From Deseret News archives:

Pet ID card makes it safer to travel with Fido, kitty

Published: Friday, Feb. 8, 2008 12:34 a.m. MST

Hints from Heloise

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Dear Heloise: My husband and I have a 5-pound Yorkshire terrier who travels with us most of the time.

Here are a couple of our own pet travel hints. We carry in our wallets a credit-card-size pet ID card that I designed on our home computer. The front has a picture of our dog, with her name, breed, coloring, gender and weight, and our contact information — name, address, home and cell-phone numbers. On the back, I put other important information such as her microchip number and the toll-free number of the provider, her vet's name and number, and our adult daughter's contact information as an alternate in case of emergency. I also took one of the ID cards and fastened it to her travel crate.

I enjoy your column and look forward to reading others' pet-travel hints. — Kathleen Burns, via e-mail

Kathleen, traveling with cats, dogs and other pets can be challenging and rewarding! When we take Cabbie, our miniature schnauzer, we always stay at pet-friendly motels. They are great! We always request a downstairs, outside room and have never had a problem. Visit Heloise.com for some hints from Cabbie, such as: use a hand towel (or newspapers) on the floor to put the food and water bowls on. — Heloise

Dear Readers: Arline Benes Nenni of Goffstown, N.H., sent a photo of a hamster who has taken up residence in her detached garage. She says, "On the day of the picture, it sat upon a bucket and posed for me, so I obliged and took this photo."

If you have a great or unusual pet photo you'd like to share, send it to: Heloise/Pet Photo, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: Keep reminding people not to allow their pets on their laps while driving. It only takes a frontal collision of 15 mph to activate the air bag, which would possibly kill a pet sitting on the driver's lap. — Roy Cerecke, Kentwood, Mich.

Roy, consider it done! Plus, an accident of any kind where the driver might be injured leaves an unsecured pet at risk of darting from the car when a door is opened. It's not worth the risk — buckle up and secure your pets while in a car! — Heloise

Dear Heloise: I always worry that the spring-type door on our pet carrier might pop open when I take my cat to the veterinarian's office.

A hardware-store employee offered me this solution: Tighten a plastic cable tie in a circle to connect the grated door and a side air hole. The cable ties are snipped with scissors for removal and are very inexpensive. I also take an extra cable tie for when I leave the vet for the trip home. — Suzanne Simpson, Houston