have a pet. (APPMA)
50% of dog owners consider pet travel needs when selecting a vehicle. (APPMA)

ABOUT: Bark Buckle UP is the recognized innovative leader and experts in pet travel safety. Bark Buckle UP is touring educating and promoting awareness for pet safety while traveling with our pets and is distributing ONE million FREE pet safety kits throughout the USA and Canada in 2009. National safety statistics conclude the number of pets traveling in vehicles is now at an all-time high. Most animals’ travel unrestrained, the corresponding risk to vehicle occupants, pets and first responders called to an accident site is of growing concern. Because more pets now travel with their owners there is a genuine risk. For first responders called to render aid – the challenge of securing a frightened or injured animal before treating victims can be of equal concern. It only takes a few minutes to safeguard your pet’s safety by buckling them up. Accidents do happen, and you owe it to your pet to protect them against possible injury. Unleashing this life saving message through Bark Buckle UP will increase the number of pets traveling safely and will save lives. When driving 35 mph, a 60-pound unrestrained dog can cause an impact of 2,700 pounds, slamming into a car seat, windshield, or passenger.

ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT ADVOCATES IMPROVED PET SAFETY IN VEHICLE

ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT ADVOCATES IMPROVED PET SAFETY IN VEHICLES:
Bark Buckle UP Recommends Better Pet Safeguards
The Message is “Buckle UP Your Pet and Save Lives”
SANTA ANA, Calif., (November 12, 2008) – According to national safety statistics the number of pets traveling in vehicles is now at an all-time high. Because most animals travel unrestrained, the corresponding risk to vehicle occupants, pets and first responders called to an accident site is of growing concern. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department today hosted regional public service agencies, animal control specialists and pet travel safety expert Christina Selter to draw attention to a growing safety concerns.
“Our responsibility as first responders is to promptly answer any vehicle accident and coordinate required medical needs and traffic control. The Sheriff’s Department joins with other first response agencies in sharing the concerns over unrestrained pets traveling in vehicles. Any time lost in the caring of accident victims because of the need to deal with a frightened or injured animal can and should be avoided,” said Jim Amormino, Public Information Officer Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Bark Buckle UP, leader for pet travel safety, and the OCSD convened a media outreach at OCSD’s Training Facility in Orange, today. The event focused on the problem of unrestrained animals traveling in moving vehicles and offered a variety of available pet safety solutions capable of safeguarding animals, owners and others should an accident occur.
Because more pets now travel with their owners there is a genuine risk to vehicle occupants and others should an accident occur. For first responders called to render aid – the challenge of securing a frightened or injured animal before treating victims can be of equal concern. The OCSD is taking a lead position by recommending that pet owners use safety products designed to safeguard their animal and others at all times.
Bark Buckle UP encourages consumer use of pet safety equipment and invites public service agencies to help track animal involved accident data by contributing to Bark Buckle UP Stat Tracker, a data collection system hosted by www.BarkBuckleUP.com. Stat Tracker gathers pet safety statistics for the purpose of better informing others of the need for safer pet transportation. “Bark Buckle UP works closely with first responders across America and many see the need for better animal-involved accident data statistics.
Today’s event and the department’s effort to better understand how to prevent an animal from contributing to an accident is worthy of praise,” said Bark Buckle UP founder, Christina Selter.
Also participating in the media safety briefing were representatives from the Chief Dominguez California Highway Patrol, Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion Orange County Fire Authority, Sergeant Rick Martinez of Anaheim PD and Ryan Drabek Orange County Animal Care. According to CHP accident report data there were over 300 pet involved traffic incidents in California in 2007, four of these involved fatalities.
In her remarks, Christina Selter acknowledged that public action and the voluntary use of pet safety equipment is the immediate answer to a problem that appears to be well understood by first response professionals. “My mission is to alert responsible behavior on the part of the pet owner. Their animal cannot ask to be protected. The loving pet owner should safeguard their pet and by doing so protect themselves and others – including those called to render assistance at an accident site. If we can buckle-UP ourselves, why not our pet?” she said.
Selter also reviewed an array of safety equipment designed for in-vehicle use and for other travel applications. She noted, “Many car makers now see value in offering pet safety products through their retailers and support Bark Buckle UP efforts.”
As further rationale for the need to buckle-UP pets in vehicles, Selter advised:
• Pet travel has increased 300% since 2005 (APPMA)
• Delay access to human occupants
• Injured pet may bite
• Pet may escape through a window or door and cause a second accident
• Driver distraction
• 98% of dogs travel unrestrained in a moving vehicle (Traffic Safety Reports)
• Pet escapes vehicle, other driver danger and danger to catch the loose pet
• 63% of US households have a pet (APPMA)
• 60-pound pet in a 35 mph accident becomes a 2700 pound projectile
APPMA: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association
Contacts:
Orange County Sheriff Department
Damon Micalizzi, Public & Community Relations Officer
dmicalizzi@ocsd.org
714 647 4511
Bark Buckle UP
Bark@BarkBuckleUP.com
619 239 2275
###

Come Ride the waves with Bark Buckle UP

San Diego, Ca, January 6, 2009 – “Come Ride the waves with Bark Buckle UP,” California’s only media pet safe vehicle ride & drive, will take place on opening day at noon from the Kids section at the San Diego Boat Show.
Tons of boats on display. Don’t have a dog, we will have tons of fake ones? During the Pet Life Vest giveaway you can learn about the issues related to unrestrained animals in water craft and during travels and vacations and how to properly secure pets by using available pet safety products…capable of safeguarding animals, owners and others should an accident occur.
Each winner will receive a FREE doggie life vest.
Be Smart Ride SafeTM

Bring a picture of your pet to the display will receive One Free Pet Travel or Safety Gear product while supplies last. The giveaway retail value is more then 6000 dollars in prizes.

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