South Africa Online - South Africa Online - Travel, Accommodation, Car Rental, Forex, Weather, News, Web Hosting and Site Listings   Friday 30 December, 2005, 15:20 (GMT + 2) Web Hosting by Afrihost.com   .:.   Web Development by THOS   Home About SA Accommodation Forex Site Directory Spotlight On... Travel Info Contact Us Sub sections Add Your Site Cool Sites Link to Us Postal Codes Search Help-out! Test   Search Advertisement Advertisement Home Accommodation Arts & Entertainment Business & Finance Computers Education Government Health   Internet Lifestyle Home & Garden News Reference Science & Technology Sport & Recreation Travel Christmas is coming... Oh dear... it’s December already and you missed the last date for sending those overseas Christmas cards! Would they get there anyway Worry no more... just visit www.christmas.co.za and choose from our huge selection of virtual Christmas cards. Unlike ‘some’ virtual card sites our cards are all free to use... every single one! So... send as many as you like! When you like! Postage free! All courtesy of Cards.co.za. Free cards mean more money to spend on presents! And talking of presents... once you have chosen your free cards, why not add a gift Cards has partnered with the number one gifting experience company in South Africa... EGOS so you can send all your family and friends unique gifts this year without having to spend time rushing off to crowded shopping malls. Newsworthy... Festive Season Animal Alerts If you are thinking of celebrating with fireworks – think again! This is the message from the SPCA movement in South Africa which advises that anyone using a firework may find him or herself in deep trouble and subject to a considerable fine. Nevertheless, it is expected that idiots may brazenly challenge the law and law enforcers by wantonly using fireworks, so taking all precautions for animals remains essential. Incidents of misuse of fireworks, including the discharge of a firework without a permit should be reported to the SAPS. Outlets selling fireworks must comply with the provisions of the Explosives Act – if in any doubt, report the outlet to the nearest SAPS for inspection. By definition, informal sellers cannot comply with the explosives act. Any informal sales of fireworks (eg: hawkers, roadside sales, beach-front on on-the-beach sales) must be reported to the SAPS. The SPCA advises that if you are thinking of buying a present for your pet or pets this festive season, the ideal gift would be microchip identification. This is a tamper-proof, permanent identification. Enquiries can be made at your local SPCA or with your veterinarian. Animal issues which arise around this time of year include holiday care for pets. If you haven’t already made arrangements with a boarding kennel or reliable house-sitter, it may be too late. A reminder too that reputable kennels will only accept animals with up-to-date vaccination certificates. Pets in hot cars are a perennial problem. Unless it is absolutely necessary to take your pet in a vehicle (for example, to the veterinarian), then please leave animals at home. Animals can die in hot vehicles – even with windows slightly open. Prevent suffering – leave your pets at home! Ticks and fleas proliferate in hot conditions. Whether you are going away or staying at home, there is no better time to ensure your pets are parasite free than as the summer season arrives. Flies are equal pests. Homeopathic repellents are available. Animal-care is not limited to pets. Please be vigilant in case problems arise. Strikes have been known. Animals in transit are an issue on which SPCAs depend on the public for information. Vehicles carrying cattle or horses may break down or be involved in accidents. There is no end to the potential situations that can arise. An appeal is made to the public to take the greatest possible care of their own animals – and also to act as the eyes and ears of animal welfare by reporting anything which appears untoward or worrying. This includes the giving of live animals as prizes. Several “competitions” of this type have run. The NSPCA stepped in as it opposes the giving of live animals as prizes or as gifts. Please don’t give animals as gifts – is a further plea to the public. In making this appeal, the NSPCA refers everyone of the slogan A dog is for life, not just for Christmas and reminds everyone of what happens year after year. SPCAs are inundated with “unwanted gifts” after the festive season or as soon as the youngsters go back to school, when the novelty has worn off. New on South Africa Online... Spotlight On... is a new feature of South Africa Online. In it we will look at the tourism and travel industry, one of South Africa's biggest and fastest growing sectors of the economy. If you are looking for places to visit, Spotlight On... will give you an honest viewpoint; if you own a guest house, hotel, B&B, spa or game lodge and would like to get more exposure for your business, Spotlight On... can help by getting your web site in front of the very people you want to reach! South Africa Online is one of the top ranked web sites on the web with thousands of daily and w