POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — Liam Robertson is among the dog trainers who know first-hand the importance of using seatbelts to protect pets in the car.

Robertson, of Dogi-Fi Dog Trainer in Pompano Beach, witnessed a crash while traveling southbound on Interstate 95.

“The car spun out and just crashed right into the wall,” Robertson said. “From there, I immediately pulled my truck over, and I jumped over the wall in the Express Lane.”

The woman who was driving was injured, but a seatbelt kept her 120-pound Alaskan Malamute safe.

“The whole car was smashed in, the windshield cracked,” Robertson said. “Like everything, all the airbags deployed. To see this dog come out of the car completely untouched is really unbelievable.”

Without the seatbelt, Robertson said it was likely the dog would have flown straight through the windshield. He recommends buying a piece of equipment that costs less than $10 and clips to a harness that goes into the car’s buckle.

“It’s super durable and it also has this bungee cord, kind of like a shock absorber,” Robertson said.

He also recommends a crash-tested crate with doors on both sides, so that emergency crews can reach it.

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