Truck owners love their vehicles. However, they are also pet owners who love their dog, cat, or another furry friend equally as much as their automobile. Moreover, there will be occasions when the family pet must travel. Sometimes, however, a pet’s fur or rambunctiousness can cause seat covers to become damaged or dirty. Fortunately, pet owners might prevent said events by executing the following tips:
Invest In Seat Covers
Pet care professionals recommend purchasing seat coverings capable of absorbing the many byproducts pets can emit, such as fur, dander, saliva, dirt from their paws, and even metabolic waste materials. Any of these issues could stain or damage leather or any other type of upholstery. Typically, most seat guards are durable and can frequently be washed clean.
Purchase An Entrance Ramp
Entrance ramps or steps could significantly prevent the family pet from upsetting truck seat upholstery. Pets often haphazardly jump into a vehicle. During this process, it is easy for said animals to inadvertently scratch or tear the fabrics. An entrance ramp or steps often renders this endeavour easier, more orderly, and less risky.
Restrain Pets
Pets, especially dogs, usually enjoy car rides and demonstrate a high level of excitement when experiencing such events. This exuberance often leads to the elated creatures enthusiastically shifting around. Over time, the continual movement can result in seat indentations or damage. Even seat coverings might yield marks on surrounding seats if walked over repeatedly.
Ergo, placing the animal in question in a harness, either equipped with its own buckle or the capacity to attach to the truck’s safety belts, is recommended by pet industry professionals and traffic safety experts. Certain jurisdictions require pets to be restrained when riding in a vehicle.
Alberta has no specific laws regarding keeping pets restrained. However, law enforcement officials are afforded jurisdiction to levy tickets should they feel the pet’s presence is distracting to the driver or threatens the animal’s safety. However, motorists are firmly urged to learn the traffic authorities’ traffic regulations in their intended destinations when travelling outside the Province.
Clean Vehicle Thoroughly
Inevitably, a certain degree of small particles such as fur and pet dander will likely penetrate seat upholstery. These materials are not only capable of damaging fabric but possess the ability to cause health issues in sensitive individuals. Persons with allergies, respiratory or cardiovascular problems might witness a worsening of these conditions when exposed to pet dander. Therefore, thoroughly washing, drying, and vacuuming these items routinely often proves critical.
Take Pets Out Immediately Before Traveling
Granted, excitement occasionally precipitates unavoidable accidents. However, a truck owner could significantly reduce their pet’s chances of addressing their business in transit by taking said furry friend out immediately before embarking on the trip.
Promptly Remove Any Waste Products
Should an animal discard any waste material, said biological byproducts should be removed, and, the impacted area cleansed. Failing to perform this necessary action could cause offensive odours to linger. Moreover, fouled fabric often becomes increasingly difficult to clean. Stains the truck owner cannot clean themselves will either necessitate a professional’s services or require replacing. Either circumstance could cost significant sums of money.
Install Durable Floor Mats
Some truck owners might overlook the fact that their vehicle’s carpeting is often an extension of the seat upholstery. Therefore, obtaining heavy, durable floor mats could lessen the chances of said material being adversely impacted by the repeated jumping or maneuvering pets perform, in addition to soiling from dirty paws or accidents.
Insert Baby Backseat Mirrors
These items are typically inserted to enable a vehicle owner with infants or toddlers to quickly peek in the back seat to check on their young children’s status. However, animal safety experts maintain these devices also help pet owners identify when their four-legged friends might be under duress. Ergo, these items could enable a truck owner to identify potential issues with their pet, pull off the road, and address said issues before either their pet or their vehicle’s seat upholstery could be injured.
