Our Favorite Copilots
No matter where we go in life, or where our journey may take us, the road ahead is always a bit more complete with our furry companions by our side. Whether they join you for a hike, a trip to the groomers, or an outing to the pet store to pick out a new toy, part of that adventure may include a car ride.
For some dogs, car rides are pure joy. For others, it may take a little getting used to. We gathered a few insights from our Dakin team members on how they help make car rides more enjoyable for their canine copilots.
Before we dive into the car ride experiences, we want to shine a spotlight on our friends at Balise Auto who are celebrating the human-animal bond in a pretty creative way! Throughout March, our partners at Balise are running a campaign to find loving homes for their cars while also supporting animal adoption! For every car purchased in March, Balise will make a donation to Dakin, helping support animals in our care while more families (and their dogs) find their next adventure together.
Ellie
Ellie, a 1.5 year old Poodle mix, rides along with Abigayle (Abby) Bogdan for plenty of adventures even if she is still deciding how she feels about the car ride itself. Abby, a Veterinary Technician at Dakin, shared that while Ellie may not “love car rides, yet, she is always excited for our destination!”
“She’s usually happiest when we arrive,” Abby adds. To help Ellie feel more comfortable on the road, Abby has transformed the back of her Subaru into Ellie’s own “little apartment” complete with a waterproof stress relief blanket and a toy (or two). For longer rides, Ellie also gets a frozen treat mat to keep her busy and make the drive more entertaining.
One item Ellie never rides without? Her seat belt. Without it, Abby notes “she has a history of darting past me when I open the trunk, and going on a run around my neighborhood. Even though she enjoyed her freedom it is much safer for her to be buckled in.”
Cassie
Dakin Humane Society’s Director of Development & Marketing, Stacey Price, shared that her ride buddy, Cassie, is “a one-year-old deaf Shorkie (Shiz Tzu/Yorkshire Terrier Mix)” who loves to look out the window during rides. Stacey adds, “ She gets super excited and squeals when we do the hand signal for "car ride.”
Cassie travels in a designated doggie car seat with a seat belt strap to keep her safe. Stacey also noted that she never leaves home without a chew toy since “she is still a puppy, and with her puppy chewing instincts, we don’t want her gnawing on the car!”
Fenrir
Lauren Rubin, Dakin’s Behavior Coordinator, says her canine copilot is Fenrir. Lauren shared, “My 12.5-year-old rescue girl consistently tries to ride on the center console, presumably to better help me navigate!” But, she continued, “She has a crash-rated safety harness that buckles her into the back for long trips.”
Playtime can be exhausting, and fortunately, Fenrir can snooze between adventures in the car in Lauren’s favorite back seat cover. “The sling shape of it helps her feel extra secure so she can lie down.”
Frannie
“I love it when I peek back at her, and she has her head resting on the side, and she's looking at me,” said Meg Talbert.
Many of our Dakin team members enjoy the company of their dogs joining them for a day in the office. Frannie, a 10-month-old pit bull, “commutes with me almost every day,” said Meg Talbert, Executive Director. Frannie was adopted from Dakin in September 2025. Meg lovingly describes her as a “foster fail”, a term used when a foster pet ends up being adopted by their foster caregiver. Of course, all of us (including Frannie) know it’s not really a “failure” at all, but rather a giant success!
Meg shared how commuting with Frannie began with a rough patch. “When I first got her, she was nervous and apprehensive in the car, and she got car sick frequently. But, we're through that phase now.” Over time, Frannie continued to learn that coming to work meant getting lots of love and attention from all the people at Dakin. Meg jokes, “Now, if only I could train her to take notes during meetings!”
So, what has helped Frannie settle in? Meg described that she found a “great car seat cover that makes a hammock in the back seat. This has made her feel a lot more secure and comfortable while riding. I call it Frannie's Fort.”
Whether your dog needs time to adjust, readily curls up in the back seat, or insists on helping you “navigate,” a little preparation (and perhaps a nice car seat cover) can go a long way in making the journey comfortable and fun! After all, it’s not just where you’re going, but who’s riding with you that makes the adventure complete.