Travel Guide

Spring is here and with the onset of warm weather, comes more dog shows and our annual vacations, plus the urge to take a Sunday drive. However, we sometimes neglect the needs of our pets or do not take extra precautions for unseen emergencies. If you cannot board your pet, or leave it at home and find that you must take it with you please make sure you provide adequate ventilation and water in your vehicle. Plus you should read up on heat stroke and heat prostration. Below is a simple check list to ensure your pet is provided for under normal circumstances and in the event of an emergency:

• a comfortable crate or seatbelt harness
• 2 leashes (your usual one and a spare)
• a spare collar
• ample water for your pet, yourself and your vehicle
• a water dish
• your pets first aid kit
• your first aid kit
• tools for your vehicle
• a brush to remove brambles and ticks
• pet food (if canned, store in a cooler if opened)
• toys to offset boredom (nothing worse than chewed upholstery)
• a tarp for shade, or park in a shady area
• a copy of your pets vaccinations and registration
• your veterinarians telephone number
• a picture of your pet
• make sure your pet is very familiar with the commands sit, stay, and come -> a pet in an unfamiliar area can be - nervous and may try to flee
• a towel and/or blanket
• make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations

I’ve traveled a fair amount in North America and have found we have given emergency care to animals in the most unlikely spots: A mother cat and kittens in a campground in Olympic National Park, an abandoned dog in a Texas highway rest area, a mother dog and puppies in California. Plus there always seems to be someone at a dog show who hasn’t brought enough water. I’ve had dog collars get lost in brush and leashes break on beaches. Seems like I’m never prepared enough myself for unforeseen emergencies, but taking the above precautions does make the trip go a little more peaceful.

About the Author

About Terrie Simpson:
Terrie Simpson is a writer for Super K9 - A Comprehensive Online Resource To Help You Take Good Care Of Your Canine. She has been involved with dogs for well over twenty years and has achieved a number of tracking and other degrees on her dogs in that time.

You can view more of her work at http://www.superk9.com/

Dr. Suni Boraston

Vancouver, BC

Q: I am going on a vacation to Mexico and have been told that you cannot eat or drink anything without being affected by Montezuma’s Revenge. Is this true and is it worth going if I am going to be sick for the entire trip?

Signed: “questioning my vacation choice”

A: There is no reason to question your trip; you simply have to be a smart traveller. Travellers’ Diarrhea, also called Montezuma’s Revenge, is the most common medical problem affecting travellers going from developed to developing countries, including Mexico, the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and most parts of Asia.

Here are a few tips to keep you from getting sick:

• Drink only carbonated bottled water or soft drinks, bottled fruit juices, alcoholic beverages without ice and hot beverages.
• Only eat fruit or vegetables that you have peeled yourself
• Make sure that foods are well cooked
• Talk to your doctor about a new, drinkable vaccine called Dukoral? ? the first and only oral vaccine that helps to protect against Travellers’ Diarrhea. Dukoral is also effective in children over two and seniors. While this new vaccine helps protect against Travellers’ Diarrhea, you still need to take precautions in order to stay healthy.

Have a great trip!

- News Canada

About the Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

When you goes on a trip either for business or for pleasure, you want it to be a memorable and enjoyable experience. To help travelers enjoy the trip, here are a few tips you must always keep in mind, travel “must haves” that one must never leave home without.

1.         Itinerary                      

Prepare and plan on paper the places one will visit and then make the make the necessary arrangements in advance to make the trip a memorable one.

2.         Essentials.

Personal things such as the ticket, passport, toothbrush, clean underwear and money nearby preferably for easy accessibility.

3.         Clothes  

By checking the weather forecast for the trip, one will be able to bring the right clothes for the trip. Preferably clothes that can be used for various occasions. And those that do not run and can be easily washed.

4.         Shoes

Given that traveling will require a lot of walking seeing the various places, one should wear a good pair of comfortable shoes that wont strain the feet.

5.         Medication

One should always bring insect repellant. If one is under medication, one should bring enough medicine for the entire trip.

6.         Locks and keys.

For personal protection, one must make sure the luggage one will be using for the trip have locks and keys and spares hidden in case it gets lost.

7.         Extra Bag

Bring an extra bag which can be used as a day bag while going around and the same time, one will be able to use it in bringing home some of those souvenirs.

8.         Map

Obtain a map to be familiar of the destination where one is traveling and so that one will not get lost.

9.         Insurance

If one would prefer to drive instead of taking the public transportation, it is advisable to get insurance for the rental vehicle one would use for the entire trip.

Before leaving the rental company, one should check the car for any damage before accepting the unit and if there is damage, one must insist that the rental company take note of it before leaving the lot.

10.        Label

Given the many instances of passengers inadvertantly taking the luggage of another passenger, label the inside and outside of the luggage. It is advisable to only write the name and not the address. In any case if the luggage is lost, one should leave the address only to the carrier one is flying on.

Have a pleasant trip!

There are many things to consider when choosing your travel accommodations. The decision could make your trip fun or a disappointment. Choosing the right hotel is a must. Most travelers spend more time in airline ticket reservations and bargains but less time in choosing the right accommodations. Thus they may end up on the wrong side of the bed during their stay.

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