IF you are planning to take your pet abroad on holiday this year, I would appeal to you to please think twice before doing so.

Vets are now facing the fact they may have to treat many new diseases here from the continent. One such disease is heartworm, spread by the mosquito.

There is also the danger of your pet getting lost in a foreign country. Cats and dogs, like humans, like to explore their surroundings and if they should get lost -- micro chipped or not -- it would create a nightmare for both pet and owner. It is bad enough when it happens here in England, but when you are abroad for a limited time and with the added problems of language, geographical and cultural differences, and bearing in mind not all countries are animal friendly, the chances of getting your beloved pet back will be extremely slim and its fate doesn't bear thinking about.

J Harwood,

Moor Park Ave

Bispham

Blackpool