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Protecting Your Fluffy Co-Pilots - How to Keep Your Pets Safe on Your Drives | Protecting Your Fluffy Co-Pilots - How to Keep Your Pets Safe on Your Drives | BlackboxMyCar

Protecting Your Fluffy Co-Pilots - How to Keep Your Pets Safe on Your Drives

Leaving your pet for work, errands, or vacation is sad and tough for fur mums and dads out there – I’m sure many can relate! Our pets can get awfully lonely if left alone at home, and bringing our fluffy friends along can transform a mundane trip into an exciting adventure.

Ensuring your pet's safety, as well as your own, is paramount. This is where the invaluable role of dash cams comes into play. Not only do these devices provide peace of mind by monitoring your pets when you're not in the vehicle, but they also serve a broader purpose in enhancing overall driving safety.

Join us as we go through setting up a dash cam to monitor and protect them 24/7 and provide plenty of tips and tricks to keep them safe. Let’s make sure no co-pilot is left behind!

BlackboxMyCar ❤ RAPS(Regional Animal Protection Society)

We're thrilled to announce our partnership with the Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS) for this special edition blog. RAPS is a dedicated organization that has been tirelessly working to improve the lives of animals through rescue, shelter, and the provision of necessary services. In celebration of our collaboration and to further their mission, RAPS is generously offering our readers a fantastic opportunity.

Join us in supporting a great cause while also making pet ownership more joyful and less burdensome with these special perks from RAPS. We've been working closely with RAPS for some time now, donating over 12,000$ of gear to them, and getting them protected with a dash cam.

In this special edition blog, we have an exciting offer for all RAPS clients. For a limited time, you can get 25% off dash cam installation, and 10% off the dash cam at our Richmond shop, with the purchase of a refurbished battery pack. Book an installation with us here.

Protecting Your Pets in the Vehicle with Dash Cams

1. Comprehensive Protection On the Go

Dash cams do more than just record road trips in stunning quality; they are vigilant in various driving situations. Whether you're navigating busy city traffic or cruising on a highway, a dash cam captures every moment, providing a reliable witness in unexpected situations. This continuous recording is crucial not only for accident accountability but also for reviewing incidents where the video evidence can clarify disputes, assist with insurance claims, and even help improve driving habits.

Some might think that Dash Cams are complicated tech tools that take hours to install, but that’s not true! They are easy to add to any vehicle and can be installed in seconds. Getting yourself and everyone in your vehicle protected has never been easier, with cameras that have never been smaller.

With modern improvements, dash cam image quality is better than ever, able to capture their bristling fur and the colourful shine of their coats in all its glory. Dash Cams like the A119 Mini 2 featuring top-tier image sensors, even on a budget below $150 USD.

Our Recommendation

VIOFO A119 Mini 2 2K QHD Dash Cam

Sony STARVIS 2 | Voice Controls | Dual-band Wi-Fi and GPS

On top of the list is VIOFO’s most-awaited 2K dash cam of 2024, the all-new A119 Mini 2. This upgraded version of the A119 Mini 2 is the industry’s first 2K QHD dash cam to sport the latest Sony STARVIS 2 IMX 675 sensor.

Even if it’s only as tiny as a car key, don’t underestimate its power and quality! Aside from built-in GPS, dual-band 2.4Ghz/5GHz Wi-Fi, and Parking Mode, the VIOFO A119 Mini 2 now also has Smart Voice Controls! With this, you can speak to your dash cam to perform a variety of operations, without keeping you distracted while driving – truly built for a safe drive!

Offering all essential features in a dash cam, top-tier image quality, all in a compact size and affordable price? The VIOFO A119 Mini 2, it’s our go-to.

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2. Invest in an IR Dash Camera for Interior Protection

While front-only dash cams are more useful than having none, IR dash cams allow you to enjoy capturing the entertaining antics of your pet, while also serving as a valuable tool for monitoring their well-being.

IR dash cameras are designed to be installed facing the vehicle's interiors to capture the driver, the passenger, and whatever’s transported inside. Having them in the back row – which is the safest, and non-distracting choice? An IR camera can capture it all!!

We recently encountered the same concern with Katy, a new van lifer who has been looking for a solution to record her drives, while also watching over her dog Silas, when she needs to leave the RV for a while. Read her story here.

Additionally, consider how often the cabin of your vehicle is dark, a standard interior-facing model just won’t do, with most details not being shown in the dark. IR cameras use built-in infrared LEDs, and light sensors to record video in extremely low-light environments. So, whereas typical dash cameras would see very little in these settings, an Infrared Camera can provide clear footage (although black and white) even in pitch-black environments. Read more about how IR cameras work here.

Our Recommendation

VIOFO A229 Plus 2K UHD 3-Channel Dash Cam

2K QHD with Sony STARVIS 2 Technology | 3-Channel HDR | Dual Sony STARVIS 2.0

VIOFO setting the standard for dash cam image quality with their new lineup. With 3-channel configurations for front, rear, and interior cabin coverage, the A229 Plus boasts 8MP Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675 for its 2K QHD main camera, and another Sony STARVIS 2 IMX 675 for its 2K QHD rear camera, and a standard 1080p interior camera – all equipped with HDR and Super Night Vision.

For maximum parking mode protection, the VIOFO A229 Plus has Auto-Event Detection with buffered recording, Time Lapse, and Low Bitrate Recording. Beyond that, this dash cam also has built-in Wi-Fi, Ultra-Precise GPS, an SD card capacity that can go up to 512 GB.

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3. Have a Constant Witness with Parking Mode

Leaving your pet in the car, even briefly, can be stressful. Admittedly, just the thought of leaving my dog alone in the car while I run quick errands makes me anxious. What if he gets hungry? What if he makes a mess? What if he thinks that I’ll forever be away? What if something bad happens to him?

Thankfully dash cams are there to give you that peace of mind with Parking Mode. With this, you never have to worry about being unable to monitor your car, and your pet, even when the car engine is turned off, as long as it’s connected to a constant power source. All cameras mentioned in this article are fully capable of parking mode.

So, how does this feature work? This will depend on the camera, but parking mode typically activates when the camera detects motion or collision, guaranteeing that all occurrences around your vehicle – including the interiors – are captured. This is especially useful when your pet becomes distressed, when someone approaches the vehicle, or when you simply have to leave them for a second. The footage collected through parking mode not only gives a precise record of incidents, but it can also be used as evidence in the event of an accident or attempted theft. Learn more about Parking Mode here.


4. Stay always in-the-know with Cloud services

Sure, having an IR dash camera with parking mode can record what’s happening inside your vehicle even when you’re away, but you won’t know about the incident until you return to the vehicle!

For even more peace of mind at all times, it’s valuable to be notified immediately, in real-time. Thankfully dash cams with The Cloud are the solution to this.

Our top recommendation is the BlackVue Cloud. Equipped with innovative connected capabilities, the BlackVue Cloud enables you to link your dash cam to your mobile app, sending you Push Notifications as soon as an incident occurs, such as an impact. Moreover, the Remote Live View lets you connect to your BlackVue dash cam from any location, checking in on your pet!

You can also play recorded videos remotely and save crucial ones to the Cloud or your phone, while also being able to talk to your pet real-time inside through Two-Way Communication! Yes, you can give them the assurance that you’ll be back in the vehicle with this!

To access the Cloud, all you need is a BlackVue Dash Cam and a mobile internet connection. For us, the best dash cam you can get that encompasses all the three features we are looking for is the DR770X Box 3-channel, offering full coverage of your vehicle in 1080p. The Box is our choice if you want your setup to be more secure, offering a tamper-proof unit that even the biggest dog won't be able to chew through. Now, if you prefer having 4k quality and only front and interior coverage, there’s the BlackVue DR970X Plus 2-CH IR Box too!

Our Recommendation

BlackVue DR770X Box 3-Channel Cloud Dash Cam

Full HD @ 60 FPS | Tamper-Proof Triple Channel Cameras | BlackVue Cloud Connectivity

If safety and security are your top priorities, this newly designed BlackVue DR770X Box triple-channel dash cam is the one for you. Its 2MP Sony STARVIS sensors for the front camera, interior camera, and rear camera are powerful enough to record everything that’s happening around and within the car. Also included is a Box that keeps all the essential elements of your dash cam - making sure that your footage is all safe.

For additional convenience, it also has built-in WiFi, GPS, plus the BlackVue Cloud connectivity which you can instantly connect to through the CM100G LTE module. Among the dash cameras we have tested, this is the one that’s particularly built for intensified car safety. Not only does it have the Box head unit but it also features tamper-proof solutions on the main unit, and all cameras with the SD card hidden inside the box and locked behind its own unique key!

BlackVue DR770X Box 3-Channel Cloud Dash Cam - Dash Cams - BlackVue DR770X Box 3-Channel Cloud Dash Cam - 1080p Full HD @ 60 FPS, 3-Channel, Cloud, Desktop Viewer, G-Sensor, GPS, Loop Recording, LTE, Mobile App, Mobile App Viewer, Night Vision, Parking Mode, Security, South Korea, Super Capacitor, Wi-Fi - BlackboxMyCar Canada

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A Special Discount for Pet Lovers!

Located near our Richmond offices and looking for a professional dash cam install?

While supplies last, get 25% off your next installation, and 10% off your dash cam gear, with the purchase of a refurbished battery pack!
Learn more here.


More Tips on How to Protect Your Fluffy Co-Pilots

Now that you know the features that you should look for in a dash cam to protect your pets, let us give you more general advice on how to keep their journeys safe.

What about Long-Distance Travel?

While the advice here is excellent for day-to-day driving, there are some special considerations that should be taken into account for long-distance travel, be it long road trips, moving day, or even flight.

Check out The Ultimate Guide To Moving Long Distance With Pets

Know where to put them

Of course, just as you need to ensure the safety of human passengers, you also have to ensure that your pet is safely seated in your vehicle as well. You might be wondering – where exactly? Pets, like children, should not be transported in the car’s front seat, even with a crate or harness. For us, the back seat is the safest area for your dog because crumple zones absorb impact in both the front and rear seats.

If you happen to drive a pick-up truck, it's advisable not to let your pet stay in the truck bed. Also, avoid letting your dog travel with their head sticking out of an open window – while we understand how much dogs love this, we do not recommend this for safety. Just like we wouldn't allow a child to do it, it's a good practice to keep the windows up when your pets are riding with you, ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey for both you and your beloved companions.

Get the right equipment

We also recommend restraining your pets by putting them in pet carriers and crates. They should be spacious enough to let your dog or cat stand, turn, and lie down comfortably. Ideally, you should put them as close to the car's centre. If they are positioned on the back passenger seat, they should be secured using the car's seat belt or another restraint device. If in the cargo area, the crate should be fastened down or otherwise secured. Crates are the best option for larger dogs. Smaller dogs and cats will be safer if they are transported within a carrier rather than on your lap or loose in the backseat.

Now, if your dog is well-behaved just like my Loki, putting a harness on is an excellent option. You may fit the harness around the dog's chest, securing them in one position with the strap connecting to the seat belt.

Don’t let them get too hot

Another thing to consider is the temperature inside your vehicle. Cars can become extremely hot for pets, so you should keep the air conditioner turned on. For pets, heat stroke can prove fatal or cause permanent harm in animals in as little as 15 minutes, even if the windows are rolled down. Cars heat up rapidly, so be cautious leaving your pet in the car, even for a quick errand.

Give them breaks

Lastly, make sure to feed your pet about four hours before you go on a long vehicle trip. Taking this time allows them to digest and relieve themselves, so they will not be looking for their next food right away. On longer trips, take breaks every several hours to allow pets to eat and relieve themselves.


Protect Your Pets with a Dash Cam!

As any pet parent understands, your pet is more than just a pet; they are a member of your family. You may care for them at home, but bringing them with you wherever you go to ensure they are watched and guarded involves a different degree of safety and TLC!

Give them the protection they deserve, and just like a trusty dash cam, allow them to be your trips’ and your life adventure’s ever-reliable companion.

From our pets and families to yours, stay safe out there!

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