When I moved out of my parents' house 20-plus years ago, the first thing I wanted was a dog of my own. A friend had an adorable sheltie I liked, so I went on a search for a dog like her Misty.

The pup I found was born on a cold kitchen floor in the middle of the night, to a dog whose owners were sure she was not pregnant. Two of three puppies were dead by the time the owners realized their error. The single pup thrived, though. And after he was weaned, he was sent to his father's owners to be socialized among another litter of puppies.

He was 10 weeks old when I met him there; I was 20 years old. I had no business getting a dog, but I wrote the woman two checks -- one of them postdated, I was that broke -- and took home the dog I named Lance. With what I know now, I can say I was a high risk as a dog owner, enough that the person I am now would under no circumstances have sold a dog to the person I was then. But maybe the seller saw something special in me. Or maybe she just wanted to get rid of the pup.

Young Lance and I did not get off to the best of starts. I was living in a place that did not allow dogs, and my roommate didn't want one. Within days, the pup and I were homeless. To my credit, I never once thought of giving him up.

We kicked around a lot -- one set of roommates, then another, some time with my grandmother, then more roommates. I took the dog everywhere I could (and a lot of places I shouldn't have), and trained him myself for the obedience ring in the gaps between classes when I probably ought to have been studying. And I partied, traveled, stayed up all night sometimes and slept until noon on the weekends.

All the changes we went through and all the unpredictability of my daily life had an effect on the dog Lance would become. He was comfortable with all kinds of people and all kinds of places. He'd seen it all; nothing shook his calm. He was a perfect dog, or as close as any living being can get to perfection.

When I think about Lance now, though, I think about how different things were then. My life now is settled, predictable and mortgage-paying. I still sleep until noon on a lot of weekends, but that's about all that hasn't changed.

Which is why, in a very roundabout way, I've come to be certain that I would never have the slightest interest in cloning a pet. Yes, I understand how much it hurts to lose a loved one, and how tempting it would be to cheat death, in a way, by reproducing exactly the raw material that became a special pet.

Lance has been dead 11 years in May, and I still miss him. No other pet has taught me so much -- about the special bond between an animal and a person, about the joy and the responsibility of caring for a pet. But a Lance clone would never be Lance. What made him the dog he became was not only his early hardship, but also getting hooked up with the person I was then and cannot be again.

The last thing Lance taught me was that letting go is possible, that death is a natural part of our lives, and that we need to learn to deal with it as gracefully as we can. Yes, it hurts, but it is a survivable pain. And in the end, the memories that hurt you when the loss is fresh become a source of joy when enough time passes.

My memories of Lance have long been happy ones. I would not want to diminish them by denying a special dog his wholly unique and everlasting place in my heart.

PETS ON THE WEB

My friends at the Veterinary Information Network run the world's first and largest online service for veterinary professionals, a subscription Web site with more than 6,000 veterinary clients. VIN recently expanded to offer a free Web site to pet lovers, the Pet Care Forum (www.vin.com/petcare). VIN's Pet Care Forum has veterinarians on staff to answer questions, tons of basic information on pet selection and care, and chats and message boards for talking to like-minded animal lovers.

The site requires a simple registration to access the interactive features -- an attempt to control people bent on disruption -- but it is easy to navigate once you're set up.

In the interests of full disclosure, I should mention that although I once worked for VIN, I have no financial dealings with the company now. However, its CEO, Dr. Paul Pion, is my co-author of "Cats for Dummies." Just having to put in such a disclaimer made me think twice about mentioning the site, but I believe it's one that pet lovers need to check out.

THE SCOOP

Just as more people are interested in alternative medicine for themselves, there's a jump in interest in such care for pets. "Alternative" can mean a lot of different regimens, from raw-food diets to chiropractics to homeopathy and more. There's a lot to learn, that's for sure! Two publications do a nice job of exploring these topics, and I've been enjoying them both for the last few issues. The Whole Cat Journal and The Whole Dog Journal cover "natural" care and training, with an interesting and wide-ranging array of articles in every issue. Book reviews and product comparisons round out the mix.

I'm not ready -- nor will I ever be -- to give up traditional veterinary care, but I know there's a lot out there we don't understand. It's good to find people who are looking hard for answers on behalf of their pets. The monthly publications are $27 each annually. You can order the cat newsletter from P.O. Box 420940, Palm Coast, FL 32142. The dog newsletter must be ordered from P.O. Box 420031 (but everything else is the same as the cat newsletter address).

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I was so glad to see the plastic bag pooper-scooper bit in your column, but was a little disappointed that you didn't advise the dog walkers how to use the bags. I put my hand in the bag, pick up the goodies, and then turn the bag inside out. Voila!

The TV show "60 Minutes" did a piece on actor Kevin Spacey recently and showed him walking his two dogs in a New York City park. I felt embarrassed for the poor man because they left the camera on him as he was clumsily trying to wipe up poop with a newspaper. Then he actually shoved it in his pocket! Let him know about this bag trick, if possible. -- C.A., via e-mail

A: You're absolutely right. Using the bag like a glove and then flipping it so the mess is inside it is the easy, no-fuss way to pick up after a pet. Your hand never touches anything objectionable and the mess is sealed inside, ready to put into a nearby trash can.

You can always tell a responsible dog-lover: The pockets of all their jackets have plastic bags in them!

As for Mr. Spacey and his dogs, I got the sense that he's someone who's not used to cleaning up after them at all. People who do it all the time never even give it a second thought, camera or no camera.

I've been in Manhattan plenty, and that's where I learned the art of "bagging it." You can't miss getting an impassioned tutorial on the street if you don't pick up after your dog there. Maybe the actor has a dog walker usually, or maybe he's successful enough now not to worry about the $100 fine for not cleaning up after your dog. But maybe before he takes out his dogs in a camera crew's presence again, he'll pack some plastic.

Q: Your item about using OrangeMate Mist might easily be misconstrued because you didn't explain how to use it. I showed the item to a neighbor who has two retrievers, and she assumed she is supposed to spray her dogs with the product to rid them of wet-dog odor. Is that what you intended? -- F.D., via e-mail

A: Not at all. OrangeMate Mist, the wonderful wet-dog odor neutralizer, should be sprayed in a room, but not on the dogs.

Remember, too, that you must exercise extreme caution when using any aerosol or cleaning product around birds. Their lungs are so sensitive that exposure to airborne chemicals can kill them. Don't use strong-smelling products at all around these pets.

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 writetogina(at)spadafori.com.

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

Young. Male. White. Drives a black sport-utility vehicle with Virginia plates. Has a goatee (or did). Who I've just described is the most hated person in America, at least as far as anyone who cares about animals is concerned. This is the man who, in an apparent fit of road rage, reached into Sara McBurnett's car after a fender-bender a few weeks ago, grabbed her little dog, Leo, and threw him under the wheels of rushing cars outside the airport in San Jose, Calif.

Like many animal lovers, I can't get the scene out of my mind. I see it and hear it almost as vividly as if I'd been the victim. I can imagine what McBurnett felt when she saw Leo run over, and it hits me like a blow to the stomach. I can feel the waves of grief she endured after he died at a nearby emergency room. A happy, outgoing little dog, a loving companion for a decade, has been killed in a way that none of us could imagine in our nightmares. And it could have happened to any of us.

My heart breaks for this woman. And I know that catching the man who did this will never, ever change the reality of those hellish moments for her. Or for us.

I don't understand why some people are angry because so much attention has been paid to this crime. Why do people get so upset about violence involving an animal, they demand to know, when there are plenty of crimes against people we don't get so worked up about? These folks angrily accuse anyone who cares about animals of not caring about people.

They're missing the point. This is a case of cruelty against an animal, to be sure, but it's also a crime against a human being: Sara McBurnett. Leo's death was brutal, and his suffering should not be overlooked. But his pain is also over, which is more than you can say about his owner's suffering.

She will never forget what happened. I'm not sure I can, either. And all of us have to live with the knowledge that somewhere out there is a man so full of hatred and anger that he chose to hurt another human being in the worst way he could, by causing an animal she loved to die violently before her eyes.

If that isn't a crime against a human being, I don't know what is.

Crime against animals may now and then generate a lot of attention, but they're not treated all that seriously in the end. Law enforcement can't get all that worked up about animal cruelty when there are "more important" crimes out there, and the courts are often prone to a "boys will be boys" approach to young offenders. And yet cruelty against animals is one of the most surefire ways to predict a future of violence against people.

I'll grant you that most of the people who've donated tens of thousand to a reward fund to capture Leo's killer weren't looking at the bigger picture when they wrote their checks. But their gut instincts were correct: This is a crime we should care about. This is a criminal who should be punished to the fullest extent possible.

Sending this man to jail won't change what happened, but it will send a message to at least one person -- and probably many more -- that we will not and cannot tolerate such cruelty against one of our own.

And that's a message we all should get behind.

PETS ON THE WEB

The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California at Davis was the first to launch a pet-loss support hot line. Staffed by veterinary students, the hot line has provided thousands of pet lovers with the help they need to get through the loss of a beloved pet. The UCD hot-line staff has pulled together a wonderful collection of pet-loss resources onto its Web site (www.vetnet.ucdavis.edu/petloss/index.htm). The site includes information on the hot line, as well as articles on the topic of pet loss and books to help both adults and children through a difficult time. Most veterinary schools and colleges now have hot lines and other pet-loss resources, but UCD remains in the forefront.

THE SCOOP

Cats have always meant trouble to allergy sufferers, some of whom find their reaction to cats severe enough to send them to the emergency room. But are some cats worse than others when it comes to triggering an attack? The answer is yes, according to an intriguing new study. The upshot? The darker the cat, the worse the allergy. The study's author, Dr. Arlene Schneider of Brooklyn, N.Y.'s Long Island College Hospital, said the results were interesting enough for further research (the original report dealt with a small sample of only 60 people). While it's likely too soon to draw any definitive conclusions, it wouldn't hurt to factor in coat color if your family includes an allergy sufferer and you're looking to adopt a cat or kitten.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I enjoyed your recent column on parrots. I liked the excellent points you made about training, the benefits of hand-rearing, etc. Another useful point that the general public still needs education on is that parrots are generally not "beginner" pets, particularly macaws and the showier cockatoos.

I would encourage you to periodically remind readers of the growing number of parrot-rescue operations. Though some consider these groups as misguided, evangelistic, etc., they do address a growing problem. Educating potential parrot owners of the complex nature of the birds, their often demanding habits and their exceptional life spans could help reduce the burden on parrot-rescue operations. -- Jim Millam, Director, Psittacine Research Project, University of California, Davis

A: Thanks for your note. I visited a model parrot-rescue program last summer, the Gabriel Foundation in Snowmass, Colo., and got an earful from founder Julie Murad about the groups that weren't up to snuff. Still, the fact that such groups exist and are trying to help is good news that will only get better.

And you're right that the best news of all would be for people to fully consider the responsibilities involved with adopting a pet whose life span can equal their own. Big parrots are not easy pets to live with, for all their many charms. They're loud, messy and moody, and expensive to attain and maintain. These facts definitely need to be considered beforehand.

For many people, a better choice is a small parrot, especially a budgie, lovebird or cockatiel. They're great companions without presenting the challenges their larger relatives represent.

Note to readers: The Psittacine Research Project has a nifty Web site (http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/research/parrot/) that includes information on the program and on its free newsletter, the Exotic Bird Report. You can also write for information: Psittacine Research Project, Department of Animal Science, University of California at Davis 95616-8521.

Q: I would like to get a dog from a shelter or rescue league, but I am concerned about the dog's background. I currently have a Sheltie whom I rescued at the age of 1 from an abusive household. He has some psychological problems that are sometimes severe. I don't think I can deal with another dog with major problems. Is there any way I can be sure of a dog's background if they are from a shelter or rescue league? -- M.H., via e-mail

A: Most rescue groups or shelters are happy to share everything they know with prospective adopters. That's because they realize a pet has a better chance of making it in a new home if the adopters know about potential problems beforehand.

Is the information accurate? Not always. Some people avoid admitting to behavior or health problems because they feel the animal won't get a second chance if they do. Others make a good pet seem bad because they're trying to justify (to themselves) the abandonment of the animal.

A good shelter or rescue group takes such information with a grain of salt. They do their own evaluations and add those to the reports from the previous owners. And they work one-on-one with adopters to find the best match.

My advice would be to discuss your concerns with your local shelter or rescue group, and take your time (and their advice) in selecting a new dog. Having done rescue for a few years, I know full well how many wonderful animals are waiting for a second chance. You'll find one!

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 writetogina(at)spadafori.com.

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

My friends in the Midwest write that the snow is finally melting, and that their joy at the prospect of spring is lessened somewhat by the mud their dogs track in constantly. Even where I live, in generally sunny Northern California, the every-other-day rainstorms have me likewise tracking dogs through the house with old bath towels.

I fondly remember the days when I had one smallish dog, Lance, and he waited at the door for his paws to be wiped, lifting each in turn to make the job easier. Sure, I could train the three I have now to do the same, but I think about it only when it rains.

Mud isn't the only problem pet lovers deal with, of course. In fact, I've long considered that one of the great questions of our time is why in a house that's mostly tile and hardwood floors do dogs and cats choose the only piece of carpeting around when they feel the need to vomit?

While you're pondering that, let me offer some tried-and-true tips for keeping pet mess to a minimum.

-- Search and destroy past messes. Sometimes you can see them and not smell them; other times you can smell them and not see them. Chances are your pet knows where they are -- and will want to update the odor. Pet-supply outlets offer black lights that show old messes you might not be able to see. Veterinarians and trainers sometimes have these available for renting. Surface cleaning isn't enough. If the mess has soaked through, you must pull up the carpet and clean or replace the padding below.

-- Catch what you can. Put mats everywhere: Inside and outside of doors, under dishes and anywhere else that messes happen. If you want to experiment with color, look for car mats. They're easy to clean and come in a few colors besides basic black.

-- Don't delay cleanups. When accidents occur, you must clean them up promptly and thoroughly. Messes are easier to clean when they're fresh, and are less likely to leave a permanent stain.

-- Don't use ammonia-based cleaners on pet messes. They smell like urine to a pet -- ammonia being one of the byproducts of decomposing pet waste. So instead of making the area smell clean, ammonia products make a mess site seem even more attractive to your pet.

Instead, use products designed for pet messes. These liquid products -- Nature's Miracle, Simple Solution, Fresh 'N' Clean and Nilodor are a few on the market -- have enzymes that break down organic wastes and neutralize odors. For fresh urine, you can make up a good cleaner on your own. Dog-lover Anne Cotton of Massachusetts has a good recipe: One quart hot water from the faucet, one teaspoon Ivory dish soap, one teaspoon white vinegar (it neutralizes the odor). Shake a bit. Blot the area with paper towels, then wet with the cleaner to cover but not enough to soak the area. Let sit 15 minutes, then blot again.

I keep a "pet mess kit" -- paper towels, old bath towels and cleaning solutions -- in a bucket in the hall closet. I'm not the neatest person around, but my house is as clean as it can be with three muddy dogs tracking in and out. I'm proud of that.

PETS ON THE WEB

The Spinone Italiano is the latest breed to gain full status at the American Kennel Club, and starting in September the fuzzy dogs will be eligible to pursue AKC championships. The Spinone is a large dog with thick, wiry coat and an appealing fuzzy face. Breeders brag about the dogs' temperament and hunting ability, and insist that any potential owners have a high tolerance for messiness -- the Spinone is no dog for the white-carpet set. The Spinone Club of America's Web site (www.spinone.com) offers everything you could possibly want to know about the breed, and includes plenty of pictures and experiences from loving owners.

THE SCOOP

Bigger is better when it comes to buying a bird cage. A good rule of thumb: Whatever the pet store labels for the bird you choose, pick the next size up, at the very least. A cockatiel, for example, will be happier in a cage made for a small to midsized parrot. Buying the biggest cage you can manage does come with a word of caution, though: Make sure the bar spacing is appropriate for your bird. Your bird should not be able to fit his head between the bars. Basic spacing for a cockatiel is 3/4-inch. Finches need less room between bars, while Amazons, Macaws and other large parrots need more.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: We recently bought a hand-fed cockatoo from a local breeder. It was a big outlay, not just for the bird, but also the cage, a play gym, toys, perches and more. She recommends buying an air cleaner, too. But before we pull out the credit card again, we want an assurance that this is really necessary. -- D.B., via e-mail

A: Paying attention to air quality is good for your bird, and good for you, too. Some species of pet birds --- your cockatoo is perhaps the best example -- give off a lot of feather dust, a powdery natural grooming material that originates from the powderdown feathers over the flank and hip areas. (Other dusty species include the cockatiel and the African grey parrot.)

One dusty bird can really reduce the air quality of a room. More than one can make it downright unbreathable for both you and your birds. (Remember: Feather dust is not a problem when a bird's in a natural environment outside.) It's a matter of personal preference, of course, but if you're living with one or more dusty birds, I agree with your breeder: Go for the air filter. You and your bird will both breathe better for your decision, and you can look forward to a reduction in your home's dusting requirements.

Another related item to consider is a humidifier. Our climate-controlled houses are often too dry for our birds, many of whom are of species most at home in tropical rainforests. Daily misting of your bird is a great idea but so, too, is keeping the moisture content of the air up with a humidifier. If you live in Hawaii or South Florida or another tropical environment, lack of humidity isn't a concern. In other parts of the country, however, dry air can make your bird uncomfortable.

Q: In response to the reader with the "outdoor Persian," we do have an indoor Persian who gets hairballs so bad that he vomits several times daily. Since he is not shown, we now shave him with professional pet trimmers. He is so happy. Although he is almost 12, he acts like a kitten once we are complete.

His appearance is comical when first trimmed: big head, fluffy tail, large legs and paws and a slim, stylish body. His coat is soft and velvety when growing out. Once it reaches approximately 3/4 to 1 inch (in about two months), we trim again. He is used to it and does not fuss much if we proceed quickly. -- E.Y. via e-mail

A: Nothing succeeds like excess, and that's true in a lot of dog and cat breeds. Generations of breeding for lots of showy coat have produced animals who are at least a part-time job to maintain in top form. Fine for show people, but not for pet owners -- which is why there's plenty of business for groomers.

If you cannot or don't want to keep up with the brushing, combing and dematting of a high-maintenance breed on a daily basis, clipping is best solution. Still, it seems sadly counter to the reason why many people buy these breeds in the first place. After all, the long silky coat is part of the appeal of a Persian.

If you want a shorthaired Persian, incidentally, you don't have to shave one. Most people outside the show world don't know that some popular cats come in long- and shorthaired varieties. The oddly named Exotic Shorthair, for example, is really a Persian with short hair. Like the Abyssinian but want a little more coat? Try a Somali.

In all practicality, though, most cat-lovers will find the feline love of their life among the ranks of the homeless. Kitten season is close at hand, and if you're thinking of a visit to your shelter, be sure to factor in the responsibilities that long hair brings when you're choosing your pet.

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 writetogina(at)spadafori.com.

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