A few years ago a friend gave me a T-shirt that had on it an expression in French: "J'embrasse mon chien sur la bouche." Translated, it means, "I kiss my dog on the lips," but the design didn't help anyone guess that. The shirt had nothing but words on it, no illustration.
As a result, total strangers would come up and ask me to explain what I was wearing. And over the handful of years before I wore out the garment, I noticed a big difference in the reactions to the translation.
The dog lovers would smile, sometimes laugh, and more than a few times would sheepishly admit the shirt's motto was one they also personified.
But then there were those people whose smiling faces went very sour at the thought of kissing a dog at all, much less anywhere near the lips. The polite ones would recover with a wan smile and shrink away, as if I were somehow contaminated and possibly contagious. And then there were angry people, who felt compelled to share their disgust of dogs, usually launching into a diatribe about a neighbor whose dog left calling cards on the lawn or barked all night.
And then they'd stand there, waiting for me to defend all dogs and all dog owners because ... well, I kiss my dogs on the lips, see?
Except you'll get no argument from me about the bad eggs -- human, not canine -- who cause so much trouble for the rest of us dog lovers. These dog owners make life more difficult, because their irresponsible behavior keeps some people passionately opposed to such delights as legal areas for off-leash recreation, and turn formerly dog-friendly lodgings in "no dogs allowed" zones.
It turns out that people who have dogs pretty much agree with people who don't when it comes to troublesome dog owners. A recent study for the American Kennel Club to help promote greater responsibility by dog owners reveals that we're all in agreement on what we don't like: People who don't pick up after their dogs, and people who let them bark or can't control them.
"While you may find Fido's jumping and howling endearing, others may not," says the AKC's Lisa Peterson.
Actually, it seems nobody does.
If you recognize those characteristics of the irresponsible dog owner in yourself, clean up your act. Picking up after your pet on walks is easy and would blunt a lot of criticism. Barking and out-of-control behavior are a little harder to tackle for many dog owners, but it's nothing that some time spent with a behaviorist or in an obedience class wouldn't help you get a handle on.
I'm guessing if that the bigger issues became moot, the small percentage of people who find "baby talk" -- and presumably dog-kissing -- to be a big problem will just let it go.
Which is a good thing, because although I try very hard not to let my dogs be an annoyance to others -- I pick up after them and keep them quiet and under control -- I'm not going to quit with the smooching.
In any language: Get over it.
Q&A
Picking charities takes some effort
Q: Since you claim to be someone who cares about animals, I was disappointed to see you mention groups such as the Humane Society of the United States in your list of charities that needed contributions after Hurricane Katrina.
Don't you know that groups like these are made up of radical elements that not only want to stop all breeding of dogs and cats, but also to put an end to biomedical testing and other necessary uses of animals? Open your eyes! -- Anonymous, via e-mail
Q: The American Kennel Club makes money off puppy mills and the exploitation of dogs for profit at the ridiculous spectacles known as dog shows. How dare you include this organization on your list of Katrina-related "charities." -- Anonymous, via e-mail
A: You know the first wave of shock following a disaster has passed when people start sniping at each other over the groups involved in rescue and relief efforts.
In addition to the complaints about the ideology of any particular organization (much of it misinformed, by the way), I heard from people who passed along information regarding rumored financial or other improprieties at this group or that. Of course, they weren't offering anything more than rumors. But because someone e-mailed it to them, they felt compelled to forward it to everyone and anyone.
In selecting a few from among the countless animal groups to recommend for hurricane-relief donations, I chose 501(c)3 nonprofits that I've had dealings with during past disasters, including the rescue and relief efforts of both the HSUS and the AKC. And I tried to offer a range of groups so people can choose which are best suited to their own ideals. (The exception to the "established group" rule: The relief efforts started up at the veterinary schools at Louisiana State University and Mississippi State University, which both stepped up to help during this crisis, especially LSU.)
Because those of us who love animals are constantly hit up for charitable contributions, I always recommend that people do their homework before donating, to make sure they're comfortable with a group and with how the money is being spent. Go to a group's Web site, and poke around to find their beliefs and what they hope to accomplish. Be sure that meshes with your own world view.
Then, go to a Web site that analyzes the information on how charities spend their money. Many seemingly worthy groups in fact use a lot of their donations to raise more donations, and they spend more than many of us would deem appropriate on executive salaries. Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) is a great site to help you determine how to give, rating more than 4,600 charities on such things as delivering on their promises with a minimum of overhead.
That said, my personal belief has always been that you can get more accomplished by dealing with smaller groups. As the immediate need for rescue and re-homing of the pets from the Gulf Coast subsides, I hope many readers will seek out small shelters throughout the impacted region and donate to help in the efforts of these groups to rebuild their buildings and their programs.
There's also likely to be a repeat of the effect observed after Sept. 11, 2001, when so much money was given to help the victims of the terrorist attacks that donations to local charities fell off dramatically. Remember that even as you give to help those in the disaster area, charities in your own community will still need your help to keep their programs afloat. Give in addition to your regular charities, in other words, not instead of.
(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)
THE SCOOP
Canine attention key to obedience
It's hard to teach a dog to do anything else if you can't get his attention. Playing the "attention game" with your dog is a great way to keep him focused on you -- while preventing his reacting to things you'd rather he avoid when out in public, such as trash on the ground, squirrels, neighborhood cats and other dogs.
As with any training, you have to teach attention in increments. Very small treats will help get your dog's attention and reward him for his first steps toward making sustained eye contact with you. To start, say "watch me" in a happy tone of voice, and sweep your fingers quickly under his muzzle without touching him, bringing them up to your face. Dogs naturally follow motion, so when his eyes follow your fingers to the general vicinity of your face, tell him he's a very good dog and give him a treat.
As your lessons progress -- practice a little each day -- give him the "watch me" command and wait for his glance up. Then praise him and give him the treat. Eventually, you'll want to reward only eye contact -- not just a glance up to your face -- and then reward holding his attention for longer and longer periods.
PET Rx
Wrong diet can be deadly for rabbits
Hairballs aren't a problem with rabbits they way they are with cats. While rabbits naturally have hair in their gastrointestinal tracts, the real reason for deadly blockages in these pets -- a condition called gastric stasis -- commonly isn't hair but rather an improper diet.
Rabbits need a diet high in both digestible and non-digestible fiber, ideally one that offers high-quality grass hay all the time as well as daily offerings of fresh green vegetables. Improper diet is a main cause of gastric stasis, but there are others, including stress, dehydration (caused by a lack of access to clean, fresh water) and even dental disease.
A rabbit in trouble will eat less over the course of a few days and eventually will stop eating altogether. Such rabbits may instead chew items in their cage to get the fiber they are craving. The volume of droppings may fall and then cease altogether. An animal may seem otherwise normal in the early stages of blockage, or may grind teeth or make noises to indicate discomfort.
In mild cases, offering a rabbit fresh greens can get things moving again. But if that doesn't help quickly, a veterinarian's care is essential to address what is a potentially life-threatening situation.
(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)
PET BOOKS
Cleaning classic returns with improvements
When the first edition of Don Aslett's "Pet Clean-Up Made Easy" came out back in 1988, it changed my life. Really. By following Aslett's advice, I was able to enjoy my animals while not spending as much time cleaning up after them.
The new second edition of the book (Adams Media, $10) has all the great information I remember from the first, while adding solid behavior advice to help pet lovers prevent messes by training their own animals to help.
In reading the new edition, I found myself nodding in recognition at two pieces of Aslett's advice that have served me well over the years: Never delay when it comes to cleaning pet messes, and put mats down everywhere a dirty paw might hit. I've also followed his advice when choosing upholstered furniture, looking for fabrics that are more durable and less likely to stain -- and then covering the furniture with washable throws.
On stains, Aslett's key point has been proven many times in my home. If attacked when they're fresh, pet urine, feces or vomit can be cleaned up quickly and easily, and usually will not leave a stain. Once these substances set, they can be difficult (if not impossible) to remove without a trace, although Aslett offers the best strategies to help with even stubborn pet stains.
As for mats, I have them on both sides of every door in my house, and have found that Aslett's right on this advice, too. Mats snare dirt and mud from paws, and will keep your floors cleaner.
The second edition improves on the first by offering tips on how to keep your pet from causing you more work in the first place. For example, Aslett has gone to the experts to find techniques to keep cats using their litter boxes, and to focus the destructive energy of dogs on chew toys instead of household items.
Can you improve on one of the most useful pet books ever written? Apparently so!
PETS ON THE WEB
Helping iguanas get proper care
Did you know that cute little iguana your child is lobbying to get has the potential to grow up to be 6 feet long? If you didn't, you really ought to visit Jen Swofford's Iguana Pages (www.baskingspot.com/iguanas), which are dedicated to helping people with these hard-to-care-for pets.
The popularity of iguanas is in decline, as people gravitate toward reptiles that are easier to maintain, such as the bearded dragon. That's the good news. The bad news is that lots of people are still buying iguanas and killing the majority of them quite young with improper care. Check out the site's top five reasons contributing to the early demise of pet iguanas. It'll help you avoid the worst mistakes if you're still determined to have an iguana as a pet, or may convince you to pass on that little green baby.
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.
4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600