2010 Honda Element: Man's best friend's best friend?

Back in April at the New York Auto Show, Honda showed off a dog-friendly Element concept vehicle. It was fairly obvious at the time that the so-called "concept" was merely a preview of accessories that Honda planned to introduce at a later date. Well, that later date is here, and Honda has made it official: you'll be able to order the 2010 Honda Element with a pooch-friendly suite of factory add-ons.

Honda is no stranger to canine-ready vehicle packages. In Japan, it's been doing this for years, and there's a dedicated Honda Dog website that highlights the pup-friendly accessories available for a wide range of Honda's Japanese-market vehicles. In the U.S., however, Honda hasn't gone down this route until now. Believing that Element buyers are also likely to be dog owners, Honda has decided to offer a number of relevant accessories as part of a $995 option package on EX-grade models starting next month.

What does roughly one thousand bucks get you (and Fido)? A pretty comprehensive setup. The centerpiece is a soft-sided, zip-close dog crate fitted specifically to the Element's cargo bay. A 12-volt electric fan helps keep the area cool, a spill-resistant bowl keeps the dog hydrated, and a stowable ramp allows Rover to easily walk in and out of the car, eliminating the owner's need to assist smaller or older dogs by lifting them in and out for rides to the vet, groomer, park, etc. The dog-friendly Element's back seat gets a patterned seat cover and easy-to-clean all-season floormats (with a bone pattern on them, no less). "Dog Friendly" exterior badging lets everyone around you know that you sprung for the extra gear to keep your fuzzy best buddy more comfortable and secure.

Don't worry, though: you don't need to buy a brand-new Honda to help your pet travel safely and in style. Pet supplies are big business, after all, and similar equipment to what the automaker includes in its special option package can be purchased from a variety of pet-centric retailers. Best of all, chances are you won't come remotely close to spending the thousand dollars or so that Honda will be getting for the dog-friendly Element kit, either. Still, Honda's decision to market this sort of gear as original factory equipment is interesting, and we're curious to see whether any other U.S.-market automakers follow suit. After all, dog lovers drive more than just Hondas.