“Walk & Wag”  takes place every year near Halloween to help raise money for the organization, as well as for other pet rescue groups. I was there staffing the table for German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Georgia, and I ran into my dear friend, phenomenal pet photographer Pat Thomas of PhotoPhetish. Pat was there, as she always is, to support the organization, take candid shots and hang out with a park full of dogs and their people. (Pat’s as dog-obsessed as I am!) Events include a pet parade, a talent contest and a Halloween costume contest.  I thought you’d like to see some photos of the fur kids we were surrounded by on that beautiful, sunny, autumn day!

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When it’s time to hit the road, be sure that everyone travels safely–including your pet.  Gone are the days when you can just put your dog in the back of a pickup truck and hope for the best.  Having your pet on the inside of the car can pose a problem, as well, if your pet is active and all over the place.  With the speed and distractions most drivers face on the road every day, it behooves everyone to use caution when traveling with pets.  According the the American Automobile Association (AAA), an estimated 30,000 accidents occur each year as a result of pet distractions. Surprisingly, it’s #3 on the list–right behind using cellphones and eating while driving.  Not only can your dog be a distraction, but in the event of an accident, he might just become a flying object.  No matter how you look at it, everyone’s safer when pets are secure.  Protecting your pooch should be job #1, and it’s a lot easier to do with the help of these gadgets.

Seat belts for Pets:  Specially made dog leashes keep your dog from moving all over the car.  With a universal clip, it easily attaches to the seat belt of your car.

Booster Seats: If you need more than a seatbelt clip or if your dog is smaller, this may be the solution for you.  Working similar to a baby car seat, these canine booster seats elevate your pet to see out of the window and keeps him or her secure with a clip inside the special seat that attaches to the dog’s collar.  Some of them even come with a car seat cover to keep down dog hair for people passengers.

Back Seat Dog Run:  If your dog likes to move around a lot while in the car, this dog run will help him do it securely.  Keeping him in the back seat (and not all over the car), the trolley attaches between the seat belts or to the dry cleaning clips and gives your dog freedom to move back and forth.  You can even open the doors to the car without worrying about your pet escaping.

Most of these items can be purchased separately, but some car manufacturers like Toyota and Honda now offer them as optional add-ons.  Clearly putting them ahead of the pack, it makes you wonder if Sport Utility Vehicles are now becoming Dog Utility Vehicles.  What a welcome addition to the pet world!