A bit of preparation will make the weekend safe and fun for all.

Make sure you pack your pet's medications, usual food, a familiar blanket/towel, and toys. It's a good idea to take along a picture of your pet just in case he/she gets lost. How about one of those do-it-yourself machine engraved tags with your cellphone number to attach to the pet's collar?

If you leave your dog at home, be sure to give the temporary caregiver as much information as possible. What time do you usually feed your pet? Do you pick up leftover food or leave it down for snacking? Treats or no treats? Is there a special routine at bed time? Is it normal for your pet to not eat when you're gone? Is your pet spooked by storms? Does your pet have a favorite hiding place?

Contact your vet/emergency animal center to see if they require you to sign some form of authorization to treat your pet while you're out of town.

Visalia, Calif., Assembly Member Bill Maze has taken plenty of grief from his fellow Republicans for pushing the bill, including conservative radio star Rush Limbaugh. But Maze did not back off, calling it a safety issue. "If you have an animal that gets in your face or gets tangled up in your steering wheel while you're driving, you can't properly control (the car)," he told the Sacramento Bee earlier this year.

AB 2233 passed the Senate on a 21-17 vote, with only one Republican vote, Sen. Tom Harmon, R-Huntington Beach. The Assembly has already passed the bill but must agree to minor changes before the legislation heads to Gov. Schwarzenegger's desk. The governor has not taken a position.

The bill is the latest attempt by lawmakers to eliminate driving distractions. Legislation that took effect this summer bans the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.

Maze's bill would start July 1 and prohibit drivers from "holding a live animal in his or her arm or arms, or upon his or her lap." Fines would start at $35. Animals are the ninth-ranked cause of driver distraction, according to the bill's analysis.

Find out which dog ate a couch, who chewed Bill Clinton’s leg and discover the identity of the dog who stole Robert Mondavi’s heart.

Wine Dogs USA Edition is a photographic journal of stunning pictures and great stories – created all for the love of dogs and wine.

Bark Vineyard’s wine for dogs:

According to the industry's top designers for pet accessories, this fall's hottest looks will beckon back to rich hues and traditional back-to-school patterns, especially plaids. Browns of every shade will be this season's neutral tone, as in many falls past according to the owner and designer for Wool and Kashmir in San Francisco, CA: 'jewel-and earth-inspired tones will dominate this season's color palette'. "It's getting back to nature," she says. "All the colors you're going to see are going to be softer and muted. You'll have some bright ones to spark up things, but they're not going to be the really bright, bold primary type colors.

"Last fall, sweaters were very bold and bright and angular," she says. "This fall, it's softer and more organic. Designers are still color blocking, but it's on a softer tone. It's more muted, and instead of stripes, you'll see zigzags in softer colors, so it gives more of a wavy feel.

Fabrics for this season's back-to-school pet accessories focus on comfort and style. Pet parents can look for styles in classic patterns and fabrics, such as corduroy, fleece, velvet and anything that keep our canine classmates cozy. "We make sure that all our fabrics are soft and comfortable, just like we would want for ourselves." says the owner of Pet Rageous Designs in Burlington, MA.

Stylish Preppy Print Pet Collars

At SwankyPet.net, we have focused on building a Preppy Collection that offers pet parents an excellent variety of prints to choose from. Our collection features houndstooth, paisley, tartan and pinstripe prints, with plaids in several color palettes. A traditional, tan Burberry-plaid is available, along with muted greens, rich browns and even a feminine pink plaid. Pictured here is Swanky Plaid and you can access this link to view our complete