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Subaru Continues Pet Safety Product Research by Funding Center for Pet Safety

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After successful harness research in 2013 with the Center for Pet Safety, Subaru is funding another round of testing for pet crates and vehicle crashes

After successful harness research in 2013 with the Center for Pet Safety, Subaru is funding another round of testing for pet crates and vehicle crashes

In 2013, Subaru worked with the Center for Pet Safety to investigate the safety of various pet harnesses to be used on cats and dogs when travelling in the car. Results of that steady can be viewed here.

Subaru is now continuing that pet safety product research and testing by funding the Center for Pet Safety’s testing of pet crates and small carriers and how they function in vehicle crashes. The Center for Pet Safety is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with the goal of researching and advocating for pet safety.

Current research states that 56% of pet owners travel with their pets, and an alarming one in five admit to driving with their pet in their lap. That is incredibly dangerous, and Subaru wants to use research and advocacy to ensure this does not happen anymore. (Please note, travelling with an animal in the bed of a truck, with its head out of the window, and/or with it anywhere in the front seat is also considered dangerous to your pet, your passengers, and you.)

After successful harness research in 2013 with the Center for Pet Safety, Subaru is funding another round of testing for pet crates and vehicle crashes

Real dogs are not used during testing, obviously

The testing done through the Center for Pet Safety will review multiple products to determine how to best connect crates to seats and which crates boast the best structural integrity.

“We want to make pet parents aware of proper safety measures they can take to help protect their pets. Following the previous study with CPS, we were delighted to support this next stage in testing,” said Michael McHale, Subaru’s director of corporate communications. “Pet safety is very important to Subaru as more than half of Subaru drivers are pet owners, with over 69% of them owning at least one dog. We feel a sense of responsibility to inform pet parents of safety measures they can take.”

After successful harness research in 2013 with the Center for Pet Safety, Subaru is funding another round of testing for pet crates and vehicle crashes

Subaru is by and large the automaker most concerned with animal welfare. The brand advocates for the safety of pets and other animals, regularly donates money to charitable organizations devoted to helping animals, and has a dedicated wildlife preserve at its Indiana plant. You can tell even by the way that Subaru refers to pets’ guardians as “parents” and not “owners” that the brand is clearly interested in improving conditions for animals here in the United States. In fact, several editors at The News Wheel attend the Midwest Outdoor Experience in Dayton each year, where outdoorsy people from all over take their pets out for a weekend of fun; the entire event is sponsored by Subaru.

Look out for more information regarding the results of this testing as they become available. And, while you wait, check out these adorably hilarious Subaru dog commercials—Subaru is sure to note that the animals were well taken care of before, after, and during the filming!