Rachel Rodgers

A recent heart-breaking case of a driver who was distracted by his dog while driving and fatally injured a 77-year-old woman has been reported in many news outlets over the weekend.

Whilst we don’t know the facts or details of the case, it has been reported that the 37-year-old driver took his eyes off the road when his unrestrained Weimaraner started to move around in the back of the vehicle. Seconds later, he hit a taxi that was parked at the side of the road, that was collecting a 77-year-old woman and her 80-year-old husband. The lady died later in hospital and her husband suffered fractures to his pelvis and leg and a deep cut to his forehead.

The heartbreak of such a horrific accident can only be imagined, for everyone concerned.

The driver pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed on June 23rd for 24 weeks, with a 64-week driving ban.
Detective Constable Chris Taylor, who led the investigation, said:

“[the owner} was fatally distracted because he hadn’t appropriately restrained his dog when he set off on his journey.
“I only hope that what happens serves as a warning to other pet owners about the potential consequences of failing to secure their animals when they are using the road.”

As dog owners, I’m sure we can understand how easily this could happen and can only imagine the heartbreak that the driver, victims and anyone else involved must have felt.

Our focus since the company was founded over 30 years has been to keep pets, drivers, passengers and the public safe, by raising public awareness of the dangers of driving with unrestrained pets. MIMsafe continues to invest in innovative and safe pet transportation options.

In order to maximise the safety of your dog, your passengers and yourself in the event of an accident, we recommend only using a fully crash tested form of restraint, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to safely restrain your pet using a crash-tested crate or dog guard. Our VarioBarrier dog guards (https://mimsafeuk.com/variobarrier/), that are fully crash tested to protect all passengers and prevent distraction of the driver, start at only £123. Alternatively, if you would prefer a harness, our crash tested All-Safe Harness is available from £59.99 onwards (https://mimsafeuk.com/product/allsafe-harness/)

Please everyone, stay safe. Restrain your dogs and don’t let this happen to you.

This coming weekend (25th and 26th June), we have a stand at Dogfest in Leicestershire at the beautiful Belvoir Castle!  It’s a fantastic location and will be a brilliant day out – we’re really looking forward to meeting everyone!  To anyone thinking of attending, we have a 20% discount code especially for MIMsafe customers and those interested in seeing our products!  You can use this code on the Dogfest website:

Use code DFSHOPPING20 to get 20% off your tickets!

If you live in Leicestershire or the surrounding area, this is your chance to come and see our products in person and ask any questions that you may have, as well as to have a great day out in a fantastic location with your dog(s)!

Two important reasons why you should use MIMsafe crash tested dog crates

Our crates are the ONLY dog crates available worldwide that are equipped with a telescopic flexibility that absorbs the forces caused by an impact, protecting dogs and passengers in the event of an accident. Other crate brands don’t have this flexibility and may shatter or fall apart in an RTA. This is why our crates are the safest available and are so popular across the globe.

In addition to this, we’re the ONLY company worldwide that crash tests our crates in situ in the vehicle. This is important because anything in your vehicle needs to work in conjunction with the safety mechanisms within the vehicle itself. There is no point in having a crate that protects the dog in crash tests on its own but doesn’t take into account any of the forces or physical apparatus that are present during an impact. Dog travel crates need to work in tandem with your vehicle’s crumple zone to ensure that every member of your family, canine and human, are kept safe.

Our only focus is to produce products that protect you and we continually test, innovate and improve to ensure that this is what we do.
Our dog travel cages undergo rigorous crash tests at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. The tests are adapted to the cage size and load without sacrificing its energy-absorbing characteristics if a collision were to occur. The robust, innovative construction ensures that our crates can withstand massive impact from all directions – we call it Safety 360°.

Read more about our safety design and crash testing on our Safety Design page

We’re looking forward to seeing you this weekend!

Meet Vimpan, the world’s first diabetes alert dog!

Vimpan and his owner Sofia Karlsson, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was four years old, contacted our Swedish colleagues about a Care2 crate and they were very happy to let little Vimpan try out one of our Care2 crates and hear his story!

Vimpan came to live with Sofia when he was a tiny puppy. He enjoyed a very successful show career, winning awards in ten different countries. But Sofia wanted to keep on learning with Vimpan, and it was while completing a course in nosework that she had the idea to train him as a diabetic alarm dog.

“I called SBK and said that I wanted to train Vimpan as a diabetic dog. That surprised them a bit… training a chihuahua to be a diabetic alarm dog? It had never been tried before. Usually Labradors are trained for this task.”

However, she persuaded them to give him a try and they agreed to him taking an initial suitability test, which he passed with flying colours. He then went on to complete a further test, that measured his ability to learn and his social skills. To their surprise, it turned out that Vimpan was the perfect candidate to learn to be a diabetic dog!

Shortly afterwards, Sofia and Vimpan started the intensive training course under the guidance of a private instructor. It took them a year to become certified as a diabetes alert team, and they became local celebrities, opening the door for other more unusual dog breeds to start similar training. Sofia is rightly very proud of what she and Vimpan have achieved.

So, how is Vimpan able to identify when Sofia’s blood sugar levels are too high or too low?

Sofia explained: “I collected my own scents in sterilized jars. I used cotton pads with sweat and saliva when I had both high and low blood sugar. In this way, Vimpan learned to sniff out the odours that indicated my blood sugar is not okay. But what´s more, his nose is so sensitive that he can detect critical levels long before they actually become a problem.
“I´d say he can pick them up some twenty minutes before the measuring instrument on my arm.”

So how does Vimpan alert Sofia when her blood sugar levels are too high?

He carries a small tag on his collar at all times that he grabs and holds when he detects changes in her levels. Sofia added “If he does not have his collar on, he resourcefully picks something else that’s close by up, for example a shoelace or something else on the ground. It can be pretty much anything. But he never fails to alert me”.
And if it happens during the night when Sofia is asleep, Vimpan will jump onto Sofia’s bed
and wake her up by scratching her with his front paws.

While the Swedish MIMsafe team were hearing about Sofia and little Vimpan’s story, he voluntarily went into his new Care2 crate, curled himself up and went to sleep!!

Well done Sofia and Vimpan – it’s great to hear that such a small dog can achieve so much!!

Currently our most popular item and in constant demand, our tailgate guard is the ONLY crash tested tailgate guard currently available.  The guards are comprehensively crash tested to ensure that your dogs and your family will be protected during a rear impact.

Our customers find the VarioGate tailgate guard a great option when:

• They need more room for dogs than one of our crate can offer
• They need the whole boot space for other items when the dog is not present
• They are unable to find a crash tested crate that will fit their vehicle
• They want an option that is flexible enough to be moved from vehicle to vehicle

The VarioGate is adjustable in width, height, and depth, ensuring that it will fit in most vehicles.  The doors are one-hand quick release, meaning that you can easily open and shut them while holding the dog with one hand.  Even better, due to the gas spring opening function, the doors will stay open while you load or train the dog, unlike other tailgate guards, on which the doors swing shut.  The doors also have a two-step locking system, just like most car doors, to ensure that the doors stay shut and don’t fly open in the event of an accident.

Your vehicle can be left open if you are nearby to give your dog air, and the gate can be securely locked, with a robust fitted lock and key.  Additionally, the gate has lead hooks, on which to hang leads, toys, and other items, keeping them easily to hand when you arrive at your destination.

The gates are best used alongside our crash tested VarioBarrier dog guard and divider if you have two animals that you would like to transport separately.

You can see more about how to choose and fit our crash tested tailgate guard in this video:

Are you planning to take your dog with you when you travel this year, either in the UK or overseas?  With post-covid overseas travel rules very hit and miss, and the situation still unpredictable, many of us are discovering some beautiful locations and great dog-friendly holidays available in the UK.  Equally, it has never been easier for your pets to accompany you overseas, and many of us are still opting to travel abroad with our pets.
Whether you are staying in the UK or going further afield, make travelling with your dog less stressful for them—and you—just follow our tips.

Prepare for Travelling with Your Dog

Whatever your mode of travel will be, your dog will need:

• His usual lead or harness, and a collar with an identification tag that includes your mobile contact details. Some locations will provide collar tags with the address of the holiday location, which is a great idea.  Unusual sights, sounds and smells may make your dog curious or alarmed, and more likely to run off to explore. If they’re not already microchipped (required by law), seriously consider this before you travel.
• Always travel with a plentiful supply of bottled water.
• Don’t forget the poo bags!
• Comfortable, clean bedding for the journey and for use in your accommodation.
• Cleaning equipment in case your dog is travel sick during the journey or has any toileting “accidents” in the accommodation.
• An adequate supply of any medications they need.
• Your pets food, including a few days’ extra supply in case you stay later than planned.
• Blankets, throws and towels are great for ensuring that your pet is dry and clean, and for protecting holiday accommodation furniture, carpets and upholstery.
• If your dog or puppy is a chewer or likely to be stressed by being in an unfamiliar location, then a large foldable crate is ideal for ensuring that they are contained overnight and can’t damage the property.  When dogs are familiar with their crate, and crate trained properly, then the crate can provide an ideal home-from-home safe haven for your dog.  This gives them somewhere with which they are familiar and know they will be safe if the stress of being in a strange location becomes a bit too much.  Never disturb dogs in their safe haven – it needs to be a space in which they feel confident they can relax and be safe.

If your pet suffers from travel sickness, ask your vet for advice before you travel. They may be able to prescribe medication to help. It’s always best to avoid feeding your dog for a few hours beforehand.
It’s a good idea for your pet to have a health check-up before a long trip, and you should always ensure you find the number of an emergency vet near your destination.
Travelling abroad? Then make sure your pet has all the permissions, identification documents and health certifications they need, and that they have had all the necessary vaccinations.

Tips for Flying with Your Dog

Some destinations and flights may not be suitable for your dog, as they may expose them to temperatures that are too high or too low. You may need to present a certificate of health to your airline in advance, as well as vaccination certificates. There may also be quarantine periods in some countries. Always check before you book your holiday.
Don’t forget to make a reservation for your dog. Reservations for pets are limited, and sometimes your dog nay need to take a separate flight. If you have a puppy, be aware that airlines won’t accept very young dogs; minimum age limits on the day of flight are usually 8 or 12 weeks depending on the airline.
Unless your dog is a service dog, they will usually have to travel in the hold in a crate. Even those airlines that allow dogs in the cabin often require them to be crated (and may have size or weight restrictions that preclude your dog). Some airlines supply crates or offer crate hire; some have a maximum allowed crate size; others insist that the crate is large enough for your pet to fully stand and turn around in (this should be your standard for your dog’s crate anyway). A good-quality crate should be strong and well-ventilated, with sturdy carrying handles. Check the regulations of the company you’re flying with carefully, including any labelling requirements for the crate.

Tips for Travelling by Train, Bus or Boat with Your Dog

Always check if your dog is allowed on the buses or trains you need to catch, and whether they can travel with you in the carriage or by your seat. Dogs are allowed on the majority of European rail services, but not on Eurostar services (unless they’re service dogs). However, you can take the Eurotunnel car shuttle service and keep your dog in the car with you (although you’ll need to pay a charge).
Some ferries will allow dogs, although sometimes this option is only available for car boardings, and your dog may have to stay in the car. As for traditional cruises, only Cunard’s transatlantic cruises on the Queen Mary 2 allows dogs (berthed separately, with designated visiting times). However, there are a few humbler cruise trips, such as river cruises, that will let your dog come along for the ride.

Tips for Travelling with Your Dog in the Car

By UK law, dogs should be restrained while travelling in your vehicle.  A crash tested dog crate is by far the safest way to transport your dog.  Our MIMsafe crates undergo – and pass – the most comprehensive crash testing of any crates currently available on the market, making them the safest option for your dog and your passengers.  If you prefer a dog car harness then we also design and manufacture these, but our own and other manufacturer tests demonstrate that crates are always the safest option for dogs and humans.
MIMSafe’s crates are tested in conditions that monitor both the safety of the dog as well as passengers, ensuring you can travel with confidence.
Just like humans, dogs need regular breaks to stretch their legs and go to the toilet on a long trip—and if you need to leave your dog in the car, try to leave someone with them. Dog theft is still rife, so make sure the crate is locked, offering a second level of protection.  If leaving them alone is unavoidable, make it brief, and NEVER leave them alone in a hot car.

Short Of Space In Your Vehicle?

MIMsafe Carrier Roof Box

If your car is crammed full of passengers, dog crate and luggage, don’t forget that a roof box can give you the extra luggage space that you may need.  Our new Carrier Roof Box is the safest product to hit the roof box market and is in a class of its own.  Our roof box is crash tested at a speed of 50 km/h at a crash pulse in accordance with the ECE R17 standard. The test showed that the roof box can withstand a force of up to 26g, meaning that the roof box can hold up in a frontal collision with loads of 75kg at 50 km/hr.  The roof box is easily fastened to the roof rack thanks to the “Quick Grip” function and sensor lights ensure that you can always see inside the box while searching for items, whatever the time of day.  The box can be opened from both sides and is fully lockable, meaning that you can leave your vehicle safe in the knowledge that your luggage is safely stowed.  The box is equipped with carpet and load loops to ensure that the contents don’t slip about during transport and the box has passed rigorous climatic wind tunnel tests.  The Carrier roof box is an ideal investment to ensure that you have extra space for your luggage, enabling you to travel more safely and more comfortably.

Pet-Friendly Accommodation

Always ensure you’ve booked accommodation that allows dogs, and that it’s suitable for your pet (a holiday cottage with lots of fragile ornaments about may not be the best environment for your large, long-tailed dog!).
When you arrive, check over the accommodation and ensure there’s nothing within your dog’s reach that could pose a safety risk if chewed, especially if you have a puppy. Avoid leaving your dog in your holiday accommodation, as they may be unsettled, meaning they may bark when left or cause damage to furnishings.

Keeping your pet occupied

Take lots of toys, games and chews that will keep your dog occupied while at your accommodation, giving you the chance to relax and enjoy your break without having to worry about your dog being bored, or finding other things to chew or with which to entertain themselves.  Some pet-friendly destinations are great for providing toys and chews, while others provide nothing but notices warning you about the consequences of your dog damaging any of the furniture or upholstery.
JR Pet Products supply great natural, long-lasting chews and treats, and Green & Wilds supply high quality eco-friendly toys and chews that will keep your dog entertained while you relax.  Kong has one of the best ranges of safe treat-dispensing toys that are another great option.

Enjoy Your Holiday with Your Pet

If you are well prepared, then travelling and holidaying with your dog should be stress-free and a positive experience. So do the groundwork, ensure your dog is well-fed, watered and entertained on the trip, and enjoy your holiday with your them.

Well, our first ever Crufts has gone by in a whirlwind of activity, with an incredible response to our crash tested dog travel solutions. We’ve been working hard to get your orders out to you, and we’d like to thank everyone that visited our stand and showed an interest in our dog car crates, tail guards, dog guards and accessories.

Our unique VarioGate tailgate guard attracted a lot of interest on the Crufts stand, with many dog owners purchasing the gate, dog guard and divider during or after the event.

Our unique VarioGate is the ONLY crash tested tailgate guard on the market and is ideal for dog owners who:

• Want to utilise the entire boot space for their dogs
• Need an option that is versatile and flexible enough to be able to fit into most vehicles
• Require a fully secure, lockable safe space for their dogs in their vehicle
• Are unable to fit any of our crates in their vehicle due to the size or shape of their car

Many car models currently have limited boot space, with the angle of the tailgate causing an additional problem when it comes to finding a crate or tailgate guard that will fit. The VarioGate is fully adaptable to fit inside the boot space of most vehicles. The width, height, depth AND angle are completely flexible and can, in most cases, be adjusted to fit your car model when nothing else will, as shown in the following video.

What’s more, as with ALL of our crates, the VarioGate is fully crash tested and will retain its integrity in the event of a rear end collision, protecting your dogs during an impact. It is also fully secure, with robust lock with key, giving you peace of mind that your dog will be safe if anyone breaks in or if you want to open the boot to give your pet fresh air during the summer months (although we never recommend leaving your dog unaccompanied in any vehicle).

The Variogate is usually purchased with our VarioBarrier dog guard and Divider, both also crash tested, that will divide the boot space into two to accommodate two or more dogs, or to keep an area dog-free for other luggage or items. As with all aspects of the system, where the barrier is positioned is fully customisable so if you have a large and small dog, the widths of each compartment can be altered accordingly.

For more information about the Variogate, please visit the VarioGate section of our website.

The events since January 2020 have led to a crisis in dog rescue organisations.  The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged animal welfare and rescue charities more than ever before—and that’s why we want to help support them.
Introducing our Giving Back To Rescue offer:

Buy one of our crash test dog crates for your rescue dog, and we will donate 15% of the purchase price to your dog’s rescue charity.

This means that for every crate bought for a rescue dog, we will be donating a minimum of £50 to each rescue charity.

The Problem: Pets and the Pandemic

Lockdown in the UK meant an overnight lifestyle change for many people. They were working from home and were only allowed to go out to purchase necessities or exercise. The nation’s footpaths soon became busy with people, including those who had barely ventured beyond their street on foot before, and many people found themselves alone in their home for months. Other people realised that it would be the ideal time to introduce a puppy to the family, while they were at home to train and look after it. This provoked another pandemic: the pet pandemic!
According to Pets4Homes, by May 2020 there were over 400 buyers for every pet advertised in the UK, and by March 2021, the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association reported that 3.2 million households in the UK had acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic.
While some people turned to rescue centres and charities to provide a pet, with both the RSPCA and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home reporting a big surge in interest, many wanted a new puppy. The Kennel Club saw a 180% increase in enquiries from potential dog owners, and puppy prices soared to between two and four times their pre-pandemic levels, depending on breed.
However, many of these new owners have found themselves with a dog they were ill-prepared to care for and costs they hadn’t fully considered. They may not have researched the breed, been aware of potential health issues, or realised the commitment needed to raise a puppy. Puppies need vaccinations, training and lots of attention, patience and time. While they’re adorable, they can also be destructive and disruptive, and lack of training means that this behaviour may continue after the puppy stage.
Now, in 2022, these puppies bought in the early days of the pandemic are adult dogs that have grown used to constant companionship. But their owners may be returning to on-site working. Who will exercise these dogs, refresh their water bowl, and ensure they’re let out to go to toilet?

A Tough Time for Animal Shelters

The pandemic brought furlough payments, reduced work opportunities and redundancies, causing more people below the poverty line. This meant the services of animal charities were more in demand than ever, and some pet owners were forced to give up beloved pets they could no longer afford to keep.
As for the pandemic pet boom, sadly, many dogs who were welcomed so warmly into homes in spring 2020 have now been given to animal shelters for rehoming. Between August 2020 and January 2021, only months after many of these ‘pandemic puppies’ were purchased, the Dogs Trust saw a 41% increase in visitors to its Giving Up Your Dog page.
Other dogs bought during lockdown have been put up for resale. Owners who have spent thousands of pounds on pedigree puppies or ‘designer crosses’ like Cavapoos (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle cross-breeds) are keen to recoup their costs. But will these dogs find their forever home after resale? Or find themselves moved on again if they’re sold to new, unvetted owners, ill-equipped to look after them for life?
The influx of dogs needing a new home hasn’t been the only challenge for animal shelters. They’ve also had to contend with the pandemic problems common to other employers and charities. They’ve strived to maintain their services around work-from-home rules, social distancing, and staff absence due to Covid-19 and isolation periods—all at a time when their fundraising has been severely hampered.
That’s why our new campaign is designed to give them a helping hand.

How MIMsafe is Helping Animal Rescue Charities

At MIMsafe, we’re all about the wellbeing of animals; animal safety and welfare are our top priorities when we design and manufacture our products. We also recognise what a fantastic job rescue and rehoming centres do, keeping dogs safe until they find them the perfect new owner.
Did your pampered pooch or magnificent mongrel come to you from a rehoming shelter? If so, then when you buy any MIMsafe crate, we will donate 15% of the price to the rescue centre or charity they came from. It’s our way of helping you say thank you—and helping charities that are desperately in need of funds.

***Visit or online shop NOW!***

How You Can Request Our 15% Donation to Your Dog Shelter

Requesting the 15% donation to your dog shelter is easy. Once you’re purchased your MIMsafe crate, simply send us a copy of the contract you signed with the shelter, and we will make sure they receive our donation of 15% of the crate price.

You can send us the contract by email or post.

Email:
• Scan the contract and send it by email to:
[email protected]

Post:
• Photocopy the contract and post it to:
MIMsafe,
Unit 29 Stanley Court,
Richard Jones Road,
Witney,
OX29 0TB

When you buy a MIMsafe crate for your rescue dog, you’ll know you’re keeping them safe with a top-class, crash-tested dog crate, and helped us support an animal shelter too, ensuring many other dogs can be kept safe and found new, caring homes.