If you think talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous, just wait until you're trying to calm a dog who's bouncing like a ball around your moving vehicle. It's up to you how to make room for Maddy, but it's safe to say your attention will stay more focused on the road if you don't have to worry about her lunging out the window to flirt with the good-looking collie airing his hairdo one lane over.

In the pre-crate days, as in the pre-seatbelt days, you just hopped in the car and drove. But now we have choices, box-like and otherwise. If you use a crate, be sure to line the bottom with a towel, blanket or pad that will provide familiar scent and help keep your furry friend from sliding around. And don't be surprised if she gets anxious on her first long trip: Even dogs habituated from puppy-hood to sleeping in plastic dens can become fearful and whiney when they sense motion all around but can't see the human behind the wheel.

Leave it to pet manufacturers to pose a multitude of less bulky solutions, from simple seatbelt leashes to ziplines, safety harnesses, barriers,  booster seats and other devices that let dogs ride safely, communicate visually and enjoy some reassuring strokes from family members as the highway miles tick by.

Go ahead, make your DogTrekking day a good one by anticipating on-the-road needs and planning accordingly. You'll want bowl, leash and poop bags at your fingertips for rest stops, of course. A sturdy collar with ID tag containing your cell-phone number is a must. The rest of your supplies-food, medications, vaccination and microchip records, extra leash, towel for muddy paws, paper towels, carpet stain remover (just in case), sheets to cover furniture, treats, toys, first-aid kit, grooming gear-can be lumped together in a small duffel bag that's accessible when needed and tucked away when not. A folding wire crate or soft-sided model for hotel-room use rounds out the kit. You'll appreciate your packing savvy when you only have to make one trip from vehicle to room at the end of the day. (For shorter trips, a ready-made pet travel kit is grab-and-go handy.)

An abrupt change in dog food can cause, well, things you really don't want to deal with while traveling. Familiar chow and a gallon or two of tap water from home will help prevent tummy upset while you're on the move. If you feed a hard-to-find boutique brand, bring a trip-long supply to avoid wasting time chasing it down at your destination.

Tip: To avoid upchuck, feed your dog in the evening, not in the morning before getting in the car. Likewise, water him at the beginning of a rest break, not the end. For pets susceptible to motion sickness, products containing ginger can help.

Mapping out a successful road trip with Buffy takes more than just throwing a bowl in the car and punching your destination into the GPS. If dog-friendly hotels, campgrounds or vacation rentals are in the picture, make sure you're not foiled by the small print: speak with a live person before you book to get the skinny on rules, regulations and fees. You don't want to show up with a 90-pound Lab only to find that your dog-friendly hotel accepts only petite pups. (Recent issues of DogTrekker and the soon-to-be-launched www.DogTrekker.com are valuable resources during the planning process.)

Dogs get hot and dehydrated just like people do, but they can't tell you about it in words, and their body language doesn't always reflect their discomfort. Remember to keep Rover out of direct sunlight and to adjust the air-conditioning in the part of the car where he's riding. Crate fans and side-window sunshades are great hot-weather accessories. If you have no one to dog-sit and absolutely must run into a store or stop for something to eat at a place where pets aren't welcome, park in the shade, crack a window and get back as fast as you can.

Sniffing out parks, picnic areas and dog-friendly restaurants along your route will help you make the most of your time and contribute to a tail-waggingly good experience for all. Why not give yourself an excuse to check out some new territory and support our beleaguered state and national parks, as well?

An America The Beautiful pass, $80, buys free entrance for a year to national parks and other federal lands that charge for entry. For state parks, a variety of options ($25 and up) are available from the California State Parks Foundation. Even on public lands where activities with dogs are restricted, it's nice to know you and Buddy can pull in for a picnic or to stretch your legs without having to dip into your petty cash.

In 2001, Carrie Moore pulled a doomed dog she called Nevada from the Sacramento city shelter and ultimately found a home for him with a dog park buddy. "I started rescuing dogs in danger of euthanasia from local shelters one at a time and networking to find them great homes," she says, "and little by little I started meeting more people who were involved in organized rescue groups. After a few years I felt it was time to get a group together myself."

Officially launched in 2004, Sacramento Independent Animal Rescuers handles 250-300 dogs per year. Says Moore, "We generally focus on rescuing the underdogs, dogs that many folks would pass over--older, injured, sick, shy. We rescue them, place them in foster care, get them healthy and hopefully find them the perfect home!" (See Bubba's story.)

One of SIAR's current hopefuls is border collie mix Pepper, shown here, who's been unlucky in the shelter lotto and is looking for a lifelong companion. You?

Photo Credits:

"Pepper" - Sacramento Independent Dog Rescuers