Tips for Road Trips With Pets
(ARA) - Bringing the family pet along on a road trip may seem like a good idea – you don’t have to ask friends or family to look after your pet and you can avoid the costs and concerns that go with boarding and kennels. But traveling with pets in the car also brings special challenges that, fortunately, can be met with a bit of forethought and careful preparation of both the vehicle and pet.
According to information from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), which recently teamed with Subaru of America to produce a brochure on pet travel tips, bringing a pet along on a road trip simply involves adapting your routine to the road. All of the things you take into consideration at home – your pet’s health, happiness and safety – should be thoughtfully addressed when traveling with your pet.
Here are 10 helpful tips for road-tripping with pets from the AVMA and Subaru:
* If your pet is not accustomed to car travel, take it for a few short rides before your trip so it will feel confident that a car outing does not necessarily mean a trip to the veterinarian or an unpleasant destination.
* Cats should always be confined to a cage or in a cat carrier to allow them to feel secure and prevent them from crawling under your feet while you are driving.
* Dogs riding in a car should not ride in the passenger seat if it is equipped with an airbag, and should never be allowed to sit on the driver’s lap.
* See your automotive dealer for pet accessories designed specifically to fit your vehicle, such as compartment dividers that separate pets and cargo from the passenger area. Several automobile manufacturers, including Subaru, offer a dog guard/compartment divider that keeps pets safely in the rear cargo area of station wagons, “crossover” vehicles and SUVs.
* Pets should not be allowed to ride with their heads outside car windows. Particles of dirt or other debris can enter the eyes, ears, and nose, causing injury or infection.
* Give small portions of food and water. Plan to stop every two hours for exercise. Remember to include a leash with your pet’s traveling supplies.
* If your dog has a problem with carsickness, your veterinarian can prescribe medication that will help the dog feel comfortable during a long car trip.
* Pack a simple pet first-aid kit that includes assorted bandages, antiseptic cream, an anti-diarrheal medication that is safe for pets (ask your veterinarian to suggest a product), gauze squares, phone numbers for your veterinarian, and a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital at your destination, as well as a national poison control hotline.
* In addition to a standard identification tag (which should be labeled with your name, home address, and phone number), your pet’s collar should include a travel tag with information on where you are staying while away from home. Should your pet become lost, this will allow you to be contacted locally.
* Perform a daily “health check” on your pet when away from home. In unfamiliar surroundings, your pet’s appetite, energy, and disposition may change. Watch for unusual discharges from the nose and eyes, excessive scratching or biting of any body part, abnormal elimination, or excessive water consumption. Visit a local veterinarian if you are concerned about any physical or behavioral changes.
As you can see, a little planning and a carefully prepared vehicle can make all the difference between a good time had by all and a road trip filled with regret.
To download a color copy of the AVMA/Subaru Traveling With Your Pet brochure, visit
http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/traveling/traveling_brochure.pdf.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
RALEIGH - Raleigh police say Dillard Roe Johnson stole gas cards from an engineering company, then hung around gas stations offering motorists fill-ups for $20 a pop. Now police are trying to track down everyone who took advantage of the special offer — possibly hundreds of people.
Johnson, 27, of 507 Dacian Drive was charged Thursday with three felony counts of financial card fraud, three felony counts of breaking and entering into a motor vehicle and one count of financial card theft, according to a Wake County jail spokesman. Police said he broke into work trucks at Bass, Nixon and Kennedy in West Raleigh over the weekend.
Company president Ed Davenport said whoever stole the cards set up an illicit gas business at Triangle gas stations. “By Monday morning, $23,000 worth of gas had been charged on the cards,” he said.
Scott Wilson, the firm’s survey manager, said the cards were used more than 300 times at more than two dozen gas stations in Raleigh, Smithfield, Morrisville, Wake Forest and Youngsville. Gas purchases ranged from $5 to $400, with most falling between $50 and $100.
“He would stay at some stations for more than an hour, moving from pump to pump,” Wilson said.
Bass, Nixon & Kennedy officials learned of the break-ins Sunday morning. Wilson said they were not too concerned because the thieves did not have the cards’ activation numbers. Wilson said he isn’t sure how someone gained the cards’ numbers, though at some stores an activation number isn’t needed to purchase gas at the pumps.
Johnson confessed to the break-ins and card thefts, according to a search warrant made public Thursday.
Read More:News & Observer
Inexpensive electric vehicles, like the Zap truck, eliminate expensive fuel costs.
(NewsUSA) - What’s the best way to save money on gas? Stop buying gas and use electric cars.
According to a new AAA survey, gas prices are becoming a chief concern for consumers. But for Americans with long commutes, walking and biking between work, home and children’s soccer games might not be a viable option.
Electric cars - the ones that run without gasoline engines - are no longer science fiction.
One electric car maker, Zap, has put affordable electric cars and trucks on the market. Zap vehicles use rechargeable batteries and plug into standard outlets. All you do is plug it in like a cell phone.
These vehicles are even becoming a viable option for dealerships to stimulate sales in a down economy. Zap cars provide a gas-free way to get to work, pick up the kids and run errands. They also make an economical addition to your business or government fleet.
Zap city cars and trucks might cost around $11,000, while electronic scooters sell for as little as $3,000. Along with their low initial cost, electric cars also save drivers money on the roads. You can even qualify for 100 percent financing on these vehicles.
As gas prices climb, more Americans are spending over $60.00 just to fill their vehicles’ fuel tanks. Recharging an electric car costs around 60 cents.
According to the California Air Resources Board, a person driving an electric car for 30 miles each day can save 750 gallons of gas - and around $2,500 - each year.
Electric vehicles have no tailpipe exhaust. They don’t emit greenhouses gases. Even after factoring in the pollution from electric power plants, electric cars still cause 90 percent less pollution than gasoline-powered cars.
State and federal governments understand electric cars’ value. Many offer financial incentives for people purchasing electric cars.
Electric cars can include a solar option that helps save even more. Solar panels can extend your range if parked on a sunny day and can double the life of the battery before it needs replacing. Plus, nothing makes an environmental statement like a solar-charged electric car.
Zap dealerships are being set up across the U.S. To find one or to register to test drive a Zap, call 800-251-4555 or visit www.zapworld.com.
New services allow drivers to get body repairs and paint jobs on their cars without leaving their driveways.
(NewsUSA) - A minor accident in a parking lot, a too-close encounter with another car’s door. Small dents and scratches hurt cars’ resale value, but few owners make repairs.
When damages cost less than their deductible, many drivers would rather pay out-of-pocket than see an increase in their insurance rates. Other car owners simply feel too busy to take their vehicle to a collision repair shop, where they might be expected to leave their car for several days.
The average driver keeps their car for nine years. Minor accidents are on the rise, and yet, dent and scratch repair work remains stagnant. Many people simply cannot pay increased insurance premiums or take precious time from their busy schedules. So, minor dings, dents and scratches remain eyesores on people’s cars.
But new companies have perceived a need and taken steps to fill it. One company, “Collision on Wheels, We Come to You!,” started out as a traditional body shop. Since becoming a mobile body shop on wheels, the company has become a national franchise.
The company sends qualified technicians to people’s homes, where they provide same-day paint, scratch, dent and minor collision repairs. Their technicians use the same equipment found in any indoor body shops and use protective covers when it rains or snows. Collision on Wheels uses high-quality, environmentally safe paints. Technicians can repair most minor dents, scratches or abrasions within half a day.
The company does support insurance claims. Although many repairs cost less than deductibles, car owners often choose to skip the paperwork, adjustments and other hassles for the sake of a dent-free car.
Collision on Wheels provides a great option for busy Americans who have little time to visit a traditional body shop. Repair of small dents and dings before selling or turning in a lease can also increase resale value.
Small accidents happen. The good news is that a scratch or dent that happens in two seconds doesn’t mean having to leave your car in a body shop for days anymore. With services like Collision on Wheels, drivers can get body repair and paint service from their home or office.
For more information, visit www.collisiononwheels.com.
(ARA) – The most dangerous risk most people face at work is getting their tie caught in the copy machine. Not Bill Gratzianna. He and his wife Marci own the Chicago-based O’Hare Towing and Recovery. He knows first-hand that accidents happen and cleaning up isn’t for the faint of heart.
While most people are familiar with the tow truck if their car breaks down or if they’ve parked illegally, the towing and recovery business can be a very dangerous one. According to the Tow Truck Association of America, more than 60 operators are killed on the job each year. Some reports put the number as high as 100.
The crew from O’Hare Towing puts their lives on the line during each recovery–and they respond to more than 200 calls each day. “This is a very dangerous job,” says Bill. “We lose a lot of towing operators on a regular basis…every response is delicate and can be volatile.”
Calls may be as mundane as a flat tire on the side of the road or cleaning up the remnants of a major wreck. “Seeing teen bodies being pulled out of a wrecked car after drinking and driving will haunt me forever,” says Katie Gratzianna, Bill and Marci’s 16-year-old daughter.
Keeping a busy towing business functioning in the middle of chaos is in Bill and Marci Gratzianna’s blood. Their parents are in the business and Bill’s brother (who also happens to be married to Marci’s sister) owns a rival shop. The best thing about the job, says Marci, is working with her family.
A typical day at O’Hare Towing and Recovery includes 12-hour shifts filled with adrenaline, accidents, yelling and lots of coffee and doughnuts.
“This is a world similar in many respects to that of a major urban firehouse,” says Robert Ecker, vice president of programming for SPEED. “Until the phone rings and that emergency call comes in, there’s simply no way of knowing what any given day will bring and when it does come, lives can literally hang in the balance.”
Viewers can follow the Windy City’s toughest (and most colorful) towing family as their new show “Wrecked” debuts on SPEED July 17 at 10 p.m. Eastern/9 p.m. Central. The show is Bill’s latest pride and joy. “We gave them the ammo for the best tow show ever,” he says.
For more information or for a programming schedule, visit www.SpeedTV.com
Proper maintenance from a professional shop with certified technicians can help drivers pump up their fuel efficiency.
(NewsUSA) - When gas prices rise, Americans start feeling a pinch where it hurts -; in their pocketbooks.
But gas prices are no reason to stay home. AAA has some useful tips to help maximize your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
First, perform basic vehicle checks that will help maximize your miles per gallon:
- Check your air filter twice a year. A dirty filter reduces performance and increases fuel consumption.
- Check your tires monthly, and inflate to the recommended pressure. Under-inflated tires not only increase fuel use, they are a safety hazard.
Second, listen when your vehicle tells you something is wrong. Take your car in for service right away if you experience:
- Engine bucking, surging, stalling, misfire or poor performance. These symptoms indicate a problem that is wasting fuel.
- The “check engine” light comes on. This means exhaust emissions are too high and fuel economy is too low.
Third, consult your owner’s manual for the recommended maintenance needed to keep your vehicle running efficiently. Have those services performed by a shop with certified technicians who can spot other problems that may affect fuel consumption.
Looking for a good shop? Visit the automotive page of www.AAA.com to find local AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities that meet and maintain high standards.
Finally, AAA reminds motorists that how you drive has the single greatest impact on how much fuel your vehicle burns. Fuel-saving habits to consider include:
- Maintaining a steady speed. Cars require extra fuel when they accelerate, so avoid quick starts and stops that waste gas and are harder on vehicle components.
- Lightening your load. Don’t haul unneeded items in your vehicle; their added weight will increase fuel use.
- Traveling at moderate highway speeds. Higher speeds require more power and fuel to overcome air resistance.
- Using the air conditioner conservatively. Air conditioning requires lots of power. In cool weather around town, turn the air conditioner off, and open your windows. In hot weather or on the highway, set the air conditioning to a higher temperature. Where available, use “economy” or “recirculation” settings to reduce air conditioner operation and minimize the amount of hot outside air that must be cooled.
Elite engine builders use simple techniques, like upgrading oil, to increase horsepower without spending much money.
(NewsUSA) - Today’s top engine builders know how to get extra horsepower from their cars without spending extra money.
At the 2008 Engine Masters Challenge, engine builders will put their engineering and mechanical skills to the test, working to make a normal, V-8 passenger car engine more powerful.
But you don’t need engine-building skills to get extra horsepower. These tips will help car owners looking to increase their horsepower without increasing spending:
- Upgrade your lubricants. Friction and heat from the engine and the drive train rob horsepower, leading to poorer engine performance. Reducing the power lost proves easy - simply upgrade to one of the high-performance lubricants now available.
In a recent test by Horsepower TV, upgrading to high-performance motor oil freed up to eight horsepower in a V8 engine.The test video can be found online at www.royalpurple.com.
- Replace or upgrade your air filter. In the engine, dust and other materials cause excessive wear and operating problems. Air filters need to be replaced regularly.
Upgrading to a high-performance air filter, which costs little and only takes five minutes to install, can free up an additional two to three horsepower.
- Use higher octane gas or an octane booster. Depending on your vehicle, high-octane gasoline can increase its horsepower.
Some people might not mind spending extra pennies at the pump for increased power. But upgrading to high-octane gas won’t always yield noticeable results.
For those who want a more measurable increase in power, a racing blend of gasoline will work well. Octane boosters, another solution, can be bought at auto parts stores.
Upgrading your gas, lubricants and air filter will increase horsepower without requiring an expert or becoming expensive. Better yet, improving performance will extend the life of your engine and help prevent the need for expensive repairs.
(ARA) - For those in the market to buy a used vehicle, there is definitely some homework to be done. Online price comparisons, vehicle ratings, personal inspections, professional inspections and vehicle history checks are all critical parts of the process. Despite all this information gathering, however, even the most savvy and educated used car buyers can sometimes fall back on folklore passing as common wisdom about what is or isn’t a good purchase. Unfortunately, myths and assumptions can keep people from choosing the vehicle that is truly best for them.
For instance, most everyone is drawn to the idea of a car that was owned by another person – someone like them. However, when many used car buyers happen upon a former rental car, it typically sends up a red flag. But should it?
According to research from Experian Automotive, being a former rental car is not necessarily a negative for potential buyers. Short-term rental cars tend to have been through strict maintenance regimens, which can help ensure their longevity even though they may be driven harder than non-rental vehicles.
Another common misconception is that cars with only one prior owner are automatically better than similar vehicles that have had more than one owner.
Though farfetched, the notion of a car owned only by some sweet elderly woman whose commutes were restricted to church and the grocery store remains appealing and sought after. However, Experian’s vehicle history research shows that unless a vehicle is eight years or older, the number of owners isn’t a major factor in the vehicle’s projected longevity.
Other people avoid buying used cars from the “saltwater states” bordering the ocean, or those that may have often been driven on bumpy, unpaved roads. Geography, in fact, has little to do with the longevity of a used vehicle. Whether a vehicle was used on highways or rural routes, in icy, northern winters or balmy, southern summers, statistics show that location has no material bearing on the projected longevity of the car.
Cars having been through a wholesale auction are also frequently seen as less favorable. But these auctions are and have been a common way for used car dealers to find vehicles for their lot or to eliminate excessive inventory. Many times vehicles at auctions are fresh off a lease – usually meaning they are only slightly used with relatively low mileage – which statistics show is a definite positive for potential buyers.
A new feature of Experian’s AutoCheck (http://www.autocheck.com ) called the AutoCheck Score takes statistical analysis of millions of vehicle histories and compares that to an individual used car you may be considering. Like a credit score, it produces a numeric summary for that specific car based on dozens of factors in that vehicle’s past, and compares it to the scores of similar vehicles. It’s the picture of a vehicle’s history based on real research, not on myths and guesses.
“There is no safe or sane way to buy a used car or truck based solely on common myths or assumptions. Buy a vehicle history report that makes it easy to understand and compare a vehicle’s history. The best way to do this is to purchase a report with a score, which offers the quick and easy information you need to buy with confidence,” says Adam Goldfein, host of consumer automotive show AutoScoop. “Buying a used car without a vehicle history report, especially without one that includes a score, is asking for a lot of expensive trouble.”
Besides its age and odometer reading, the AutoCheck Score factors in reported events such as title and registration information, collisions, auction data, the vehicle’s emission history, whether it’s ever been repossessed or stolen, whether the vehicle has ever been a government car, police car or taxi and whether it’s ever been leased. The AutoCheck Score does the analysis, helping you easily understand what a vehicle history report really says about that used car and buy with more confidence.
(NewsUSA) - In an increasingly technological world, the ability of our environments to be “smart” is becoming increasingly important.
Smart environments delivered by Johnson Controls, a global diversified, multi-industrial company, use products, systems and technologies that make our lives more comfortable, safe and sustainable through user-friendly interfaces and intelligent design.
Advances in technology are driving consumers to expect greater levels of personalization, customization, productivity and environmental sensitivity in their everyday lives. People want to feel more secure and at ease; they want to reduce their carbon footprint and prefer to do business with eco-friendly companies.
Geopolitical factors, including the drive for energy independence and the potential impact of climate change, are thought to be triggering increased attention to products and services that optimize energy use. Johnson Controls’ smart environments align with these expectations.
These technologies affect many aspects of our everyday lives.
* An improved automotive experience. Johnson Controls’ systems that link mobile electronic devices - including cell phones, navigational devices and MP3 players - to the vehicle allow the driver to interface with these devices safely and easily.
The company also provides a number of safety-oriented features, including the riACT head restraint, which optimizes the anti-whiplash performance of seats, and soy-content foam for vehicle seating pads that reduce the levels of harmful chemicals required to produce current seat-grade foam.
* Eco-friendly, efficient homes. Making a home into a smart environment means implementing sustainable, cost-saving measures, but it can also enhance the home’s decor and exterior. Johnson Controls’ York Affinity Series air conditioners not only offer an energy-efficient solution to homeowners’ cooling needs, but also enable individuals to customize unit colors to match their home’s exterior. Its quiet-drive system provides unobtrusive, energy-efficient performance contributing to up to 60 percent savings on a homeowner’s energy bills.
* Hybrid solutions for a more sustainable world. Vehicles with hybrid technology are the future of sustainable transportation. Hybrid vehicle technology greatly improves fuel-economy by using battery power to propel the car at lower speeds.
The lithium-ion battery is the most advanced hybrid-vehicle battery available and a critical link to the mass production of hybrid electric vehicles. They are key to reducing our carbon emissions and fuel costs. Johnson Controls’ joint venture with Saft Advanced Power Solutions is a global leader in developing this technology and supporting its acceptance in the marketplace. Additionally, Johnson Controls is the world’s largest recycler of lead-acid batteries and manages a closed-loop recycling system that contributes to a “smart environment” while minimizing the use of virgin lead.
Like Roche, consumers can go beyond recycling and find new ways to reduce their environmental footprints
(NewsUSA) - Being environmentally responsible is not only the right thing to do, it is also the smart thing to do. While helping preserve the environment, it is likely you will save money. Many U.S. corporations understand that being green is good for the environment and for their bottom line, which is why they have implemented original ways to reduce their environmental footprints.
Companies and consumers who want to be greener, but don’t know what to do beyond recycling, can look to some of these innovative companies for eco ideas. For example, Roche pharmaceuticals has been very successful in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the company achieved this goal two years ahead of schedule, which was set with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program (http://www.epa.gov/climateleaders/).
Roche’s pharmacuetical division cut down waste and energy use in a variety of ways, such as:
- Changing the packaging of its osteoporosis drug, Boniva (ibandronate), from a plastic material to a recyclable “blister wrap.”
- Converting its system for submitting paper documents to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to an electronic submission process, saving reams of paper and energy that would have been spent shipping the materials.
- Offering its pharmaceutical sales force the option to choose a hybrid car to drive, saving more than 80,000 gallons of gas per year.
- Roche also introduced co-generation, the ability to generate steam and electricity simultaneously as a source of energy, at its Nutley, New Jersey, headquarters. With co-generation, the costs and emissions were reduced, but generated enough electricity to meet 65 percent of the site’s electricity needs.
