One of the primary reasons Volvo drivers say they chose the Volvo brand is because of its reputation for safety. This is particularly true for our customers who have children. Almost without exception, safety is at the top of their list of priorities when selecting a family vehicle. And they are absolutely wise for doing so.
Dogs Are People, Too!
While this may not be scientific fact, we can tell you from years and years of serving loyal Volvo owners throughout Northern California that many of them feel this is an emotional reality. They adore their dogs and often select a vehicle based on their need to consistently transport one or two four-legged friends. But what many of them don’t consider is the safety of their dogs. They simply look for ample room in the back for big dogs, or a nice back seat for smaller dogs. Sometimes they even tell us that their dogs ride in the front passenger seat.
What Happens to Safety When You Add a Dog?
What almost no one talks about is how dogs change the safety equation inside a vehicle. Consider this: what do you suppose happens to a 50-pound dog in a collision? Particularly a high speed collision. That dog becomes a 50-pound projectile. Its chances of a serious injury are significant and, depending upon the type of impact, its survival is in question. Remember, the advanced safety systems within today’s automobiles are designed to protect human occupants who are seated in car seats designed for people. Dogs have a very high center of gravity when standing and looking over the back seat of a wagon or SUV, so they’re likely to travel over the tops of seats during sudden braking. The chances are excellent that they will strike a passenger or hard surface, not one of the many air bags deployed to save a seated human.
And when it comes to the safety of your pet, it really doesn’t have to be much of an accident to result in a serious injury. Consider what would happen to you if you were standing within a relatively sized vehicle, traveling at normal speeds, that suddenly stopped abruptly. Particularly if you’re not equipped to anticipate sudden braking based on your ability to interpret how humans drive.
Make Your Volvo Doggone Safe.
Fortunately, Volvo has a range of accessories that are designed to enhance everyone’s safety when dogs and humans travel together. Given the active lifestyles of people in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the amazing places in Northern California that we can visit with our dogs, it makes sense to invest in just one or two simple safety features that could ultimately save lives.
Volvo Dog Gates — Perhaps the most obvious option for those with a Volvo wagon or SUV is a dog gate. This is a safe and secure “fence” that is designed to fit within your particular Volvo model to insure your dog stays in the back section of your vehicle, away from other passengers. This has the added benefit of keeping particularly enthusiastic and/or dirty dogs where you want them to be, i.e. off the upholstery where people are supposed to sit. (You may even have fewer windows to wash).
Some of these gate systems allow you to safely divide the back portion of your vehicle so that your dog is protected from luggage or other gear riding in that same area that might fly about the car in a collision or rollover.
Volvo Dog Harness — Much like a human’s seat and shoulder belt in concept, this is a harness that secures your dog to a particular seat so that it can move, but not become airborne during an accident.
Dog Comfort and Cleanliness
It doesn’t mean we love our dogs any less just because we acknowledge that they behave a bit differently than we do. Let’s take shedding, drooling, chewing, and rolling in mud as examples. So, taking precautions to protect your Volvo while also considering the comfort of your canine passenger should be interpreted as a sign of being a true dog lover, not failing to view them as an equal member of the family.
When it comes to fun with your furry friend, that sometimes leads to a wet, muddy, and very excited passenger. It’s only reasonable that you consider minimizing both the damage to your Volvo’s interior and the time you have spend on cleanup. Volvo offers such accessories as a dirt cover for the cargo area and a durable, waterproof load liner, with slip resistant surface to protect your Volvo from dirt and mud that would otherwise soak through a normal blanket or towel.
Volvo Walnut Creek Can Help
If you’re in the process of shopping for a new or used Volvo, remember to ask your friendly Volvo Walnut Creek Sales Consultant to help you research pet-friendly Volvo accessories and include them at the time of your purchase or lease. That way, you’ll be protecting both your pet and your Volvo from the start.
Volvo Cars Walnut Creek / San Francisco Bay Area
Volvo Cars Walnut Creek is located in Walnut Creek, CA, conveniently near the I-680 and Hwy. 24 junction. As an Authorized Volvo Dealership, Volvo Cars Walnut Creek serves the East Bay’s Contra Costa communities and beyond, attracting Volvo enthusiasts from throughout Northern California. Volvo shoppers will find an impressive selection ofNew Volvos,Certified Pre-Owned Volvos,Used Volvos, and a range of other quality used cars for sale or lease. Volvo Cars Walnut Creek also accepts allVolvo lease returns and will purchase your current vehicle, whether it is a Volvo or not, and regardless of whether you purchase a replacement vehicle from the dealership.
Additionally, current Volvo owners will appreciateVolvo Cars Walnut Creek’s Authorized Volvo Service Center, where customers enjoy seasonal service specials and can have warranty and recall work performed, along with regularly scheduled and recommended Volvo maintenance.