The recent school shootings have us all wondering, asking questions for which we may never know the answers. Guns, video games, parents, the Internet all get their share of blame from the experts, but when it comes to predicting violence, one crucial sign is too often missed or misunderstood.

That sign: cruelty to animals.

An early report on the two Colorado killers revealed an interest in animal mutilation. If that turns out to be true, the two will join an infamous club, whose members all tested their "skills" on animals before killing any of their own kind.

Jeffrey Dahmer was a member of the club, as are many other serial killers. The Humane Society of the United States says the schoolboy shooters who preceded the Columbine High pair also killed animals first. Luke Woodham, who killed three in Pearl, Miss., wrote in his journal about killing his dog, slowly and oh-so-cruelly. "True beauty," he called the killing. Another killer told friends he shot dogs for fun, while still another child bragged about torturing animals to death.

A recent study by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reveals that young animal abusers are five times more likely to be violent against humans. They're also much more likely to engage in other criminal behaviors.

It's not just troubled youngsters. Abusive spouses kill family pets to keep their mates in line, and you can bet the parent who beats a child kicked the dog first. And even worse: The child who grows up watching cruelty thinks it normal to become an abuser himself. The circle of cruelty is too often unbroken.

Despite overwhelming evidence linking animal abuse to crimes against humans, in too many cases such cruelty is hardly considered a crime at all. "We have more important crimes to worry about than a dead cat" seems to be the prevailing attitude, along with the idea that "kids will be kids" -- and cruelty is normal.

Is animal abuse just part of growing up, or is it too insignificant to bother with in a world where children bring guns to school -- and use them against teachers and classmates? The answer, in both cases, needs to be a resounding "no."

Intervention for those who can be helped, especially the children, and serious prosecution for those who cannot will do more than prevent animal suffering and death. Human lives will be saved as well.

Report animal cruelty and demand that authorities deal with it aggressively. If you see an interest in hurting animals in any child you know -- a neighbor's child, a friend or relative's child or even your own -- get help.

It's too late when someone "graduates" to hurting people. We need to catch them earlier, and we can do it by defending the most helpless among us. The seeds of compassion and cruelty are both planted early. Let us work together to see that only the former grows.

PETS ON THE WEB

The popularity of iguanas has sparked an interest in the veterinary community in learning how to provide better care for these and other scaly pets. While relatively few veterinarians restrict their practices to reptiles and amphibians, more than a thousand are members of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians. The ARAV Web site (www.arav.org) lists its members by city and state to help pet owners find a knowledgeable veterinarian in their area. The site has a few links and a place to buy ARAV T-shirts, with a very slick frog logo. (The ARAV can also be reached by mail at P.O. Box 605, Chester Heights, Pa. 19017.)

THE SCOOP

Although spaying and neutering has traditionally been performed on puppies and kittens between the ages of 4 and 6 months, the procedure can safely be done as early as 8 weeks. Many shelters, tired of dealing with the offspring of animals whose owners should have altered them, have embraced the news and have kittens and puppies spayed before placement. Some reputable breeders also spay or neuter their fur-babies before placing them in their new homes. At what age should you have your pet spayed? Some vets aren't yet comfortable with early spay-neuter. If yours is among them, follow your vet's advice. But do get it done: Not only are you doing your part to fight pet overpopulation, but you're also protecting your pet from an array of reproduction-related health problems.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: My 2-year-old male bichon frise is coming back to live with me (he has spent the last half-year with my ex-husband). During this time, my 16-year-old son and I have also adopted two kittens, who are about 8 months old. Any suggestions on how to make the transition of Dakota back into our household any easier? -- B.F., via the Internet

A: You didn't mention if Dakota has lived with cats before. If that's the case, the transition will likely be a smooth one. The kittens are still young enough to adapt with not much fuss, and if the dog pays them no mind, you're home free.

Before the dog arrives, prepare the kittens by giving them a "dog-free" zone for their dishes and litter box. One good way to do this is by choosing a spare bedroom or bathroom and putting a baby-gate across the doorway. The kittens will be able to come and go without any effort, but the dog won't be able to get past the barrier.

Make sure the kittens are comfortable with the new arrangement before springing Dakota on them. The stress of a new dog and a new location for litter box and dishes could well be enough to push them into choosing their own potty sites.

Introduce the dog on a leash and watch the reactions. Don't force the issue -- let the kittens be hissy and retreat if they wish. Curiosity is normal from the dog, but don't allow him to chase the cats, even in play. You may need to leave the leash on for a few days to teach him the rules. (Do (BEGIN ITAL) not (END ITAL) leave the leash attached to a slip, or choke, collar -- you're putting your dog's life at risk if you do.)

The situation should settle down in a couple of weeks, but if it doesn't, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a trainer or behaviorist.

Q: I have a 3-year-old Alaskan malamute. I took him to the vet, and she informed me that he is underweight. He weighs 86 pounds. I've been reading up on them and the weight seems to be between 75 to 85 pounds. What is the ideal weight for him? -- S.H., via the Internet

A: You're not going to find the right weight for your dog in a book. In every breed you'll find a range of sizes, and it's important to judge your dog on his own body type.

You should be able to run your hands down your dog's sides without bumping over each rib. If you press in and slide the skin back and forth over the ribs (veterinarians call this "palpating") you should easily be able to feel the ribs. Your dog should also have a "waist," or tuck up behind the ribcage, but not all that much.

If your dog's obviously ribby, with a severe tuck-up at the waist, and if you can feel each vertebra without palpating, your dog could use some extra weight. You might try a food with a slightly higher fat content. Ask your veterinarian for guidance.

Don't go overboard, though. Obesity is a problem in a great many pets, some of whom are overindulged and under-exercised to an outrageous degree. Your veterinarian would rather see your dog a little on the lean side than overweight any day.

Q: Thank you for your column on not giving rabbits for Easter. It's true that rabbits make great pets for adults. We ended up with our granddaughter's Easter bunny a couple of years ago after she became allergic, and he's the best pet we've ever had. One complaint, though: For those of us who don't have Internet access, please include another way to contact groups such as the House Rabbit Society. -- I.R., Carmichael, Calif.

A: You're absolutely right, and in the future I'll include addresses when mentioning the Web sites of animal groups. You can reach the House Rabbit Society at 1524 Benton St., Alameda, Calif. 94501. (The Web address is www.rabbit.org.) Membership is $18 a year, which includes the group's quarterly newsletter.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Write2Gina(at)aol.com.

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

Picture a perfect spring day: warm sun, light breeze, cottony clouds bright against a vivid blue sky. At Joe Carvalho's place, perched above the golf course in an area of million-dollar homes in the San Francisco Bay area, flamingos are visible through a bank of windows, their pastel pink a nice contrast to a well-manicured patch of lawn.

Flamingos? Isn't that a little kitschy for a million-dollar home? You look again, and then one of the birds you thought was plastic bobs its head, and another one stretches a stick leg forward into a graceful walk.

At the Carvalho home, you see, the flamingos are real. And so, too, are the storks, the cranes, an owl, a pair of Andean condors, and a flightless bird from New Zealand called a cassowary. Add a flock of raucous parrots to the mix, and you've got the heart and soul of Joe Carvalho's life and his business. His Friends of a Feather troupes, more than 200 birds and a handful of human performers, play to enthusiastic crowds in Europe, and at three Sea Worlds, two Busch Gardens and the newest hotel in Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay.

What makes the shows so spectacular is that the birds are loose -- free-flying and under voice control, 20 birds a show, seven days a week, five shows a day.

"I've always felt a bond with birds," says Carvalho, a lean, darkly handsome man for whom show-biz patter seems to come as easily as his love of birds. "The better the bond, the better the trust. I just love to see them fly."

He sees it daily, training his birds over the open space below his home. While the more unusual species, the storks and the condors, get shorter turns overhead, closely monitored, the parrots spend hours out and about. He brings them from their nighttime cages in two and threes and tosses them up, blue, yellow and red feathers flashing as the macaws spread their wings and fly.

"It's a very, very risky thing," says Carvalho, who doesn't recommend free-flying for pet birds. "Timing is everything in the training, and if your timing's off, you can lose a bird. You read them as well as you can, prepare them as well as you can."

"I've taken the risks, but I've also taken the losses. And I've been very fortunate -- 98 percent of the birds I've lost I've gotten back."

The risks seem worth it when the birds are aloft, so breathtakingly rare the chance to see such beauty in flight. He demonstrates their biddability with a pair of scarlet macaws named Thelma and Louise, although those are just their stage names -- they haven't been sexed and might not even be female. But it's good shtick, and the pair fly huge loops around the golf course, attentive even at a distance to the signals of Carvalho. He sends them around again and then waves them in, both landing gracefully on his arm and getting sunflower seeds for their reward.

Carvalho's is a seven-day-a-week job, hard work to be sure, all the caring-for and training, not to mention traveling and the challenges of running an international business. But he'd choose no other. He's happy with his birds, and his birds are happy with him.

"I'm blessed," he says. It's hard to argue with him.

PETS ON THE WEB

No matter your level of interest and expertise, if you like fish, you'll like Fish Link Central (www.fishlinkcentral.com). This well-organized site, suggested by a reader, offers information on all kinds of fish-keeping, from goldfish and guppies to the most elaborate saltwater reef systems and outdoor ponds. It also features plenty of fish pictures and links, along with chats and an ask-the-expert forum. Even if you're not that interested in setting up a tank of your own, you can have fun here, with fish e-mail postcards and a handful of computer games, such as fish concentration. The site also offers a goldfish you can "pet" with your mouse (once the program loads, the fish swims to the place you put your cursor, even jumping out of the bowl). Full of both FAQs and fun, Fish Link Central is one fine place for fish fans.

THE SCOOP

If you're feeding your bunny a diet of commercial pellets only, you're likely shortchanging his nutritional requirements. Rabbits need roughage to stay healthy over the long haul, and one of the easiest ways to put indigestible fiber in their diets is to allow them 24-hour-a-day access to grass hay such as oat or timothy. Not only is hay good for their bodies, it also helps with the boredom that's part of every caged animal's life. In addition, rabbit experts suggest adding a variety of fresh leafy vegetables to the diet, such as parsley, carrot tops, broccoli leaves and dandelion greens, along with other vegetables and fruits such as carrots, melons, apples or pears. Give fruits and veggies a good scrubbing before offering them to your pet.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I am a dog person and am interested in joining a dating service geared to veterinary members. Do you know of a vet dating service? I am interested in dating someone who loves pets (especially dogs). -- D.N., via the Internet

A: Now here's an interesting opportunity for some entrepreneur. Perhaps I should suggest to my colleagues at the Veterinary Information network that they add the notation "available" or "not available" to their online veterinary locator service, VetQuest (www.vin.com/vetquest/vqpublic.html).

Believe me, you're not the first person to have this idea. You can go to any dog show, obedience or agility trial and bump into unattached people who would love to find another person who doesn't flinch at the idea of a stray dog hair on the butter cube from time to time. The supply of such people is sadly limited.

And think of the money you'd save. I think of the checks I write to my veterinarian as "the college fund" -- for his kids, not mine. I don't begrudge him a penny of it, however, for he's a wonderful veterinarian (and happily married, or I'd see about setting you up).

Long answer to a short question: No, I don't know of any dating services for hooking up pet lovers with veterinarians. I figure it's not that good of an idea anyway. With the luck most people (and when I say most people, I mean me) have with romance, the veterinarian that you (BEGIN ITALS)could(END ITALS) live with, you might not want treating your pets. And the one who's good for your pets might drive you crazy as a mate.

On the other hand, maybe you should start such a dating service. Or go to veterinary school. Then you'd find plenty of dog lovers eager to hook up with you.

Q: Are dogs supposed to get a new rabies shot each year? I was under the impression that it was a one-time deal until I received a postcard informing me otherwise. -- E.L., via the Internet

A: Your dog needs to be re-vaccinated at regular intervals determined by the local or state law in your area. While many places require vaccination every three years, others insist on an annual vaccination.

When it comes to rabies, the laws aren't really for your pet's benefit; they're for yours. While the risk of contracting rabies from your pet may be small, the disease is deadly if not caught early. People do die from rabies, which is why the law is so unforgiving on the topic of vaccinations.

If you have questions regarding the law in your area, call your local animal-control agency.

Incidentally, while the focus of rabies prevention has traditionally been on dogs, cases of feline rabies are not uncommon. Even if a rabies vaccine is not required by law in your area, public-health officials strongly urge vaccinating cats as well. And more and more places are requiring it.

The bottom line: Keeping your pets' rabies vaccinations current is just good common sense.

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 Write2Gina(at)aol.com.

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

One thing I love about nice weather -- dog-washing moves outside for my two retrievers. No more drenched bathroom, soggy walls, shaking dogs and dripping paw prints in the house. All we need is a hose, shampoo and a warm, sunny day.

Please note, however, that the cold-water treatment is absolutely not for the oldest dog, Andy. He goes to a groomer every month, a dog-loving woman who characterizes herself as the Wizard of Dogs. And she truly is. She picks up Andy in her poodle-filled Saturn and treats him like the old prince he is, with perfectly warmed water and heated towels, sweet-scented soaps and a gentle combing of his long, thick hair. He doesn't go with her all that willingly, but feels good when he returns, his coat gleaming like spun silver.

Heather and Benjamin -- young, strong, and made for cold-water retrieving -- don't need such royal treatment. Indeed, most of their dousings are in nearby lakes and rivers, with the occasional trip to salt water. They like these dousings better than baths, by far, and they dry as glossy and clean as if they were sudsed.

They don't smell as nice as when soaped, though, so they still get the occasional bath -- for my benefit, more then theirs. After all, most dogs would be content to live their lives in dog-smell heaven. They like the way they smell.

But smell is important to us, too, and that's why baths are important. And so is a plan of attack.

First, set yourself up with proper equipment. If your flea-control regimen is working well, there's no need for flea soap. In fact, regular soap does just as good a job of killing fleas by washing them down the drain. The spot-on flea control Frontline works well for dogs who are bathed often or taken swimming frequently, but only if you apply the product a few days before or after a dousing.

Footing is important, inside or out. If you're using the bathtub, put down a mat or towel so your pet won't slip. Outside, the lawn will give plenty of traction. Make sure you rinse with clean water, which is easy to do with a hose. But inside, use a spray nozzle for the best results.

It's important to comb or cut out tangles or mats before the bath, since water only makes them worse. Put a pinch of cotton just inside your dog's ears and a drop of mineral oil in each eye to help keep out the soap. (Don't forget to take out the cotton later, or you'll be wondering why your dog is ignoring you more than usual.)

In working with dogs, I've found a good attitude can go a long way, but a bad one can go even further. If your dog knows how much you hate bath time, how will he get a positive or at least tolerable opinion of the process? Keep it light, and don't let up on the praise.

Wet your dog thoroughly, then start shampooing by working a complete ring of lather around the neck, cutting off the fleas' escape route to the ears. Work back from there, and don't forget to work some lather between your dog's toes, another favorite getaway for fleas. Rinse well, and put a towel over yourself while he shakes. Your dog can get more water off by shaking than you can by toweling, so let him have at it.

After your dog has shaken off everything he can, take him inside to dry. He won't pick up as much filth that way. Dogs who dry while clean stay cleaner longer, which means it'll be a while before either one of you has to consider dog shampoo again.

That's good news for my retrievers, who love every kind of water from a street puddle to an ocean, unless soap is involved.

PETS ON THE WEB

Thanks to all the readers who called or e-mailed me after my column that recommended PetsWelcome.com, a great online resource for travel planning with pets (www.petswelcome.com). PetsWelcome offers a fast, easy-to-use search engine that allows you to pinpoint pet-friendly lodgings in cities and towns of all sizes, including a few locales I tried that are little more than flyspecks on little-traveled state highways. The site also offers listings of emergency veterinary clinics, travel and medical tips and more. It's a nice, clean, useful Web site. Bookmark it!

THE SCOOP

A publication whose time has come? You bet! The Bark is a quarterly publication highlighting literary work about dogs. And if you haven't been paying attention, you'll be surprised at how much good stuff is out there now, from well-known writers who often grace the best-seller lists. I have completely devoured every back issue of The Bark I could find -- nothing else gets done when I get a new one until I've read every letter, essay, book review and interview. It's the best thing for dog lovers since ... well, dogs. Subscriptions are $12 for four issues from The Bark, 2810 Eighth St., Berkeley, Calif. 94710. Throw in an extra $2.50 and ask for a "Dog Is My Co-Pilot" bumper sticker, which already graces the back of my minivan. You can also check out a sample of The Bark's contents on the Web, at www.thebark.com.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I am glad you mentioned in your column about rabbits that the parent needs to take on the responsibility of pet ownership. I wish that before parents buy an animal for their child that they would stop and ask themselves: "Do I really like this animal? Will I do what is necessary to give it a good life, even if it means having to restrain my child from it occasionally and spending money to give it appropriate health care?"

I feel that many parents selfishly get a child a pet to please the child and never give a thought about the animal's quality of life. I volunteer at a local shelter and have had nightmares over what I have seen. I have had parents bring in animals and use an excuse that their child just won't take care of it. Many times the pet is on its last legs and ready for the grave.

Two days before Christmas, a woman came in and dropped off an 8-year-old cocker spaniel that was having convulsions, and was severely dehydrated and totally unrescuable. The shelter vet had to put him down on Christmas Eve. The woman had told me that she needed to get rid of the old dog because they were giving her child a new puppy on Christmas.

I don't mean to upset you, but some parents just don't see that they are responsible for these animals. They have begun to look at them as toys for children.

So I am asking you to keep stating in your columns just how important it is for parents to be responsible, not only to teach their children how to care for a living creature, but also how to invest time into caring for the animal. The animal should become one of the family. That means everyone should love and care for it. -- Colleen, via the Internet

A: Your story about the poor cocker spaniel is horrible. But after all these years writing about pets, I must say that nothing surprises me. The Wall Street Journal recently had a front-page article about parents who were hoping the pet who'd been their four-legged "first child" would die so their two-legged children could have a puppy. Many of them decided to speed up the process, of course, by taking their once-prized pet to the veterinarian or the shelter.

It saddens me, not only on behalf of the animals, but for its effect on human society. Parents who consider animals no better than animated stuffed animals, to be thrown away when the novelty wanes, are missing the opportunity to teach their children important lessons about compassion.

As involved animal lovers, though, you and I need to remember that we tend to see the worst. Check out the next letter, also in response to my rabbit column, for a more uplifting perspective on children, parents and pets.

Q: I am 11 years old. When you say children shouldn't have rabbits, do you mean toddlers, or young teens like me? I have a 7-month-old Dutch rabbit, and he is as friendly as can be. Cricket is under my care only, unless I have to go somewhere.

I have read three books about rabbits (I am now reading one "Watership Down"). I know a lot about rabbits, and I know how to handle rabbits because Cricket tells me by purring like a kitten. Please note that this is my first rabbit, and I have not come to have a happy bunny (by learning) from past mistakes. My dad even says that Cricket is spoiled! -- Alaina, via the Internet

A: Alaina, what can I say? You're doing great. I can tell from your letter than you're a "natural" with animals -- responsible and caring. Cricket is lucky to have you. Keep up the good work.

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 Write2Gina(at)aol.com.

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