You'd think that if you discovered the hands-down, bar-none best way for dealing with a pet who has been skunked, you'd be able to sell your formula for a tidy sum and be set for life, right?

Wrong. At least, that's not the way it worked for chemist Paul Krebaum, who found just such a magic formula a few years ago -- and hasn't gained anything but the gratitude of pet lovers for his troubles.

First the formula, then the story.

Take 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (available from any drugstore), 1/4 cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate for you science types) and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap, such as Ivory. Mix and immediately apply to the stinky pet. Rinse thoroughly with tap water.

The result is astonishing.

Unfortunately, so will be the explosion if you made up the solution and then tried to bottle it. The merging of the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda creates lots of oxygen in a big hurry. This chemical reaction is key to how the solution works, but it's also fierce enough to explode in a closed container.

Which is why Paul Krebaum hasn't capitalized on his discovery. There's just no way to sell something you can't put in a bottle.

And it's a shame, too, because the man deserves some kind of reward. The stuff really works. Not like tomato juice, which dampens the odor a little and leaves you with a slightly less-stinky pink dog. Commercial preparations seem to fare a little better, but even with them it's the passing of time that seems to finally do the trick.

But the hydrogen peroxide mix? Skunk be gone!

The trick is the oxygen, which grabs the molecules that go into that horrid smell. Once snagged, the smell is neutralized. Simple chemistry, really.

Since Krebaum published his findings in a trade journal in 1993, his magic formula has spread far and wide, offered up by agriculture officials and hunting magazines, and touted by folks on the Internet. The Chicago Tribune gave him a good write-up in 1994 that got picked up by newspapers all over the country. In it, he called his mix a "free-gift-to-humanity type deal."

I first heard about this formula a couple of years ago and read reports from many who raved about it. I made up the solution to see what it was like, but never got lucky enough to try it on one of my dogs. They just don't seem all that interested in skunks when we're walking in the wooded area near our home.

Finally, a friend called to tell me her setter had been skunked and to ask my advice. At last! The chance to try out the mix.

I must admit she didn't share my enthusiasm, at least not at first. She had already bathed the dog in soap and water. She had poured eight quarts of tomato juice over him. And still he smelled. So I told her about Paul Krebaum's miracle skunk cure.

A couple of hours later, Krebaum had another believer. The dog slept on the bed that night.

I suppose it's not very practical to suggest that everyone who's grateful to Paul Krebaum send him a few bits to make up for some of the money he'll never make on his miracle skunk cure. So maybe it would be nice if you save this article for when you'll need it, and when you do, say a few silent words of thanks to the man who'll get you out of one stinky fix.

PETS ON THE WEB

Macaws are among the most popular of pet birds, known for their stunning good looks and outgoing personalities. Most people are familiar with the blue-and-gold macaw, but several other macaw species are available as pets, from the small mini-macaws to the largest of all pet birds, the hyacinth. One Web site that can help you sort it all out is Those Magnificent Macaws (www.exoticbird.com). Jam-packed with information and well-organized as well, the site offers a good overview of species, health care and nutrition, and other available resources. Lots of good pictures, too. My only complaint would be that the blue-on-black type is hard to read. But it's a small quibble about an otherwise fine Internet resource.

THE SCOOP

Puppies have 28 baby (or deciduous) teeth that give way to 42 permanent ones by the time a dog's about 4 months old. Pet owners are generally glad to see those needle-teeth go, but you do need to make sure the transition is a complete one. Sometimes baby teeth are retained, a situation that can cause misalignment of the permanent teeth, incorrect development of the jaw and infections. Check your puppy's mouth frequently, watching for "double rows" that indicate retained teeth. Talk to your veterinarian about any abnormal developments -- some stubborn baby teeth need to be permanently removed.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I have two house rabbits, both neutered. They have free run of our apartment, which has been as bunny-proofed as it can be. We provide them with lots of alfalfa, chew sticks, dried pine cones, pellets and treats. We even built a "tree house" for them similar to a multilevel cat house, but with lots of untreated exposed wood to nibble and scratch. They love it and spend most of their time curled up together inside the little house at the top.

Even with all this, they still seem as if they don't have enough to entertain them. We spend as much time as possible lying on the floor when we watch TV because they enjoy climbing all over us.

I just would love some easy-to-find (or make) toy ideas to keep my little guys busy and avoid the boredom that usually leads to mischief. Any suggestions? -- M.B., via e-mail

A: What lucky buns! And your instincts are right on the money: Your guys need more toys. The wonderful House Rabbit Society offers quite a few tried-and-true suggestions, most of them costing little or nothing at all.

Cardboard in all forms can be great fun. Try boxes for chewing on or hiding in. The cores of toilet paper or paper towel rolls are likewise great for chewing on as well as batting around. For variety, fill the boxes full of shredded paper, junk mail (at last, a use for it), old magazines or straw.

Old phone directories are great for shredding, as are untreated wicker baskets (again, filled with chewables). Untreated grass doormats are fun, too.

Toys made for other pets will work well for rabbits. Parrot toys, especially, are designed to be gleefully destroyed and can be hung on the side of cages to make your bunnies work to get them. Hard-rubber Kong toys sized for small dogs are great for pushing around, as are plastic balls meant for cats. The hard-plastic tops of laundry detergent and softener bottles (clean well beforehand) are perfect for batting around, and you can't beat the price.

The House Rabbit Society is the most incredible resource imaginable for people who love these affectionate and playful pets. Membership ($18 annually) supports the nonprofit group's effort to rescue and place unwanted rabbits, and comes with a quarterly newsletter that offers great ideas for taking the best care possible of the ever-growing number of indoor rabbits. For more information, write to the HRS at P.O. Box 1201, Alameda, CA 94501; or visit the Web site at www.rabbit.org.

Q: I've been seeing ads in magazines for heartworm pills for cats. I give them monthly to my dogs, but should my cats get them, too? -- M.U., via e-mail

A: There are times when it's convenient to have one of the world's top veterinary cardiologists in your circle of friends, and this is one of them. Dr. Paul D. Pion, CEO of the Veterinary Information Network (and my "Cats For Dummies" co-author), says the answer depends on where you live. Heartworms are everywhere in places like Florida and Texas, and in those places, says Pion, he'd recommend preventive medication. In other places, heartworm is uncommon in dogs and unheard-of in cats, so preventive measures aren't so important.

The cost of not giving medications might be high, though, warns Pion. Although heartworm infestations are rare in cats, they are also not easily treated. In cats and dogs both, preventing heartworm is a much safer course than treating an animal once it has the pests.

The bottom line? If you live where the pest is very common in dogs, it may well be prudent to protect your cat as well as your dogs. Talk to your veterinarian about the risks in your area.

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

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