HELOISE Don't wait to get on board with vacation plans

Dear Readers: Are you planning to go away on vacation? Well, if you have a pet and are thinking of boarding it, don't wait until the last minute to make reservations! It's best to make them months in advance, if possible. This also includes winter holidays as well, since between Christmas and New Year's, lots of people take vacations, and the kennels fill up quickly.
If you've never used a kennel, it's best to visit one ahead of time. You might consider letting your pet spend one night there so it can get to know the place.
Most kennels will not accept pets if they are not vaccinated. Also, have your pet vaccinated at least 10 days to two weeks before taking it to the kennel. It takes about that much time for the vaccines to be effective.
Boarding kennels can be a pleasant experience if they pay attention to each pet. Ask what type of exercise area is available, if they schedule playtime with your pet and if you can call and check on your pet. Some places even have a dog/cat cam so you can view the pets over the Internet. Now that's pretty cool! Heloise
Dear Readers: Mark and Tonya Bess sent a photo of their 6-month-old tabby cat, Magic, leaping up for a ball. The funny part is that their refrigerator is in the background, and it looks like he is a magnet on the fridge door. Tonya says Magic adds a lot of excitement to their household, as he has a "magnetic" personality!
Visit my Web site, www.Hel-oise.com, and click on This Week's Pet to see Magic doing his trick. Send your favorite, unusual pet photo to: Heloise/Pet Photo, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279. Heloise
Dear Heloise: My husband reads your column faithfully, and I'm hoping you can once again print a reminder to pet owners to not leave a pet in the car, even for five minutes, in warm weather.
I'm afraid he's under the impression that 15 to 20 minutes in a car, in the summer, will not harm the pet. Anonymous in Texas
It can harm a pet; it can kill a pet, too! I'll be happy to remind people of the importance of not keeping children and pets in a car. Some people think that opening windows even 3 inches will help -- it does not!
On a beautiful, 85-degree day outside, the inside of a car can reach a temperature of 102 degrees in just about 10 minutes. High humidity and higher temperatures will raise the temperature inside the car even more.
So please, if you have to go anywhere in the heat and think just running into a store won't hurt anything, please think again. It only takes a short time for a car to become a deathtrap for pets and children. Heloise
Dear Readers: Polar bears live in the Arctic. To keep warm, they have a thick layer of fat. Also, their coat repels water, which helps keep cold water and air from penetrating to their skin -- which is black and absorbs heat the most. So they stay comfy-warm in below-freezing temperatures. Heloise
King Features Syndicate