(Welcome to our weekly pet column, courtesy of Pet Connection Programs Inc. of Marilla. We post a new article each week, so be sure to check back on a regular basis!)

Pets are beloved members of the family. With Lyme disease on the rise, pet owners should take precautions when taking their pets, particularly dogs, outdoors in warmer weather.

Lyme disease is contracted through bites from black-legged ticks that have become infected after feeding on infected birds or rodents.

(Welcome to our weekly pet column, courtesy of Pet Connection Programs Inc. of Marilla. We post a new article each week, so be sure to check back on a regular basis!)

Emergency Preparedness Week, celebrated earlier this month, was a good time to think about preparing your family for emergencies of any kind, like a power outage, severe storm or hurricane. It's also important to remember the furry and feathered members of your family, too.

Here are some tips to help keep your pets safe:

(Welcome to our weekly pet column, courtesy of Pet Connection Programs Inc. of Marilla. We post a new article each week, so be sure to check back on a regular basis!)

Boating is a pleasure for the entire family, including your beloved pets. No matter if you’re out on the water for an hour, a day or a weekend, we all prefer to bring our pets on board instead of leaving them on dry land.

DiscoverBoating.ca offers some helpful tips to prepare to go boating with pets including: