Safety first: The latest gear for pets on the go

Sandy Robins • E-mail

Judging by the plethora of new products unveiled at the Superzoo Pet Expo held in Las Vegas earlier this month, the spotlight was undoubtedly safety, rather than frivolous luxury goods and gadgetry for pets on the go.

For instance, fashion took on a different look when the Sherpa Pet Group, renowned for their airline-friendly carriers, launched a new range of clothing and accessories featuring Lunabrite light technology which offers excellent reflective light to make pets visible at night.

This new patented technology is powered by ambient room light or direct sunlight and can glow brightly for up to 12 hours without having to be recharged.

The line features stylish black jackets with the technology built in to the trim. There are collars, leashes, harnesses and special click-and-go safety rings to put around your dog’s neck during an evening walk.

“It’s much safer that removing his regular collar and ID to replace it with a glow in the dark collar,” says Sherpa's Nicola Plevin. It’s perfect for pet owners to wear around their necks too.”

And to initiate games and exercise after dark, the latest toys also glow and change color. Dogs at the expo were enjoying the Niteize's new Meteorlight ball, which puts a lot of bounce into canine fun.

A must-have for the traveler is The Fur Fighter. It does a better job than a lint roller at removing stubborn fur from car upholstery and clothing — and remove traces of furry hotel guests.

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For travelers with older or arthritic pets that have difficulty getting in and out of vehicles, comes help with the Otto Step, which can be fitted permanently to the back of your truck or SUV and can support pets up to 200 pounds. It's easily removable and can be stored in the vehicle when not in use.

For dogs that enjoy the great outdoors, there’s a variety of new gear from Jeep, including a well-designed doggie backpack that gives a whole new meaning to the doggie bag.

Available in very trendy camouflage or hot pink, it features two deep zippered pockets, perfect for storing dog treats and toys, is well lined to promote comfort for the wearer, and comes with easily adjustable web straps. 

Their latest carrier style known as the Urban Sling is being touted as the perfect mode of transport for little dogs that can’t keep up with the pace. Worn like a stylish messenger bag, pets can sit comfortably and enjoy the surroundings from the look-out opening or zip up the mesh frontage to keep bugs at bay. ... And leave it to a car company to design a booster car set for smaller pets with a built-in seat warmer for when the weather turns cold.

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