ohmidog!

Honda showed off it’s most dog-friendly Element SUV yet at the New York International Auto Show yesterday.

The vehicle will feature a cushioned pet bed with safety restraints in the cargo area, a spill-resistant water bowl, a ventilation fan to keep canines comfortable and a folding ramp that gives animals an easy way to get in and out.

In the back seat, there’s an integrated pet carrier and machine-washable seat covers. The rubber floor mats feature a toy-bone pattern, and paw-print emblems on the side and back of the vehicle draw attention to its pet-friendly status.

Honda says it’s still finalizing the features, but the Dog Friendly Element will be available this fall, according to the Associated Press.

“In an interesting turn of events, cars are now chasing dogs,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. “Factory integration of a cushioned pet bed, restraint systems and other components are intended to transform the Element into the ultimate dog car.”

“Pets have become more like family, more important to households than ever before,” said James Jenkins, a senior product planner for Honda. “We felt this was the perfect vehicle to offer such dog friendly features.”

The Element already is appealing to pet owners because of features such as its easy-to-clean flooring in the cargo area and its wide side cargo doors.

The consumer pet travel advice website, Dogcars.com, honored the 2007 Honda Element with its first-ever “Dog Car of the Year” award.