Eastern Box Turtle The Official State Reptile of North Carolina

We are heading out to North Carolina next week. Our trip will be a short one, but we plan on making it memorable and fun for both you and us. We are going to plot our route along an interactive map, and include photos and videos along the way so you can come along with us.

Now, Grandbury is a very seasoned traveler, but Winni, this is her first “big” trip. Hopefully he can teach her a few tricks along the way.

First things first, we are making a list and checking it twice. This is our first trip in a long time, and the needs of our gang have changed since our last journey. Do you make a list when you travel? We’ve got lots of lists going. One for our needs, one for the cat and dog, one for reminders of things that need to be done before we leave, one for things to do one our trip, and another for things to do when we return. We are lists makers. Now, if we can keep track of them all, we’ll be set.

Hope you’ll join us this week as we head out to North Carolina. Please share any tips or spots you think we need to hit.

Click on the turtle to go to some great coloring pages offered from the State of North Carolina, Office of the Governor

Links to Chew On:

• Fido Factor Helps Your Know Where You and Your Dog Are Welcome

We told you about the new 2010 Dog Friendly^TM Honda  Element back in April, and now we can report that you’ll be seeing it at your local dealership on November 16, 2009.

More information from the American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

The Dog Friendly equipment group is designed exclusively for the Element EX trim level and can be adapted to the Element LX trim level with the addition of a dealer-installed rear accessory power outlet for the rear ventilation fan. Engineered to integrate with factory precision into the Element EX, the Dog Friendly equipment is intended to accommodate the secure transportation of a dog in the cargo area within a nylon-webbed car kennel. In daily operation the car kennel helps prevent a dog from interfering with the driver in traffic by keeping the pet properly restrained and out of reach of the driver. In the event of a frontal collision, the kennel is intended to help restrain the dog behind the rear seats, reducing the chance for the pet to be injured – or to injure human occupants during a crash.

The Dog Friendly equipment enhances pet comfort by providing a soft floor surface for the dog’s legs and paws along with a dedicated fan and a spill resistant water source. Convenience is improved for owners with an integrated ramp, easy to clean surfaces and a full suite of matching Dog Friendly accoutrements.

Major components include:

• a soft-sided cargo area car kennel made from seat belt-grade netting
• a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an elevated platform
• a 12V DC rear ventilation fan
• second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design (matches the bed fabric)
• an extendable ramp (stores under the pet bed platform)
• all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern
• a spill-resistant water bowl
• Dog Friendly exterior emblems (driver’s side and rear)

The ramp stores underneath the bed platform and can be conveniently accessed when the rear tailgate is down. The car kennel was designed and is being constructed by Takata Corporation, one of the world’s leading automotive safety systems suppliers. The Dog Friendly equipment group has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $995

We love the color of the car in the photo (it is orange, after all)! We look forward to checking it out locally to get the feel of it ourselves. What do you think? Does it offer enough safety features? Is there something you would like to see in the canine car of your dreams? What suggestions do you have?

Photo credits: American Honda Motor Corp., Inc.

Links to Chew On:

• Riding In Canine Style

Let's go for a ride! ©24Paws

Honda has announced the new Element, outfitted with Dog Friendly^TM components, is slated to hit the showroom floor in Fall 2009. Attempting to capitalize on the needs and wants of the pet owner, the Dog Friendly^TM Element will feature the following:

• A cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an elevated platform
• Pet restraint system for the cargo area and second row
• A 12V DC rear ventilation fan
• Seat covers for the second row that feature a dog pattern design that matches the pet bed
• Rubber floor mats with a bone pattern
• A spill-resistant water bowl
• Exterior emblems (dog paw, etc…) that tell the world you are driving a Dog Friendly^TM Element

See photos

The Element has already gained a following of pet lovers thanks to their urethane-coated utility floor that can be wiped clean, rear removable seats that also fold flat, and side opening cargo doors, and low lift-in height.

This isn’t Honda’s first attempt to produce a car that will appeal to the pet-owning masses. In 2005, they rolled out a W.O.W. concept car that, while never intended for commercial sale, created a “wonderful openhearted wagon” for pets and their humans to while away the hours on the road together.

The W.O.W. had some really neat features. My favorite was the “removable, washable, rollout flooring.” Not only would this have been handy when Frosty was first becoming “car trained” and he went through bouts of car sickness, but for transporting rescue animals to and fro, this would be a dream. Looks like Honda built on this idea with their urethane floor.

Honda isn’t alone in the attempt to harness the purchasing power of the animal-lover. In 2007, Pup-Peroni® brand dog snacks offered a lucky human and their pooch the chance to win a Pup’D-Out 2008 Jeep Liberty. The highly talented gang over at Galpin Auto Sports (GAS) was tapped to help create the PUP’D OUT ride for the lucky winners. Maybe you know them best for their work on the “Pimp My Ride” television show.

The Pup-D-Out Jeep had the following features:

• Dog ramp that lowers/retracts from back hatch for easy pup entry and exit from jeep
• Water and food bowls
• Dog bone wheel rims
• Small vacuum installed in back to help with clean-up
• Pull-up screens behind front seats and behind back seats to keep your furry friend safely in one part of the Jeep, when necessary

These were some great ideas-practical and fun all in one. I love the idea of the screens, and the dog bone rims? Sign me up!

Honda (and any other car companies who might be listening) here are some additional ideas you may want to consider:

The security key fob needs a temperature alert. Even if you leave your pet in the car with the air conditioning running, something can happen and the engine could stop, or the air quit and you’d never be the wiser until it is too late. Please put an internal temperature gauge in the car and readout on the key fob to alert the owner.

Along those lines, what about an intercom system? You could hear what is happening in the car as well as communicate with your pack. If you travel with your pet you will inevitably be leaving them alone at some point. Rest stop breaks, food runs, etc…. A little tool like this can certainly bring some peace of mind.

Air/hear vents extended to the rear of the car/cargo area. Many pets are riding in the very back of the wagons, SUV’s, and vans. This area rarely has air or heat vents, and can therefore create uncomfortable and even dangerous conditions for your pet. A few feet more of tubing can make all the difference.

Size and slope of seat cushions. When a pup curls up to snooze while traveling, it is important that they do not feel that they are falling off the seat. As a multi-pet household, we’ve traveled with two dogs in the backseat and they each curl up in their own seat space. Many vehicles now have shortened seat widths to accommodate more passengers. This gives the look of more space but is uncomfortable for people and pets. To overcome this we purchased a seat hammock. The hammock allows our boys to use the entire space, offering them full use of the entire seat space and the wasted space over the floorboard. An added benefit, the hammock covers the floorboard and allows us to put bags of groceries beneath it and the boys leave them alone.

Keep the retractable ramp. Our pack has endured three cruciate surgeries and the ramp has been extremely helpful. We’ve tried to travel with our ramp, but it is heavy and takes up too much room in the vehicle. While they (and our backs) could use it now in their senior plus years, it isn’t practical to take it on every car ride with the boys. Instead, our “portable” ramp stays put atop the outdoor steps to help them in and out of the house. The retractable ramp is a wonderful option!

Additionally, what about sunscreens, tinted windows, and pup-proof storage areas for food, treats, and other tasty morsels?

We’re thrilled to see car manufacturers beginning to implement new pet-friendly features and products into their designs. In 2002, when shopping for a new car, we received blank stares as we commented that the child restraints would work great for our pet seatbelts. When we measured cargo areas to determine if our husky would have enough room to travel comfortably we were told by the sales team that they’d never had someone look at a car for features that would accommodate their dogs.

The market for creating a pet-friendly vehicle is wide open. Car manufacturers can really stretch themselves with design and utility when creating a car for pets and the people who love them. We are happy to see a pet-friendly car go from a simple concept to a full-fledged showroom option. We can’t wait to see what new options and models will be created thanks to this creative push into the market.

What other options would you like to see in your dream pet ride?

Links to chew on:

I don’t know what the site says, but it looks like the Honda Dog Japan site is totally tailored to the pet owner. Check it out.

Toyota has a similar Japanese site with “Corolla Avenue, C Loves Dog”

Links to Chew On:

• Empty Link Bowl