We all know that you don't take your pets along with you if you are going to a tea or maybe shopping, but many of us (along with our people) will be attending the Williamsburg Hitty Convention in October, and you may want to bring along a cherished pet.

There are several rules to remember. Always leash your dog when walking, and make sure to take a plastic bag (you know what for). No one likes to find a doggy mess! It's a good idea to ask the hotel ahead of time if they accept pets. Many hotels either will not accommodate Hitty pets (no matter how well-behaved) or may charge an extra fee. Sometimes you can get this fee waived if your pet will be crated.

Crating a pet is always a good idea when traveling. For one thing, the pet feels safe and secure in his/her familiar surroundings. Place a towel or blanket in the crate so your pet can have the scent of home. Another good reason to crate a pet when traveling is that you never have to worry about your pet running away or chewing hotel furniture when you are at a luncheon. Some pets will feel safer if you also throw a blanket over the top of the crate, to create a snug feeling.

Take along plenty of food and make sure your pet has fresh water at all times. It will be stressful enough on your pet to travel, and you will need to provide more water than usual to help your pet cope with the stress. This does mean that you will need to exercise your pet more often.

If you follow these few simple rules, you should have no problems with your pets when traveling.

• Leash your dog.
• Take plastic bags.
• Ask ahead!
• Crate your pet.
• Bring a towel or blanket from home.
• Provide extra water.
• Throw a blanket over the crate.