Who doesn’t love going on long trips? And what’s better than going on a long trip than being with family or friends? What about pets? Pets love going on trips too you know, especially if it’s a trip with their favourite hoomans.

 

  But pets, unlike humans, need to be handled differently when going on trips. Their anatomical structure isn’t the same as ours, so their safety on long trips are compromised when not properly buckled in. 

 

  The best thing to do is to secure them inside a proper transport crate. Transport crates are usually made of high-grade plastic that can withstand impacts. These are also designed to keep your pet safe within its confines without making it feel claustrophobic.

 

  Depending on the size of your pet, your transport crate should be tailor-fit to accommodate him. Not too big, not too small.

 

  The surfaces within should be non-slip to keep your pet in place while on the road. You can also place a soft bed inside to make it even more comfortable. The surfaces should also be easy to wipe clean to keep it sanitary.

 

  To prevent accidental crate escapes, there should be a sturdy lock that you can easily open in emergency situations. It should be secure enough to hold even when subjected through bumps or jarring movements during the journey. Furthermore, your pet shouldn’t be able to manipulate it in a way that it opens by itself so they can go out.

 

  Another essential feature that your transport crate should have are tie downs. Tie downs help secure your pet crate to the ground and ensure that it doesn’t get jostled around during the trip. The securing points should be metal and anchored to the thickest parts of your transport crates. Like the locks, this should be easy to disengage should an emergency situation arise.

 

  A transport crate has to be well ventilated. Our pets respond to changes in the temperature different than us. The cooling effect of a breeze inside the transport crate is very important to keep your pet happy. As a standard feature, most pet crates have 3 major vents. 2 of them as slits running along the side of the crate and the other one doubling as the cage door. There should also be a number of minor slits running all throughout the crate to maximise airflow no matter how minimal.

 

  We have 3 different sizes of pet crates available for dogs. We have small, medium and large pet crates available here: https://www.vetforpet.co.nz/shop/Dogs/Beds+Kennels+Crates++Cages/Dog+Carriers/x_cat/00583.html