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    A: I applaud you for realizing how important it is to strap your Maltese in the car while you’re driving. However, if you really care about your pet’s safety, use a proper pet restraint.

    On its website, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals lists car-travel tips. Included is the recommendation that a pet “be kept in the back seat in his crate or with a harness attached to a seat belt.” This is such a serious issue that New Jersey now considers driving with unrestrained pets in vehicles to be an act of animal cruelty. Those who don’t bother to secure a pet with a pet seat belt (not a toddler's car seat) will be subject to fines ranging from $250 to $1,000, and as much as six months in jail. Take a look at pet-restraint products from Kurgo and follow the advice of Kurgo co-owner Gordie Spater. “For safety purposes, you should only use pet-related safety products for your pet, not child-related products,” Spater says. “You need a proper dog restraint that fits the dog’s body correctly to prevent unnecessary injury, because their bodies are different than a child’s.”

    Instead of using a toddler’s car seat, a good option for smaller dogs would using Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness in conjunction with Kurgo’s Skybox Booster Seat.