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 The Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur is one of the hotels where Insight Vacations guests stay on the gold tours.Photograph by: Insight Vacations

Save on India and Nepal Luxury Journeys

Insight Vacations is offering savings up to $400 per couple on its premium and $800 per couple on its gold India itineraries if you book and pay by April 30, 2012 for trips between Aug. 1, 2012 and April 30, 2013.

These escorted journeys take travellers through India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan, to ancient temples and palaces, on scenic boat cruises and jungle safaris. While feasting on authentic local cuisine, guests stay in deluxe accommodations and visit iconic landmarks like the Taj Mahal and the Amber Fort. Prices start at $2,425 (per person, based on double occupancy, does not include airfare to India) for their nine-day Essence of India tour, which takes travellers through India’s Golden Triangle to the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage.

Depending on the package, some meals are included, and the best deals can be had if travelling as a couple (singles prices are significantly higher). All tours are led by professional tour directors, and travel is on air-conditioned coaches and minibuses. For more information, visit

insightvacations.com. To make a booking, use promo code PPIPREIN7 for savings on premium journeys or PPIGOLDIN7 for gold journeys.

Free New England spring skiing with next season’s pass

For those skiers and snowboarders who still haven’t had enough time on the slopes, Boyne Resorts is offering a deal on its 2012-2013 New England Pass that includes free skiing for the rest of this season at Loon Mountain, Sugarloaf and Sunday River. Even with the recent record highs, these resorts are extending their season into April, and have been busy making snow to keep their trails in top spring skiing condition.

Starting at $379 (before tax), the New England Pass grants access to 346 trails served by 42 lifts during peak season.

Located in Maine (Sunday River, Sugarloaf) and New Hampshire (Loon Mountain), these resorts are a few hours’ drive from Montreal and offer skiing and snowboarding as well as superpipes, half-pipes, scenic Nordic trails, terrain parks and tree skiing areas.

The pass also includes lodging deals as well as savings on lift tickets at Boyne Resorts’ western mountains.

For more information about the passes and resorts, visit newenglandpass.com or check out loonmtn.com, sundayriver.com, and sugarloaf.com.

Western Summer Getaways

Bellstar Hotels and Resorts are offering up to 40-per-cent off advance bookings at their resorts in Canmore, Alta.; in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley; and at Kicking Horse, B.C., if you stay for at least six nights.

Whether it’s pristine nature and Rocky Mountain views, golfing in the Okanagan or horseback riding in the Banff National park, these sound like they might be good summer vacation options.

Prices start at $129 per night for a one-bedroom suite if you book by April 23 for stays between May 22 and Sept. 4, 2012. Each resort offers different attractions and amenities.

If it’s outdoor activities and scenic views you crave, the Solara Resort & Spa and the Blackstone Mountain Lodge in Canmore are located near Banff National Park, where you can hike, mountain bike, or go horseback riding before retiring to elegant accommodations surrounded by mountain peaks.

For more information, go to bellstar.ca/special-offers

Turks and Caicos deals for Canadians

Gansevoort Turks + Caicos is offering a spring promotion that makes every fourth night free during the month of April. Along with the extra night, guests receive a bottle of champagne upon arrival and $50 of resort credit per adult.

If you can’t make it this month, they also have a “Canucks Special” that runs from May through September 2012. This offers a free fifth night, a bottle of champagne, a $50 resort credit per adult, a 10-per-cent discount at their spa, and early check-in and late checkout (based on availability).

The resort is located on the island on Providenciales, with 91 guest rooms and four penthouse suites set on 400 feet of pristine white sand beach. They also boast a 7,000-square-foot oceanview swimming pool and a fully equipped fitness centre. Room rates start at $500 U.S (excluding taxes). Children under 12 stay for free, and the resort offers kids’ activities and babysitting with 48-hour notice. You can also take your small pets along for a $50 fee.

For more information, you can call 1-888-844-5986 or visit gansevoortturksandcaicos.com. To book these deals, they recommend you call and mention the “Amazin’ April” or “Canucks” Promo.

Aussie Train Discounts

The Great Southern Rail is offering up to 25 per cent off their rail tickets on the Ghan, Indian Pacific or Southern Spirit train journeys if you book before June 30, 2012.

These train journeys take travellers through Australia’s top destinations including Alice Springs, Byron Bay and the Grampians. The Ghan, named for the Afghans who the ran camel trains between the north and south of Australia, takes passengers from Darwin to Adelaide via Alice Springs. This scenic and extraordinary trip is known to be one of the great train journeys of the world.

Prices start at $615 U.S for the Gold Service trips, for which their itineraries have been “carefully crafted to give guests full appreciation of the train experience and Australia.” Bookings must be made by June 30, 2012 for travel on select departure dates through March 2013. For more information, visit greatsouthernrail.com.au.

Max Harrold returns to Deals of the Week April 28.

STATEN ISLAND, NY — He wasnt riding an Acme rocket or chasing a roadrunner, but as of today, Staten Island has a resident coyote, spotted at the former Fresh Kills landfill.

About 7:45 am, Nick Mirto was delivering a truckload of soil to the 1-9 section, to finish capping the last spot at the dump, when he saw something to the left out his trucks window.

I just looked to the left, and there he was, about 30 feet from the road we just drove down, said Mirto, a New Jerseyan.

Mirto has seen herds of deer at the dump, and even two red foxes — he spotted one just last month — but this was his first coyote sighting, so he snapped a few photos with his iPhone.

I sent the picture to a friend of mine who hunts and he said, Thats a coyote.

The sighting, near Travis, was in a field where tall grass recently had been cut down, Mirto explained.

He looks very healthy, Mirto said. Theres plenty of food in there for him to eat.

Dr. Paul D. Curtis, an associate professor who serves as the extension wildlife specialist in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University and is the co-principal investigator for the New York Suburban Coyote Study initiated by the Department of Environmental Conservation, also confirmed that the photo is a typical Eastern coyote.

There have been reports of coyote sightings in Long Island, Queens and even Central Park for the last six years or so, Dr. Curtis said, with well-established populations in southern Westchester County, which he attributes as the source for city ¤yotes.

It is just a matter of time before dispersing coyotes figure out how to cross the bridges at night and get onto [the Island], Dr. Curtis explained. Juvenile coyotes may disperse 50 miles or more from where they were born.

Coyotes are extremely territorial, so juveniles tend to leave in search of their own hunting grounds, and some coyotes tagged in Westchester have been shot by hunters as far away as Connecticut, Dr. Curtis said.

Coyotes can be dangerous to people and pets, and they should be treated with respect, Dr. Curtis said. Small dogs [15 pounds] are at greatest risk. Coyotes will kill dogs in territorial defense. Very aggressive coyotes have even tried to kill small dogs while the owner was at the other end of a leash.

Attacks on people or children are rare, but they do occur, he said. Two people in Rye, Westchester County, were bitten by a rabid coyote two years ago, and a toddler in a New Jersey yard was bitten about three years ago, Dr. Curtis added.

The DEC has no records of coyote sightings on the Island, said Thomas Panzone at the DEC.

The odd coyote spotted in the Bronx is a solitary animal looking for food or shelter, Panzone said.

Coyote sightings have increased in and around the city in recent years, and the DEC estimates there are between 20,000 and 30,000 coyotes living in the state.

The DECs website offers some tips to avoid any conflicts with coyotes and to keep your small pets from becoming lunch.

Coyotes are usually fearful of people, but in a suburban setting they may lose that fear and begin to associate a human scent with food such as garbage, pet food or your actual pets, and should be considered dangerous if they are no longer spooked by people, according to the DEC.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) March 28, 2012

Paparazzi and beauty pageants aren’t just for the bikini clad this spring. Small pets, such as hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits, get a chance to show off their talent, personality, intelligence and, of course, beauty during Petco’s monthly Meet the Critters event. According to the American Pet Product Association, five million US households care for small animals – this event is their opportunity to put the spotlight on their pet!

Guests are invited, with their furry buddy, to their local Petco to snap pictures in the “Small Animal Photo Booth” or to be a pet paparazzi during the Small Animal Beauty Contest taking place on March 31 and April 1 from 1-3 pm. The barrage of free flash-happy activities are sure to amuse pet parents while offering them a chance to hold on to fun memories of their furry friend in the spotlight.

For those who don’t own a small animal or just want to find out more about these mini-pets, knowledgeable staff will be on hand for an interactive meet and greet. Kids of all ages will get a chance to find out about habitat, diet, care and other fun facts, such as:

• A happy guinea pig may jump straight up and down. This movement is called “popcorning.”
• Guinea pigs are social creatures that need daily quality time and interaction with their human family.
• Guinea pigs can develop social relationships with people or other species of animals.
• Feeding your hamster fruits and vegetables occasionally is important to their diet.
• Hamsters should be let out of their cage to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
• Many teachers have hamsters and other small animals as classroom pets to teach children compassion and responsibility.

Customers are also encouraged to upload their pictures from the Small Animal Photo Booth and Animal Beauty Contest to Facebook.com/Petco for a chance to win a Petco gift card. For more information on the event please contact your local store or visit http://www.petco.com/kids for more information.

About Petco

Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer that provides the products, services and advice that make it easier for our customers to be great pet parents. Everything we do is guided by our vision for Healthier Pets. Happier People. Better World. We operate more than 1,100 stores nationwide, including more than 30 Unleashed by Petco locations, a smaller format neighborhood shop, and http://www.petco.com. The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has raised more than $90 million since it was created in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support approximately 7,500 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 250,000 animals through in-store adoption events every year.

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The Hinsdale Police Department has issued a community alert following attacks on two small dogs by large birds that appeared to be hawks.

Deputy Chief Mark Wodka said the attacks took place in the last month within or near the village limits. In one case, he said the bird caused substantial injuries to the dog, which required extensive medical treatment. Both of the dogs weighed under 20 pounds.

Although there are few reports of such attacks nationwide, Wodka said the alert is being issued to let residents know they should protect small pets.

The Willowbrook Wildlife Center offered several tips for protecting small animals from attacks.

They are:

- Keep small pets (cats, rabbits, small dogs) indoors. Don’t allow them to run free at any time. They are easy prey.

-Keep an umbrella or coat available to make yourself appear larger if needed to scare away other animals.

-Use a short leash when walking your pet.

-Do no leave domestic pet food outside. All wildlife will soon depend on it.

-Be aware that fences do not guarantee your pets safety, particularly from above.

-Always attend to small pets outdoors.

Boca Raton, Florida (PRWEB) January 10, 2012

Native Remedies, the leading online brand of herbal and homeopathic remedies, announces an expanded partnership with Abe’s Market, an online natural marketplace offering a wide variety of natural products.

This partnership brings the entire line of Native Remedies products, including its PetAlive line for pets, to Abe’s large selection of natural, organic and eco-friendly products, offering consumers an even better one-stop shopping experience.

Herbal and homeopathic remedies are exciting growth categories for our online marketplace. Abes Market sells only the highest quality products that meet our rigorous standards, and we are thrilled to be working with Native Remedies, a leader in this space, said Brian Tockman, Vice President of Merchandising amp; Operations at Abe’s Market.

Sellers on Abe’s Market include mompreneurs, former corporate execs, father-daughter teams, celebrities, and others with a passion for natural products. This too appealed to Native Remedies, a family-run business that began with a vision to help people find a natural way to mitigate their symptoms and build their long term systemic health.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Abe’s Market, a truly unique marketplace that we are proud to be a part of. It’s a company with a mission very similar to ours, supporting the natural approach to health for the entire family,” said George Luntz, president of Native Remedies.

Abe’s Market combines the feel of a local, organic market with the selection one would expect from an online superstore. Native Remedies’ full range of products now available covers complete family wellness, including children’s, men’s and women’s health, psychological health, weight management, learning and concentration and more. Additionally PetAlive, Native Remedies’ full line of natural remedies for dogs, cats, horses and small pets, is now also available at Abe’s Market.

Native Remedies delivers a unique dual-modality approach for complete holistic wellness by offering OTC homeopathic remedies for relief of symptoms as well as compound herbal remedies for natural support and enhancement of body structure and functions. This provides customers the tools to both manage and mitigate symptoms for immediate relief, while building up their systems for long-term wellness.

About Native Remedies:

Founded in 2002, with over 500,000 customers worldwide and more than 250 herbal and homeopathic remedies, Native Remedies is the market leader in specially formulated, compound natural remedies. All Native Remedies’ herbal and homeopathic remedies for people as well as PetAlive for pets are now available via http://www.abesmarket.com/

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The SPCA for Monterey County is holding a special adoption event Friday through Monday.

It will reduce the adoption fee on all dogs, cats, small pets, and exotics six months and older.

Dogs will be $50, cats are Pick Your Price, exotics are 50 percent off and small pets are $5.

Regular fees range from $35 to $290.

In an effort to find all adult cats loving homes, the SPCA is letting adopters choose their own adoption fee during the event.

All cats will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and given a health evaluation. They will also come with a pet carrier, a four pound bag of cat food, one month of pre-paid pet health insurance, and lots more.

The SPCA for Monterey County is located at 1002 Highway 68, across from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Adoption hours are 11 am to 5 pm weekdays and 11 am to 4 pm weekends.

Information: 831-422-4721.

Homeowners see coyotes running around Clifton and they have some concerns for their small pets. The animals have been seen back yards and running across Ludlow Avenue near Cincinnati State. Local 12s Angela Ingram has more on what the Ohio Department of Natural Resources wants people to know.

One of the biggest tips is dont feed them. Make sure your garbage cans are secure if you know coyotes are in your neighborhood.

People whove seen them in Clifton say they havent been aggressive, but they are large. I was surprised to see them so healthy and I was surprised to see a pack, too.

A few years ago, local 12 caught a woman on camera feeding them — a definite no, no according to wildlife experts. We saw something run across the street and I was just like, is this a raccoon on steroids? It was just big and it went very fast and my friend in the car just said, expletive, are those wolves and I said, no they look like hyenas, but we knew they werent either one and these coyotes were just huge.

Experts with the SPCA say the animals are common in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says there a few basic rules to keep them out of your yard: Dont feed them, leave your lights on at night in your yard, secure your garbage cans, try to keep small pets and their food in the house.

The DNR says, in general, the coyotes want nothing to do with people. and, if we dont bother them, they likely wont bother us. Did they seem aggressive at all? No they were just running. They were beautiful and wild.

DNR also says the animals are territorial. and, they are canines, so there could be a confrontation with pet dogs. Thats why experts are recommending that you keep your pets in the house if coyotes are in your neighborhood.

DNR has information about coyotes on its website.

Q: We are trying to decide whether to put tinsel on our Christmas tree this year. Our cat loves to eat tinsel and we always assumed this was fairly safe (like eating grass). However, I read recently that tinsel could be dangerous to small pets, especially cats, if ingested. I also remember reading an article last year that said tinsel was harmless! What are the facts? Is tinsel dangerous or harmless?

A: Your confusion is understandable because, up until a few years ago, tinsel was thought to be harmless if ingested. The facts, according to most experts and the ASP-CA, are that tinsel, along with ribbons, string and yarn, can cause intestinal problems, including vomiting, intestinal blockage and constipation. Tinsel in particular can be dangerous because cats and kittens find it very appealing and love to play with it. The common wisdom is that you should try to keep tinsel, string, yarn and ribbons away from all pets.

Tinsel is not the only hazard pets can encounter during the holiday season. By far, the great majority of holiday hazards involve some sort of inappropriate ingestion; ie, pets eating or swallowing things they should not. The most common digestive upsets encountered in dogs are either due to overeating or a change in diet such as an inappropriate treat or table scraps.

To prevent problems during the holiday season, it is best to simply avoid feeding anything that your pet is not accustomed to eating. Avoid turkey or ham bones, which can cause gastro-intestinal upsets and obstructions. Also avoid nuts of all kinds, since they can cause intestinal obstructions if swallowed whole. Macadamia nuts are especially toxic.

Accidental chocolate ingestion, especially in dogs, is a common reason for emergency visits during the holidays. Chocolate should not be fed to pets because it contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs and cats if fed to excess.

Milk chocolate is the least toxic, while baking chocolate and dark chocolate are the most toxic, with baking chocolate having about 10 times more theobromine than ordinary milk chocolate.

Poinsettias have had a long and controversial history of being considered poisonous to humans and pets. This belief found its roots in a news story published several decades ago that incorrectly reported that a child had died after ingesting some poinsettia leaves. This misinformation has managed to persist over the years. Poinsettias can cause irritations in the mouth or stomach if enough leaves are ingested, but they are not poisonous. By contrast, mistletoe and holly are very poisonous and can be fatal if ingested.

Decorative lights and electric cords also pose a hazard.

It is a good idea to routinely examine both indoor and outdoor lights and cords to check for bite marks, loose or frayed wires, or evidence of a potential short circuit.

Any small objects such as tree ornaments and toy parts can be easily swallowed by pets and cause intestinal problems.

By taking basic commonsense precautions and keeping a watchful eye, most pets (and pet owners) can enjoy a trouble-free holiday season.

Dr. Bernhard Pukay is an Ottawa veterinarian. Address letters to Pet Care, Ottawa Citizen, PO Box 5020, Ottawa K2C 3M4. Email: pets@ottawacitizen.com

Coyotes are in the news in suburban Boston again, this time the focus of a column that suggests we might start shooting them to reduce their numbers.

#13;

Complaints about coyotes seem to be few in Milford, but surely we have them. Theyve crossed into every state east of the Mississippi by now. They eat rodents and small animals, but will kill and eat cats and small pets if they are hungry enough. Shooting them is against the law, and trapping them is too, in Massachusetts.

#13;

Other animals seem to be irritating us more lately, it seems. Not sure why, but the place seems overloaded with chipmunks for some reason. They sure are cute, until they move into your home, as I discovered last year. Then good luck getting them out.

#13;

Please vote in our unofficial poll: what is the most annoying creature out there?

HONOLULU — Hawaii is at-risk from the damaging brown tree snake from Guam.

There are no highly trained detector dogs searching for the invasive species, which has decimated bird and animal populations in Guam.

Guam has 15,000 snakes per square mile. The snakes have eaten a lot of the birds, frogs and small pets, said Rep. Barbara Marumoto.

Detection dogs kept the snakes out of Hawaii, but budget cuts put the program in the doghouse back in 2009.

We lost them at that time, said Carol Okada, with the Department. of Agriculture.

Without the super-sniffers, snakes can sneak into the islands on a plane or a ship from Guam.

This is a major, major threat to Hawaii, said Okada.

Because Hawaii doesnt have any snakes in the wild, the islands also dont have any predators to keep the snakes in check.

They could really devastate our poultry industry, egg industry and electrical supply because they get into transformers and create short-circuits, said Marumoto.

Because of the threat, Marumoto will introduce legislation this upcoming session to fund three detection dogs again.

The canines could not only sniff out brown tree snakes, they can also be trained to target other invasive species or banned aquatic life.

During the time without the dogs, Hawaii has seen a swarm of illegal animals arriving in the islands.

Weve been finding a lot more snake occurrences, a lot more people with unwanted pets. Those who deal with the illegal pet trade have taken advantage of our lessened resources, said Okada.

Okada hopes the detection dog program will start up this year because flights from Guam are expected to increase as military operations expand.

The federal government has already set aside a $300,000 grant for the brown tree snake detection dogs, but the state needs additional funding to stop other invasive species from getting in.