Did We Ever Resolve the Faulty Seat Belt Issue? Let's work on this again

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

A few months ago, there was a discussion which voiced concerns about most canine seat belts were not meant to be used / were not made for, dogs over 40lbs. 

Dog Car Seat Failure

Twice I have had to stop suddenly and Spud came forward.  He was completely free and roaming around the van.  So, WTD?  How did that happen?   

Here is what happened to the buckle that snaps into the actual seat belt attachment.

 

This bothers me so much, I was thinking of going to a junk yard, cutting off the attachment with about 3 feet of strap and taking it to a seamstress to reinforce a new setup for me.   What do you think of this idea?

Any other ideas that have come up since then?   Any other products?  With the manufacturing of today, I think making my own would work better.  Nothing but Junk to be purchased out there that would cost more money only to have this happen again.  Or worse, my dog becomes injured or even ejected from the car. This is also a simple safety feature we rely on so he does not bolt for that squirrel in the parking lot or the jogger...etc. Really, he needs to be strapped into the seat for many reasons.

 

**P.S. Thank you, BruceGirl. It was the best thing anyone has urged me to do~ strap my dog in for safety**  Now, I just have to rethink this idea

In photo number two, it's difficult to show you the metal is warped.  But it just broke right out of the car seat.

UPDATE

UGH!

I have screwed up so badly.

I went to a Facebook page to 'report' a faulty product/ my seat belt that did not work.   Am I that dingy that I thought there was an agency to report faulty dog safety products?  * I suppose I am.

I posted my complaint and concerns on a business page.  An owner or manufacturer of dog safety products and seat belts.  But, I did not buy my product from them.  As a matter of fact, my product did not have a name on it at all. So, I have no idea where it came from... but certainly, it was not this company.

Someone contacted me.  I will update this blog and probably rewrite this as a separate discussion after I speak with them some more.

Possibly, we may have a new product to recommend for the future.  A good product that keeps our dogs safe.

 

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Anyone know who posted that discussion so I can link it to this discussion?

[Bonnie and Kona]

It was Jennifer and Jack:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/dog-car-seat-failure

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Bonnie, Thank you. I even went to her page to look for the older discussion because I thought it was her too.  I just can't search very well, I suppose.

Clearly though, Spud's belt breaking is an example of what she was talking about.   So beware, these are not manufactured well, do not hold back a dog who weighs more than 40lbs!  

[Jennifer and Jack]

FYI jack hurt himself chasing a cat with the EZ walk harness....he ran so fast and when he stopped short both his legs were sore and he would bare weight.....I hate to see what would happen if it was fast like in a car.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm sure I am the DK search dunce of all time. I remembered it was Jenn's discussion so I went to her page, opened her discussions, then did a search for "seat belt" in her discussions. This is my first try for that method. Glad to have good results.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

This is definitely an unresolved issue. I don't think these things (and I use them too) are much good and sometimes Boris manages to unclip his (I can't see how he does it because I'm driving at the time) I don't think there are any proper safety tested seat belt systems for dogs over 40lbs  that are as safe as the human equivalent, or not that I have found yet. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I'm going to make one!  This is crazy. Your dogs are getting loose too.  The attachment is just not holding.

What we use is the Easy Walk  Harness with the clip going from the dog to the car's seat belt attachment.  I just have to find a seamstress with a heavy duty machine... and I think that would be easy. 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Any Amish in your area?  I'm guessing they would have heavy duty machines.   My Dad had them make me some leashes out of harness leather.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Yes. Even if.....  I am not going down there.  Never again. Bad puppies have turned me cold/bitter.  Not even if i needed a barn.  Sorry, but thank you for the idea.  My husband used to know many seamstresses in his former business and I think I would have to go in that direction.  Or even take it to a tailor.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I do exactly the same thing here. I still think even if you reinforce it, it's only as strong as the weakest point which seems to be the metal coupling or am I missing something? I also think that the harness itself is not stress tested for a vehicle impact.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I found this, which may be helpful:

http://www.petautosafetyblog.com/pet-auto-travel-safety/1765-welcom...

And this site, which lists product testing info:

http://www.petautosafety.com/dog-car-seat-belts

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thank you. I was just reading on the pet auto safety site.  Not getting what I want yet, but ...  it is getting better.