A true pet lover never leaves their animals at home. Rover and Kitty are beloved members of the family and an important part of every outing. Keep your precious cargo safe and secure while your vehicle stays clean and protected with these handy pet-travel tips.

The prestigious Pontiac Pot-Belly Pig Pageant was fast approaching and the wife and I decided to take Rosebud out for her first judging. The Pontiac Pot-Belly Pig Pageant is the hog-equivalent of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show—quite prestigious and very competitive. Pig breeders from around the world bring their best boars to stack ‘em up against the competition.

We got Rosebud all fattened up on pig-chow, washed, waxed and ready to go. It’s a long drive from Coeur d'Alene, ID to Pontiac, MI and we wanted Rosebud to show up for her big day well rested and ready to strut her stuff. So, to make the trip perfect, we decided to invest in a few pet travel products designed to make the journey comfortable, clean and easy.

I had earlier discovered the Pet Step II while recuperating from a slipped disc. During my convalescence, I came upon an ad for the fabulous Pet Step II featured in Fat Fancy, a Porcine Periodical for Pig Lovers. A far cry from her cuddly piglet days, Rosebud now tips the scales at nearly 200 fun-loving pounds. I had given up on hoisting her into the Ford Escape when she hit the 140 mark and I slipped that freaking disc.

The Pet Step II is the single greatest pet invention since Snausages. It’s a light-weight, heavy-duty ramp that folds out into a stable runway for Rosebud. I just hook it to my bumper and she swaddles her way up the ramp and into the Escape—safe and sound. The ramp folds up small enough to toss in the back so she can get out the same way. The Pet Step II also makes it easy for Rosebud to climb into our camper and onto our boat.

Now, I know what you’re thinking; a pig is a filthy animal. The truth is pigs are cleaner than dogs. You’ll never see a pig greet his friends with a whiff or a lick to the backside, that’s for sure. Either way, slobber, claws and accidents can do some serious damage to your ride’s interior. To prepare for the trip, I checked around and found some amazing seat covers made just for pets travel.

Rosebud now sits like a queen-sow on her comfortably-padded and quilted throne. The seat covers are crafted of super-tough materials that won’t tear or shred. They’re also covered with a waterproof coating that stops muddy paw prints, sloppy slobber—and even worse. Plus, the fibers catch and contain shedding hair and other nasties. So, Rosebud stays cozy and my Escape stays clean. For extra measure, I hang a few of those Christmas trees from my rear-view mirror to cover those special smells.

All in all, the trip went off without a hitch and Rosebud took home the best of show prize. She beat out that old sow, Daisy D., who’s taken the win 3 years running. We couldn’t be more proud of our little Rosebud. And, we couldn’t have done it without the help of these pet travel products that made our trip such a pleasure.

When your pets go everywhere you go, make sure they can enjoy the trip, too. The pet travel market is full of stuff that keeps your pets safe and sound while on the road. There’s a huge selection of dog seat covers designed to protect your interiors. And, the Pet Step II is the easiest and safest way to get pets in and out of your vehicle.