JAN/FEB 2006

Critter Comfort & Safety Seat

By Tamara Sevigny

Do you travel frequently with your dog on your lap? Or allow him or her to sit in the passenger seat of the car? This can be terribly dangerous for your pet in the event of an accident. Pet car seats are available at some pet stores, but require your pet to sit in the back seat for safety, away from the passenger air bag. The Critter Comfort & Safety Seat was developed to solve all of these problems! It allows your pet to travel safely and enjoy the ride, at your side.

Jim Gantz and his wife traveled frequently between Georgia and Florida with their small hearing guide dog. On their trips there was nowhere for the dog to ride except in the passenger's lap.  This was very unsafe for the pet and the occupants of the vehicle.  They wanted the dog to be safe and be able to ride in the front of the vehicle, so they started developing a safety seat. It took two years of development and an engineer to get the seat to where it is today, now available to the public.

They designed the seat for comfort, enjoyment, safety and versatility. It fits between the front seats of a vehicle, over the center console, where your pet is able to see out the windows and be near her/his owner.

The seat offers an adjustable safety leash with enough lead for your pet to sit, stand or lie down. Your pet will be restrained from running around the cab of your vehicle, disturbing the driver and other passengers. The leash is attached to the back of the seat on one end and to your pet's halter on the other end.  (Not to be attached to your pet's collar.) Plus the leash can be detached from the seat and used as a handy leash while traveling.

The seat is anchored in your vehicle by a retaining bar that goes through the designed opening at the rear of the seat and then extending out and around the back of your vehicle's front seats. This helps prevent the seat from flying forward into the windshield in the event of an accident. Your pet is also protected from airbags during an accident because the seat is in the middle and the air bags are deployed on either side.

The seat can be installed in most cars or trucks.  If your vehicle has a split front seat and a center console or inside arm rests, the seat will fit. Installation is quick and simple, requires no tools, and can be easily moved from one vehicle to the next. The seat can also be installed in the back seat with the same safety features as in the front and your pet still gets to look out the windows.

In addition, the seat is easy to clean and keeps your vehicle clean. Any hair or dander is limited to the removable pet seat mat that is easy to wipe clean.

It is impossible to guarantee against all injuries in all possible accidents, but the Critter Comfort & Safety Seat can significantly reduce the risk of serious injuries to your pet in a moving vehicle. For more information and to purchase a seat, contact Gantz Enterprises, Inc. at 866-498-6487 or visit www.critterseat.com.