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That question was met with a resounding no by pet owners in Italy.

Last week the Italian government proposed a tax on domestic “animals of affection.” With the country struggling to revive its economy, the government was looking for creative ways to raise revenue for its debt-strapped citizens.

Photography: Liz Bustamante

The proposal was met with immediate criticism. Animal rights groups argued the tax would encourage people to abandon their pets. And politicians described the tax as “idiotic” and “shameful.” In fact, outcry from all corners was so swift that the proposal was withdrawn later the same day.

Do you think introducing a pet tax to help raise revenue is a good idea? Do you think such a tax would discourage people from adopting pets?

Will you be packing a bag for your pet for this year’s family vacation? If so, the checklist for your perfect accommodations just added another box: is the hotel pet friendly?

While a hotel’s website may indicate who’s welcome, call and talk to someone directly before booking to know exactly how welcome your pet will be. Here are some questions you may want to ask when deciding if a hotel is right for every member of your family.

Photography: The McClouds

What types of animals are welcomed?
Some places may welcome only dogs, while others may roll out the welcome mat for far more members of the animal kingdom. Hotels may also have restrictions based on the size and age of an animal.

Will we be charged extra for our room?
You may be charged anything from a small fee to help cover cleaning costs to a refundable damage deposit to a nonrefundable deposit. TIP: If your pet is used to being allowed on the furniture at home, pack a sheet to cover the beds and chairs to keep the room a little cleaner – and less furry.

What rooms are available to pet-toting families?
You don’t want to be saddled with an older room with torn curtains and carpet peeling from the floor, or if you’re a non-smoker, a room that’s usually reserved for smokers. And think about asking for a room on the ground level. Much easier to get in and out for those early morning walks and late evening bathroom breaks.

Let me grab a catnap before seeing the sights (photography: Eugene0126jp).

What's the area around the hotel like?
While a selection of restaurants and a mini putt nearby are lovely, if you’ve brought along your dog, you’ll need somewhere to walk him. Is the hotel in the middle of a busy city street, or is it a little off the beaten path with a park and other green spaces just a few minutes away?

Does the hotel provide any pet amenities?
You can save baggage space if you don’t have to pack food and water bowls. But you may want to bring along some comforts from home. The transition to a new place – even a temporary one – may be easier (not to mention less stressful) on your pet if he has his own toys and blanket.

Can I leave my pet alone in the room?
This is a firm no at some places, even if your pet is crated, due to concerns over barking, scratching and other disruptions to fellow guests (and the worry of what may come of the room). At places where the answer is yes, be sure to leave your pet in his crate (for the safety of cleaners or other hotel staff who may enter). You may even want to hang the Do Not Disturb sign on the door.

Are there extra services available for pets?
At places where your pet must be supervised at all times, a pet-sitting service would allow the family to check out local attractions without one person always staying behind.

Is my pet permitted to roam the grounds?
Taking a dip in the pool is probably a no-no, but what about other common areas?

Do I need to bring my pet’s vet papers?
Some hotels may ask you to bring your pet’s paperwork and proof of shots, as well as his ID (collar, tag, etc.).

Do your family vacation plans include your pet?

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote those immortal words in 1850. How could she have known that more than a century and a half later we could use these same words for the four-legged loves of our lives?

Photography: U.S. Army

To celebrate reaching one million Facebook “pet fans,” Petco (a U.S.-based pet supply company) recently asked followers how pets make life one million times better. Here were the top 5 responses:
1. He loves me no matter what.
2. He’s my best friend.
3. He makes me laugh.
4. He's the perfect stress-reducer.
5. He gets me off the sofa.

We asked our Facebook friends a similar question – What does your pet do to make your life a little brighter? – and their responses lovingly confirmed Petco's survey. Here are a few of our favourite responses.

• "They really don't have to do anything. Just looking at my dogs makes me smile." – Debbie Lauzon

• "I'm fostering five kittens right now and the joy I get from watching them play is amazing. They let me love and snuggle them all the time." – Karen Shier

• "Darby loves a snuggle first thing in the morning. If I'm sitting in a chair he'll lie against my chest and go to sleep. His brother Liam is very vocal, and if I'm not getting out of bed soon enough he'll jump on the bed, wake up me and meow in my face." – MJ Westaway

• "When I come home from work my Buffy jumps from the couch to the floor and back about six times, then runs over to me talking in a very high-pitched voice, as if to say, 'I'm so glad you're home!' It's so nice to be loved so very much – and it's also wonderful to be able to return that love to an appreciative being. I am blessed!" – Marsha O'Leary

• "They greet me at the door as though I've been gone weeks, even when I just run to the store for five minutes. And they let me sleep a little longer on Sunday mornings!" – Elsie Ross

• "As soon as our cat realizes that we're awake she'll kiss and lick our noses. After that it's major snuggling time – best way to start the day. Our other cat and our golden retriever bring many smiles to our faces throughout the day in so many ways. Our pets mean the world to us." – Michelle Brugess

• "She wags her tail. It seems like a small thing, but she is paralyzed in her back end, so for her to wag her tail is a big deal to us. She's a dachshund and I love her." – Sandra Smith

• "When my boxer hears me tell my son it's bedtime, she leads the way to his room, curls up on the end of the bed and waits for him. And she stays there until I get both of them up in the morning! Makes me smile every time!" – Denise Phelan

How does your pet make your day a millions times brighter?

Well, you did it. After deciding that the family was indeed ready for an animal, you are now a proud pet parent. Among your first responsibilities? Finding your new addition a doctor.

When looking for a vet take time to visit the clinic to meet the staff and have a look around the facilities. Here are just a few things to think about during your visit.

1. The actual clinic.
First, is it easy for you to get to, or will you be lugging a kitty carrier on two buses, then walking six blocks uphill – both ways? During your tour make note if the facilities are clean, well organized and welcoming.

Yep, I feel at home here (photo: Wikipedia).

2. The vet and his or her staff.
When choosing a vet, you’re not only choosing a doctor for your pet, but you’re also entering into a relationship with the receptionist, technicians and other support staff. Ask for a quick introduction with everyone to make sure you feel comfortable with the arrangement. If you’re checking out a multi-doctor clinic, ask if you can request for your pet to see a specific vet each visit. (You never know who Rover will take a liking to!)

3. The services.
Do you want a one-stop hospital, or are you willing to go somewhere else if your pet needs to see a specialist? If you’re looking for the former, ask about the vet’s board certification (has he studied and passed an exam in a specialty area?). Will you pet be able to get an X-ray on site, or will you be referred to a partner clinic elsewhere? And what about surgical procedures?

4. The hours.
Appointments during regular business hours for you may not be an option. Check the clinic’s hours against your own: maybe they’re open every other Saturday or stay open late on Friday nights. You’ll also want to know ahead of time how emergencies are handled after hours and on holidays.

5. The extra mile.
Will the vet take your phone call if you have a quick question? If you ask to be fit in to the schedule should there be a cancellation, will the clinic squeeze you in?

Is you pet comfy with his vet? What was most important to you when choosing a vet?

A few weeks ago I shared a few of my favourite quotes about cats and a few fun words about dogs. I couldn't resist adding a third volume to the series.

With this collection everyone from world leaders to the rather-not-be-named offers up an opinion on cats versus dogs. Here are 9 quotes I particularly like:

• "Dogs have owners, cats have staff." – Anonymous

• “A cat, after being scolded, goes about its business. A dog slinks off into a corner and pretends to be doing a serious self-reappraisal.” – Robert Brault

Photography: Ohnoitsjamie

• “Dogs come when they’re called; cats take a message and get back to you later.” – Mary Bly

• "Cat's motto: No matter what you've done wrong, always try to make it look like the dog did it." – Anonymous

• “In order to keep a true perspective of one’s importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.” – Dereke Bruce

• "A dog is a man's best friend. A cat is a cat's best friend." – Robert J. Vogel

Photography: Claudio Matsuoka

• “If a dog jumps in your lap, it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer.” – Alfred North Whitehead

• "Cats are ultimate narcissists. You can tell this by all the time they spend on personal grooming. Dogs aren't like this. A dog's idea of personal grooming is to roll in a dead fish." – James Gorman

• "Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow." – Jeff Valdez

Do you have a favourite quote that compares cats and dogs? Or maybe one about rabbits and guinea pigs?

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month in the U.S. The occasion serves as a nice reminder for pet parents on both sides of the border to organize a first-aid kit and create a safety plan for handling pet-related emergencies.

It doesn't hurt to have a supply kit on hand should a bee sting interrupt your dog's backyard playtime or a meet-and-greet between cats gets more testy than expected.

Some gauze and adhesive tape – and a sympathetic friend – will help Rover feel good as new (photography: Mdk572).

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association recommends filling a pet first-aid kit with the following items:

• muzzle
• protective gloves
• digital/rectal thermometer
• rubbing alcohol
• lubricating jelly
• hydrogen peroxide (3% strength)
• antibacterial soap
• sterile rinse solution (saline, used as wound flush or eyewash)
• clean syringes (1 cc and 5 cc)
• pen light
• blanket (for pet transport)
• cotton swabs
• adhesive tape
• gauze squares
• gauze roll
• stretchy bandages
• no-stick sterile wound dressing
• cotton roll
• splinting item (such as a coffee stir stick or tongue depressor, for small pets)
• bandage scissors
• tweezers
• first-aid ointment or cream
• corn syrup

Do you have a first-aid kit and safety plan in place for your pet?

We're a little animal crazy around here. In between sampling the delights coming out of the Test Kitchen and putting a magazine together, you'll find editors sharing stories about and pictures of their non-human family members.

Meet just one of our four-legged friends. Piper is the adorable pug who belongs to our contributing art director, Chris Bond. Chris loves the one-year-old's strong will.. "Her personality is huge," he says, "and we appreciate the fact that she completely has her own!"

Is your pet this cute?

And now we'd like you to tell us about your pets! Canadian Living is introducing a new feature to the magazine called My Pet. Here's all you need to do: Send us a photo of your pet and tell us his or her name and age, as well as something unique that you love about him or her. Please also tell us your name and where you live. You can email us at myfavouritepet@canadianliving.com.

If your pet is featured, we'll send you a Canadian Living cookbook as a thank-you.

We look forward to oohing and aahing over your little critters!

Just a quick note to let you know who won the pair of Julie Klam books offered up in last week's Pet Blog. As usual our trusty friend, the Random Integer Generator, has the answer:

And our winner is:

Congratulations, Dianne! I'll be in touch about getting you your new books!

And thank you to everyone for your comments. My to-read list just got a bit longer!

In an act that would surely cause my mom to express both shock and pride, I organized my desk the other week. In the midst of my clean-up, I rediscovered two books by Julie Klam that celebrate the bonds between humans and dogs, and what we can learn from one another.

In You Had Me at Woof (Riverhead, 2010), Klan chronicles how everything she needs to know about life she learned from her dogs, starting with a Boston terrier rescue named Otto. Through looking after her dogs' needs, she learned a vast array of skills, such as how to be an amateur therapist and how to listen to that still, small voice.

Love at First Bark (Riverhead, 2011) is a "dog-oir" about how caring for dogs is sometimes the best way to take care of ourselves. Klan recounts trying to find a home for an abandoned and abused pit bull named Morris; her time with Clementine, a special needs Boston terrier she takes in as a foster; and the time she journeyed through swampy marshes to help rescue a starving feral puppy with a jar stuck on his head.

For your chance to win this pair of books, please leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2012, telling me what your favourite book (or movie, TV show, etc.) about an animal is or who your favourite fictional pet is. One comment per person, please; this contest is open to residents of Canada only. Not open to any TC Media employees or the people they live with. I'll randomly select and announce the winner on Wednesday, April 3, 2012.

Update (April 12): I've attempted to reach Jode a few time, but haven't heard back. I'll be choosing a new winner.

The new winner is:

Congratulations, Emma!

I'd like to give a big thank-you to everyone who entered our giveaway for the boxes of Nature's Harvest Fresh dog food.

It's always fun to hear about what animals will not eat, because they always seem to be trying to get their noses into anything that looks remotely edible.

Photography: Daniel Piil

As for the winner of the four boxes of dog food, the Random Integer Generator has spoken:

And our winner is:

Congratulations, Jode! I'll be in touch with more details.

Thanks again to everyone who entered.