The colder nights we have now are perfect for reading, and if you can find something heartwarming to read, you're always better off. Fortunately, two books are out now that should warm your insides even on the chilliest night.

"Scarlett Saves Her Family" (Simon & Schuster Editions, $20) takes the true tale of a feline heroine from a description of the East Brooklyn neighborhood where she was a stray through her sudden worldwide fame to the adoption of her and her family by a handful of generous cat-lovers. Authors Jane Martin and J.C. Suares have done a good job with this book, telling the story well without making it too cloying.

The cat became a media star in March of 1996, when animal-loving firefighter David Giannelli found three, then four, then five tiny kittens next to the curb outside of a burning garage. As he collected the babies into a cardboard box, he knew there had to be a mother cat around. He found her across the street, exhausted and badly burned from carrying her kittens out of the fire. He named her Scarlett, for the patches of red fur he saw through the soot.

Scarlett was in such bad shape -- patches of fur and much of her ears singed off, unable to open her eyes -- that a technician at the North Shore Animal League's hospital cried when she saw her.

The cat beat the odds, and so did four of her five kittens.

Thousands offered to adopt Scarlett and her babies, and thousands more donated money on their behalf. Though badly scarred, Scarlett was transformed by loving care from a malnourished street cat to a beloved house pet, with lush fur and a healthy body.

While the whole book is enjoyable, with marvelous pictures of Scarlett and her kittens, the introduction by firefighter David Giannelli is the best part of the book. Giannelli has saved many animals in his nearly 20 years on the job -- so many, he writes, that fellow firefighters have kidded him for his compassion.

"Any animal is worth helping," he writes. "You have to do what you can."

Many people agreed with him where Scarlett was concerned, making this book really the story not of one act of selflessness, but many.

Perhaps because Scarlett's story played out on TV screens and newspapers around the country, we need to be reminded that sometimes animal heroes aren't as celebrated. "Zak: The One-of-a-Kind Dog" (Abrams, $12.95) is just such a reminder.

The story of Zak, one person's cherished pet, is told in gorgeous pictures taken and hand-colored by Jane Lidz, an award-winning photographer who makes her living pointing her camera at buildings.

Lidz is generous with her talent, though, contributing her skills to the aid of animals at the San Francisco SPCA -- much the same as Mary Bloom, Scarlett's photographer, does 3,000 miles away for the North Shore Animal League. "Zak" focuses on one small terrier mix with an adorably fuzzy and amazingly expressive face, and takes him on an imaginary search for what kind of dog he really is.

"There's no one else like me," he finally decides. "It feels good to be special."

"Special" is the word for the pictures in this book, which bring Zak to life and celebrates his loving disposition.

Either book is worth keeping in mind as the gift-giving season approaches.

Pets on the Web: Pet Bird (http://www.petbird.com) is a must-visit site for bird-lovers of all varieties. While the whole site is worth exploring, the page of Frequently Asked Questions (or FAQs) is top-flight, with articles on terminology and species, as well as general information on care, nutrition, behavior and breeding. The FAQ page (http://www.petbird.com/faq/) also serves as a sign-up site for the more than 20 bird-specific e-mail lists, with topics that include many different species as well as breeding. There's even a e-mail list for bird-loving kids. In all, it's hard to imagine a better online resource for bird-lovers.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is the editorial director of the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Giori(at)aol.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

For all his life Andy has ridden in the car seat next to mine, a special spot no other dog has dared covet, a place he abdicates for the occasional human only because I insist on it, and never with good humor.

Andy is always the first one in the car, and I hold the door open for him as one would for royalty. I would lift him in, but he has too much pride for it. He jumps, in one graceful leap. Or did, until the other day.

For the first time in his 11 years his legs failed him. He jumped, but did not make it. I dove to catch him as he dug into the upholstery with his claws, struggling to pull himself into the car. I was too slow, and he fell to the pavement on his back, legs flailing, his face full of fear and confusion. He righted himself and sat there, winded.

My heart nearly broke at the sight of him.

I am old enough now to have outlived nearly four generations of dogs, to watch each grow from a puppy I could hold in my hands to a dog I held in my arms for those last few seconds of life. Although the memories are so sweet of the animals I have lost, the parting is so very wretched I can barely stand to think about it. At that moment, I could think of nothing else.

Andy is far from that day, I know. His coat is lush, his eyes clear, his teeth gleaming with the benefits of regular dental care (yes, I even brush them). He still steals my socks, and loves jokes best when they are at someone else's expense. If he sleeps a little more these days it is hard to notice, because if the truth be told, so do I.

He is at a perfect age now: effortlessly obedient, self-confident and calm. He greets visitors at their car doors and escorts them inside, and he has an unfailing sense of which guests will slip him tidbits from their dishes when I'm not looking. He endures grooming and veterinary visits with determined stoicism, and he wakes me every morning by jumping on our bed and tapping my cheek with one fat white paw.

One of the most important lessons we learn from the animals in our lives is the value of enjoying the moment. While I may dread his increasing feebleness, Andy has no concept of where the changes will lead. Each day is precious to him -- fresh food in the dish, fresh scents in the air, a game of fetch, a car ride, a great many pats. Tomorrow? The word is not in his vocabulary.

I tried to remove it from mine as I watched him on the pavement where he fell, as I felt him anxiously for injury and moved to lift him into the car.

He eluded my grasp, stood and glanced at me with a look that stopped me. He shook his long, silvery coat into place and eyed the car seat again.

The second time, he made it.

I slid into the car next to him gratefully and rumpled his feathery ears. The future seemed a long way away and the fall day could not have been more beautiful.

Pets on the Web: Curious about the animal books that bookstores and libraries are buying? The Ingram Book Group tracks the best-selling titles with a new top-50 list every week in dozens of categories. The wholesaler's "A List" of animal and pet books is at http://www.ingrambook.com/surf/product_info/category_info/category_files/an.htm.

Here you'll find not only hot new books, but also longtime favorites like "How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With" (a book I find myself recommending frequently) as well as "James Herriot's Animal Stories," by the late and still very much missed English veterinarian. Many of the books on the list link to pages with more information on each, including such insider facts as how many were printed and what kind of book tour the author is on. It's a fascinating look inside the animal-books industry, and a good way to keep your animal-related reading up-to-date.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is the editorial director of the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Giori(at)aol.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, perhaps because I've always loved make-believe. These days, though, if anyone in my family is pretending to be something he's not, it's likely to be the younger dog, Benjamin.

Two years ago, in fact, the retriever won a gift certificate for his costume. Glossy black from nose to tail tip, Benjamin became a "reverse Dalmatian" with the strategic application of round white stickers from the office-supply store. The gift certificate I spent that very day -- on something nice for the dogs, of course -- but the stickers are still with me. I find a couple every time I clean out my car.

I haven't quite figured out what the big dog will wear this year, although I know that, as always, the smaller one won't tolerate such nonsense. Andy is 11 now, but even as a puppy he had the attitude that he was above such silly human behavior.

While Halloween can be fun for both people and pets, there are some commonsense precautions you should take to ensure a safe celebration. Dr. Stuart Turner, director of the Pet Care Forum on America Online and an emergency and critical care veterinarian, says the two biggest problems with the holiday are frightened pets and poisoned pets -- and he has seen plenty of both.

"With people running around and so much activity, cats and dogs get nervous and some will take off if they can," he said. "We'll see an increase in animals hit by cars as a result. Other animals may become territorial and become a bite risk. "The solution is confinement. Bring your pets in and keep them in a secure place for the night -- a back bedroom, perhaps, or a crate. It's just safer."

Turner says that although humane societies warn that black cats are especially at risk from cultists, he has never personally heard of any incidents. "That doesn't mean there isn't some risk, though," he says. "But really, it's a better idea to bring in any cat for that night, no matter the color. You just never know."

Candy is a problem more for dogs than for cats, says Turner, because cats are a little pickier about what they eat. Not so most dogs, he says, who'll wolf down candy wrappers and all if given the opportunity, giving many a serious case of what the veterinarian calls "garbage gut." "I'd keep all candy out of reach," he says, "but especially chocolate, which is toxic for dogs."

Turner hasn't seen any problems with costumes for pets, but he says common sense should apply there, too. "Be sure any costume you have is comfortable for your pet," he says. "It shouldn't obscure vision, or constrict around the neck and chest. And if you use any dye or paint, check to make sure it's safe before applying."

It doesn't take much to keep the holiday safe for pets and people alike, Turner says, adding that he'd be happy if more people took precautions. "Believe me, I'd rather give out candy than medical advice, anytime."

Pets on the Web: Halloween makes me think about wild animals, maybe because a little girl I know wants to be a tiger on her make-believe night. Tigers are gorgeous, and a wonderful animal for make-believe, but problems always result when people think they make interesting pets. Two Web sites of nonprofit groups make this point again and again, and both are worth visiting. The Galt-Calif.-based Performing Animal Welfare Society (http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/paws) is a sanctuary for animals who were once performers or pets. The stories of these beautiful former animals -- elephants, big cats and wild canines -- are sometimes heartbreaking to read, even if the endings are as happy as possible for animals meant to live free. The PAWS Web site is clean and easy to navigate.

The Cat Tales Endangered Species Conservation Park's Web site (http://www.spokane.net/cattales) isn't as pretty a site, but there's good information here. The Spokane, Wash.-based organization cares for big cats -- 29 currently -- and offers an impressive library on the various species. The links are plentiful and well worth exploring, to various zoos and other sites dedicated to wild animals and environmental issues.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is the editorial director of the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Giori(at)aol.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600