It looks like many of us will be holidaying at home in the UK this year – or maybe taking a quick hop across the Channel – possibly with our pets! So, here are some hints and tips of what to think about for travel and the holidays with your pet. At our Bath store we have just created a travel display to give you some ideas and we are now building a whole new travel section on our website.
If you are taking your dog with you in the car, there are a few ways you can make sure your precious pet is safe in case of sudden braking or an accident.
We stock a range of in-car safety harnesses and restraints including the RAC approved harnesses and the wonderful Company of Animals CLIX harness. This X-cross design provides a comfortable and ergonomic fit and has soft neoprene padding on all points of contact to give maximum protection and comfort. It is easy to use – just clip into the seatbelt socket or slide the belt through the harness. Our MyPet seatbelt restraint is also a clever item which clips into the seatbelt buckle and extends, so your doggie can be let out of the car for a drink without running away. And if you want to give your pet a drink – you will need a travel bowl or bottle and we have a range of those too!
To protect your dog whilst travelling we also sell car guards for hatchbacks, dog crates and carriers in different styles and sizes. To protect 
your car we have a great range of car seat covers and boot and bumper covers to protect them from hair, wet and muddy paws and scratches.
Does your dog get nervous whilst travelling? Have you tried Dorwest’s Scullcap and Valerian? It is a wonderful licensed herbal medicine for the symptomatic relief of anxiety, nervousness, excitability and travel sickness for dogs and cats.
Another fabulous product is DAP for dogs and Feliway for cats
DAP® is a synthetic copy of the natural canine appeasing pheromone proven to help support dogs in a range of stressful situations and similarly Feliway is a synthetic copy of the feline facial pheromone, used by cats to mark their territory as safe and secure.
Or try Serene-Um – another natural remedy to calm and pacify hyperactivity, 
aggressiveness and nervousness which is recommended for travel sickness, fireworks and thunderstorms with NO side effects. We sell all of these in all our stores and online.
When travelling and once you get to your destination you will want plenty of things to do to stimulate your pet. How about a floating dog toy? Or a classic flying disc? Or a ball launcher? Or a dental treat toy for the journey? We have a fabulous range of stimulating toys for your dog. 
For your cat we have the Wubba range of teasers with rattle and ‘crinkle’ tails, infused with natural catnip and specially developed to appeal to a cat’s instinctive desire to stalk and capture prey.
Plus many more pecifically designed cat toys to keep them amused from furry, plush, wind-up, velvet, mechanical and glamour mice to cat ticklers, ping pong balls and crinkle cat tunnels.
If your animal does have an accident on the way, the brand new product Fizzion is fantastic for removing stains and odours by breaking down bacteria on contact. It won the Best Product of the Year 2011 at the annual Pet trade show PATS and can lift a red wine stain from a cream carpet in 20 seconds!
We stock so many more products to help make your travelling a more enjoyable, calm and fun experience for your pet. Don’t forget the small animals – we have lots of products for them in stock too! So come and see us if you need any advice – or take a look online!
Everyone is encouraged to buy at least one item from a local independent retailer and celebrate diversity on the high street. We’ve teamed up with Mary Portas the Queen of Shops herself, trade associations such as the NFRN and Association of Town Centre Managers, along with national, local and trade press to make sure the campaign is a success.
