Lifestyle Magazine

Pets are often regarded as being a part of the family, and for many people, the thought of going on holiday and leaving them behind is abysmal. Bringing your pets with you on a trip however has become so much easier since the introduction of the PETS passport scheme, and all that is needed is a little bit of prior research.

If your pet already has a passport, then you are halfway there. Once you have decided on a likely destination, one of the first things that you will want to do is to research all the airlines. Some airlines have certain restrictions on pets, and others have less, so you will want to find out all information beforehand. All airlines will require that you notify them prior to the flight, and also to book the animal in. Some airlines will allow you to take your pet as hand luggage, and others will keep them in the cargo hold or cabin.

The pet travel scheme allows pets to enter the United Kingdom from certain countries without having to be quarantined. You will want to find out which countries this would apply to; as you may not want your pet all of a sudden taken away from you when you fly back home. To get a pet passport, your pet will have to be fitted with a microchip, as well as be vaccinated against rabies. Once your pet has had a blood test, you will need to wait for a period of six months to see whether the vaccine has worked before your pet will be issued with a passport. Therefore if you are planning a holiday with your pet, make sure that you start planning a few months ahead of time.

For many of us, the thoughts of Pandas conjure up images of a cute and cuddly animal. Although they may look cute, Giant Pandas are not always known for their looks but instead for their often aggressive temperament. Giant Panda Gu Gu lives in the Beijing Zoo, and although he is an absolute favourite with visitors, it is recommended to keep away and avoid touching this large animal. Since 2006, Gu Gu has attacked three people, although why they insist on entering his pen is another question.

Gu Gu weighs 108 kilos and is from the rare family of giant pandas. It is believed that there are only approximately 2000 of these pandas living in China’s wild at present day. Gu Gu’s latest attack was on a man who climbed into the pen to rescue his son’s toy. The Giant Panda clamped himself around the man’s leg, who is now said to be recovering from surgery in the hospital. As yet, police have not announced whether the man will face charges. Previous attacks included a fifteen year old boy and a drunken tourist who only wanted to hug Gu Gu. With signs up around the enclosure and high walls surrounding it; a no entrance policy is clear and visitors should avoid aggravating this beautiful animal.