A LITTLE PET-POURRI ...

What's up, Doc? If you've adopted a rabbit recently, as many do around Easter, you'll need to make sure your pet is getting the food he needs to stay healthy. While rabbit pellets (1/4 cup per 5 pounds of body weight) form the basis of a healthy diet, you should supplement your new pet's rations with fresh greens. Fiber is especially important, which is why your bunny should have plenty of grass hay to nibble on -- fresh timothy and oat.

Dark-green leafy vegetables are great, too. For a special treat, ask for the leaves off broccoli heads in the produce department of your supermarket, along with carrot or beet tops. The carrots themselves are good, too.

More rabbit-friendly foods include dandelion greens and flowers (collected from pesticide-free areas), kale, collard greens, escarole, romaine lettuce, endive, Swiss chard, parsley, clover, cabbage, green peppers, pea pods, brussels sprouts, basil, peppermint leaves, raspberry leaves, radicchio, bok choy and spinach. Variety is the spice of life, so keep things mixed up.

Speaking of greens, your cat likes them, too, and you can offer the very freshest by keeping plants growing indoors. Plant catnip and valerian to tickle your pet's fancy, but keep them out of reach as seedlings or they'll be pulled out by the roots! When the plants mature, clip off little bits and share them with your cat. Other plants are fine for grazing straight from the pot. Alfalfa, rye and wheat make tasty seedlings (keep a fresh tray growing always), and parsley and thyme are also popular with many felines.

Even dogs like treats from the vegetable garden. My neighbors always plant a cherry tomato for my oldest dog, Andy, and give him a handful of fresh tomatoes on his birthday every June. Carrots are also popular with many dogs.

Whose pet are you? It must be fate. Here you are, thinking about getting a dog, and one follows your daughter home from school (with the aid of half a bologna sandwich). Or you find a kitten in the parking lot at the supermarket.

Before you start picking out names, consider the possibility the animal may belong to someone else.

You may not think that could be the case with an animal who isn't wearing a collar and looks as if he's been malnourished and, possibly, maltreated. But a lot of people -- promise me you won't be one of them -- never bother to put collars on their pets, much less an ID tag or license. And it takes only a few days on the loose to make even a previously well-cared-for pet look dirty, sick and dog-tired.

If you find a stray, do everything you can to find the owner first. Someone may be heartbroken over the loss. Put up fliers in the neighborhood (most pets stay within a couple miles of home when they get out), take out a classified ad in the newspaper, and post "found" notices at local shelters and animal-related businesses such as groomers and veterinary hospitals.

Give it your best shot for a week or two, and then if your decide to keep him, feel free. Sometimes the best relationships start just this way.

Hot dog! Most people realize it's not safe to leave a dog in the car on a hot summer day, but fewer know that even a pleasant spring afternoon can be deadly. A car is like a greenhouse with all those windows, and heat can build up to lethal levels in a matter of minutes -- even when the temperature isn't all that high, even when the windows are cracked a little. Dogs aren't very efficient at lowering their internal temperature (panting is about the only mechanism they have) and can quickly become overheated, or worse. Don't take a chance with your pet's life.

Pets on the Web: What are veterinarians interested in? You can find part of the answer on the Web site of the American Veterinary Medical Association (www.avma.org), the nation's trade organization for the profession. In addition to information for veterinarians, the site offers news, links to other sites, an area for kids and some basic animal care information.

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

Dogs are marvelous creatures. I've lived with them most of my life and could no more dream of living without them than without an arm. That said, I'd be the first to admit that dogs can be disgusting on a grand scale when it comes to their eating habits.

As with so many of the things that drive us crazy about the animals in our lives, the problem is instinct. Dogs are by instinct scavengers, which gives them a high level of interest in things that are truly revolting for us to contemplate, but that have a degree of nutritional value nonetheless.

There are a couple things you can try to restrain your dog from his less-than-gourmet pursuits in the yard, on the street or in the litter box. First would be to teach the "leave it" command.

"Leave it" is one of the most useful commands around. In addition to controlling what your dog picks up on walks, "leave it" can be used to control where dogs relieve themselves (since a sniff always comes first), as well as keeping them off guests. It's a lovely way of letting your dog know his nose is where it doesn't belong.

Teach "leave it" with your dog in a sitting position on leash, facing you. Put a treat in one hand and make your hand into a loose fist with the other, with the top, flat part of the fist facing up. Extend the treat and tell your dog "leave it." When he moves to take it, "bop" him under the chin with the flat part of your fist -- not hard, just enough to close his mouth. Offer the treat again, and again say "leave it." Some dogs will turn their noses away or hesitate, and if yours does, praise him grandly. Otherwise, another bop.

Few dogs have to have this demonstrated more than once or twice. Finish by giving a "release" command -- I use "OK" -- and let your dog have the treat and more praise. Practice this every day for a while to make sure your dog understands, then incorporate it into your everyday routine. Never forget to praise your pup for a job well done!

Of course, you can't be with your dog every minute of the day, so you'll need another plan to cope with ongoing temptation in yard or litter box. There are some products on the market that advertise they make dog stools unappetizing (as opposed to how great they usually taste, I suppose), and they're worth trying, for they seem to work with some dogs.

Some trainers suggest "booby-trapping" stools by cutting them in half and adding hot sauce to the middle, but I hesitate to recommend that plan because I could barely stand to type it, much less do it, and I'm guessing most people are the same.

The "cure" for most yard cruisers is going to be constant vigilance, removing messes as soon as they hit. For litter boxes, try the barrier approach. For little dogs, baby gates will do the trick; cats can jump them easily, but the dog cannot. For big dogs, consider putting a small cat flap in the door to the room with the litter box -- again, easy access for the cat, none for the dog. You can also experiment with moving the box gradually to a high place. Make sure your cat is comfortable with the changes, though, or instead of one behavior problem you'll have two, as your cat abandons his litter box.

With a little effort and ingenuity on your part, you'll soon be able to let your dog kiss you again without wondering where his mouth has been.

Pets on the Web: Ferals are domestic cats gone wild, animals abandoned in the mistaken belief that cats can fend for themselves. They can't. Fortunately, some people are trying to help, and one group of them has put together a wonderful resource on the Internet. The San Diego Feral Cat Coalition's Web site (www.feralcat.com) offers information on how to combat the problem, with articles on taming feral kittens, rabies, and finding veterinarians who will work with the wild ones. It's a great site with a lot of heart!

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

I've never known an animal lover who didn't have a heart that seemed just a little larger than the norm and who didn't find room from time to time for an extra pet who needed a new home.

The problem is that none of us has the space or time to care for all the animals who could use our help. For most of us, taking in an extra pet means working to find a permanent home to provide the love and care that our own animals enjoy.

There was a time in my life when rescuing and placing animals was my life. I spent my lunch hours taking in pets and my weekends checking out potential adopters. My partner and I found homes for dozens of pets each year, beautiful, sweet-natured animals who had been abandoned and even abused. It never failed to astonish me how firm is an animal's belief in the essential goodness of people -- and how eventually we were always able to find good people to give these pets the second chance they deserved.

My rescuing career came to an end with the emergence of health problems that plague me still, and I have to be content now with supporting those who continue this important work: shelter workers and the uncounted legions of volunteers.

If you're suddenly among those volunteers, here are a few tips for finding a perfect home for that pet you've found but cannot keep:

-- Do everything you can to make the animal more adoptable. The pet has a better chance if he is current on shots, house-trained and neutered. It also helps if the animal is socialized and friendly with children and other pets. Try to fix behavior problems before placement as well.

-- Talk to everyone. Post ads in newspapers and on bulletin boards, and mention the pet to everyone you know. Give fliers to friends to post on boards where they work. Spread the word.

-- Ask a price. People show more respect for something they've paid for; furthermore, a price tag dampens the interest of profiteers, such as those who collect "free to a good home" pets for sale to research labs or to dog fighters. A good rule of thumb: Charge an amount to cover the cost of the spaying or neutering, and vaccinations. That makes sense to prospective adopters because it's money they would have had to spend anyway. Even better: Have them pay the veterinarian directly when they're picking up the animal you've dropped off for altering and shots. That way you can be sure the pet is off to a great start.

-- Don't lie about the pet's problems or why he's being placed. Although finding a new home for an older pet or one with behavior problems takes longer, it can be done. But the person who feels lied to is more likely to bring the pet back or place him somewhere without your knowledge, maybe into a horrible situation.

-- Ask lots of questions and verify that the answers are true. Ask for a telephone number and call back to check it. Ask to see a driver's license. Check out the home in person, and take along a friend. Don't forget to ask prospective adopters if they've had pets before and what happened to them. Make sure you're dealing with people who realize that owning a pet is a long-term commitment.

Above all, take your time. Young, small pets are generally easier to place, as are some purebreds. But if you keep looking, you'll be able to find a home even for a pet that's older, has health problems or is disabled. I still get cards from some of the families in which I placed pets, and there's nothing better than knowing a pet I saved is set for life.

Pets on the Web: Birds n Ways (www.birdsnways.com) offers articles on health, behavior and nutrition as well as links to a fabulous array of bird clubs, veterinary sites and merchandisers. Among the must-see areas is a page of links to articles and Web sites on individual bird species, complete with a search engine to help narrow things down to a manageable few.

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