Pet Day At The 2012 New York International Auto Show

If you visited the Javits Center yesterday, you know that the fur was a-flying at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. To celebrate National Pet Day, dogs, cats, and other non-human companions were on the floor, barking and growling and hissing their approval (or perhaps disapproval?) at many new car models.

National Pet Day was started by Colleen Paige to raise awareness about the plight of animals in shelters. Paige and her colleagues encourage animal-lovers to adopt pets rather than buy them from breeders. They also ask fans to support spaying and neutering programs across the country.

Which is all well and good, but why would the New York Auto Show host National Pet Day events?

We don’t have details right from the horse’s mouth (pun intended), but we’d guess it has something to do with America’s outsized love for pets. Roughly 39% of U.S. households count at least one dog as a family member, 33% contain one cat, and many more contain hamsters, parrots, and exotics. Plenty of us like to travel with those pets, and automakers like Subaru have even built brands around their pet-friendliness.

In addition to yesterday’s non-human visitors at the New York Auto Show, there were quite a few pet-oriented amenities on view, too. Here are three items that may help you prepare for those upcoming summer road trips with Rover.

Dura-Ruff Folding Dog Crate: The best way to travel with a pet is to have him/her/them stowed safely in a travel container like a kennel. The Dura-Ruff model is built with a wire frame and nylon walls, so it pops up like a pup tent, then folds flat for storing.

Auto Friend Car Hammock: If you can’t afford a kennel — or if you can’t fit one in your car — a car hammock can be a good substitute. It’s comfy for your furry friend, and it offers some protection in the event of hard stops.

Ultralight Bifold Ramp: Heiresses with Chihuahua fetishes can get their hounds in and out of the car with one hand. But for folks who love bigger breeds, helping them into or out of the back seat or cargo area can be a hassle. At just 10 pounds, this ramp is super light, and it folds in half for easy storage.

Speaking of Chihuahuas, here’s one more shot of Pet Day before we go.

Adorbs, no?