Bark Buckle UP GOES International

August 18, 2008

After recognizing the Volvo XC90 as the 2008 Pet Safe Vehicle of Choice at the New York International Auto Show in March, Bark Buckle UP announces the expansion into Canada. The Bark Buckle UP mandate is to educate pet owners on the safest way to travel with their pets.

Christina Selter, Founder of Bark Buckle UP, awarded the Volvo XC90 as safe for pets because of its wire mesh accessory that installs in the cargo area, the vehicle’s multiple tie-down points to secure pet seatbelts or pet carriers and Volvo Car Corporation’s dedication to safety. For Selter and her group, the importance of properly securing a pet in a moving vehicle extends beyond the safety of the animal.

“Few people understand that a 27 kilogram dog becomes more than 1.2 tonnes of mass in a vehicle travelling at just 55 km/h,” she said. “In a frontal collision, an unrestrained pet can become a serious safety hazard. Things can get even worse for emergency responders who are the first on the scene of a collision. An unrestrained dog can be a danger to them and, if loose, can cause other vehicles to collide on the road.”

Pet safety experts from Bark Buckle UP have been travelling across the US to demonstrate pet travel products and promote awareness for safely travelling with pets. The group is working on plans to expand the pet safety roadshow to Canada.

“Volvo and Bark Buckle UP share a common goal: safety,” said Jeff Pugliese, President and CEO of Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. “Whether two-or four-legged, the safety of the occupants in a moving vehicle is a primary concern for families and drivers everywhere. Pets of all kinds need to be properly restrained in a vehicle, not only for their own safety, but because of the potential distraction they can become for the driver and an unsecured hazard in the event of a collision.”

Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. is part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Göteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to the 42 Volvo automobile retailers across the country. The company's product range includes the stylish and sporty C30, the elegant C70 hardtop convertible, the compact S40 sedan, the S60 sport sedan, the S80 flagship sedan and the versatile V50 and V70 wagon. For customers looking for a Volvo vehicle with all-road capability, the company offers the versatile XC70 and XC90. Volvo Canada is also expanding its line-up with the introduction of the new XC60, a crossover with the award-winning City Safety system on the standard equipment list.