Study finds many car harnesses for dogs to be unsafe

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A staff member with MGA Research Corp. prepares a dog model for crash testing during a study by Subaru and the Center for Pet Safety on the safety of car harnesses. (Courtesy of Subaru)

Subaru of America Inc. and the nonprofit Center for Pet Safety announced Oct. 3 results of a study on car harnesses for dogs. Crash tests revealed serious flaws in many of the harnesses currently on the market.

The data will assist in development of safety standards and test protocols that will serve as guidelines for harness manufacturers.

Subaru and CPS enlisted MGA Research Corp. to conduct crash testing of various car harnesses, using dog models. CPS designed the dog models, which represented a 25-pound terrier mix, a 45-pound Border Collie, and a 75-pound Golden Retriever.

“Subaru and CPS share a common love for pets and safety, and it is our mission to communicate to pet owners that an effective harness should keep the pet in place to prevent distraction to the driver as well as offer measurable levels of protection to all passengers in the event of a crash,” said Lindsey Wolko, CPS founder and chief executive officer.

Sleepypod’s Clickit Utility Harness was the only harness in the study that kept all three dog models from launching off the seat. Complete study results are available here.