With the holiday season, several people find themselves going out of town, possibly to visit relatives, or to take a small vacation. Not all vacationing families leave their pets at home. Many take their four-legged friends along, to the pleasure of all. Dogs that enjoy car travel do not necessarily need to be confined to a crate or carrier as long as the vehicle has a restraining harness. Cats, however, are not as comfortable as dogs in cars and for their own safety need to be confined. It is also a good idea to keep pets in the back seat (although never in the back of an open truck) and to make sure they wear a collar and ID tag with complete information at all times. If pets put their heads out the open windows , they can be injured by debris or made sick from having cold air forced into their lungs. And never should a pet be left in a parked car, not even for a few minutes. For additional information, go the web site of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, click the link for "Pet Care," (under "Expert Advice") and consult "Pet Care Tips" for detailed travel advice. Richland County Public Library has several books that you might find interesting and helpful during this time of year, when we often find ourselves traveling.