TOLEDO -- There are a lot of distractions for drivers in this day and age. Cell phones, eating, and fiddling with the radio are just three. What about having pets in your car?

California already requires that you buckle them up, and several counties and cities in other states are following suit. We wear them, so why shouldn't they? "I do see a lot of dogs and cats in vehicles running around as the person's driving, maybe jump on their lap or something. It distracts them a little bit," said State Highway Patrol Trooper Dana Skinner.

That distraction brings many folks to pet supplies stores in search of something to keep their beloved animals under control. "The biggest thing is that your pets want to stay next to you. They'll be in the front seat trying to get in your lap," said Superpetz Store Manager Keith Alexander.

That's the problem Sandy Crundwell has with her dog Casey. "A lot of times we go in the car, he'll jump up front and just get really annoying," said Crundwell. So, she decided to buy a dog restraint. Sandy harnesses Casey up, takes him out to the car, and hooks him to the seatbelt. Sandy says the restraint is just what she was looking for. "It's something that would give him the ability to move around, not just totally restrain him so he could look outside," said Crundwell.

Heather Brackney knew she needed a pet restraint for her pooch Jo Jo. "We got one because he was sitting on our laps as we were trying to drive down the road and it's not safe. I was afraid he was going to get hurt and we were going to get into an accident, so we got one for him," said Brackney.

Heather had a different experience with hers, Jo Jo ate through two seatbelts in a lease vehicle. Heather says she's willing to give it another go. "If we get into an accident at least we have a seatbelt. If he's not wearing one then there's a good chance he's gonna fly through the windshield, and I don't want him hurt. He's an important part of my family," said Brackney.

According to AAA, pets and loose objects are the third worst in-car distractions.

Posted at 11:45pm Tuesday by ismith@wtol.com