Baby, You Can('t) Drive My Car

annoncesetanimaux / CC

Like most dogs, my hounds, Beau and Gus, love going for rides in the car (OK, Gus sometimes naps on longer trips). Now, it seems, carmakers are beginning to take notice—especially in Japan, where there are now more dogs and cats than kids younger than 15. So look for minivans to become as friendly to furry, four-legged "kids" as they are to more conventional rugrats.

The new Japanese Honda Freed, for example, has a floor low enough for even short-legged dogs to jump into the car. Here in the States, the Honda Element was chosen as the "Best dog car, ever" by (who else?) DogCars.com—for being easy-to-clean and resistant to nose-prints.

We may not all be able to go out and change cars, but now—at the beginning of vacation season—it's a good time to give some thought to the best ways to travel with our animal companions. PETA's Web site HelpingAnimals.com has a lot of great tips about how to enjoy a road trip with Rover—or how to take care of him while you're away.

Of course, if you do decide to take your furry friends along, be sure to plan ahead for pit stops—even without the heat of summer, cars can get way too hot for dogs and cats in no time at all!

Posted by Jeff Mackey