It's a hot day at the dog park, and I'm sharing the shade with the other "doggy parents," chatting while we watch our pets play.

In the middle of the park, the dogs have dug out a crater the size of a small hot tub. The sprinklers fill the pit every morning, and by afternoon, it's still at least half full of stinky, slimy, muddy water. It's disgusting, and most of the dogs have the common sense to avoid it.

Except the retrievers.

While not all of them see it as a swimming hole, most see no reason to avoid the muck, jumping in and out as they play. One retriever is even worse than the other water dogs. She throws herself into the muddy bog, rolling and wallowing until every inch of her glossy black coat is dripping brown with foul-smelling mud. She finally stands up, nose-to-tail-tip filthy and obviously delighted with herself.

"Oh my God!" says the woman next to me, her tone of disgust unmistakable. "Whose dog is that?"

"Um, that would be mine," I mumble.

Rule No. 1 for anyone who has or is thinking of adopting a retriever: Be willing to carry towels in your car at all times.

I love retrievers, and in this I'm not alone. The Labrador retriever is the top breed in the land; 165,970 of them were registered with the American Kennel Club in 2001. The golden retriever is the AKC's second most popular breed, with 62,497 recorded in the same year. All told, the five retriever breeds (the Chesapeake Bay, flat-coated and curly-coated are the others) make up more than one-fifth of all AKC registrations.

Retrievers are popular for good reason. They're great family dogs, even-tempered, friendly and tolerant. They're generally easy to train and eager to please. They have coats that clean up quickly, and they don't shed as much as many other breeds. (Even my water-crazed Heather dries up and shakes off most of the muddy muck she gets into in just a few minutes.)

But anyone associated with a shelter or rescue group can tell you that despite their popularity, retrievers are not for everyone. They get dumped by the hundreds, often by people who didn't research the downside to owning one of these dogs or who proved unwilling to put in the effort it takes to keep one.

People, for example, who think muddy paws (or muddy dogs) are intolerable. Or those who aren't prepared to put time into training and exercising these large and exuberant animals. While some breeds and mixes can better tolerate the life of a "backyard dog" (although I never recommend this lonely life for any dog), retrievers are especially ill suited to such isolation. Developed to work one-on-one with a hunter, the personable retriever does best as a full-fledged member of a family. Kept in a back yard, a retriever will get bored and anxious, and may become a digger, escape artist or nonstop barker.

Is a retriever right for you? Even if you're well-suited to these breeds, it pays to carefully consider any canine adoption. Like all purebreds, retrievers have congenital health problems that can make your dog miserable and cost you a bundle, if indeed they can be treated. If you're buying a puppy, be sure to find a reputable breeder who has had the parents certified free of these problems, most commonly hip dysplasia.

If you're considering an adult dog, you'll be able to assess health and temperament with the aid of the shelter or rescue group. A lot of great dogs turn up in shelters and rescue groups, many with some training and such preventive-care measures as vaccinations and neutering already done. Another reason to go for an adult: Retrievers are notoriously slow to mature, and can maintain troublesome puppy behaviors well into the second or third year of their lives. If you want a mellow retriever, get an older dog.

I love retrievers, especially my own two. But I brought them into my life knowing they'd need a lot from me to keep their minds and bodies in good shape. And even though I occasionally wince at the water-related messes they get into, I'd never trade Benjamin or even Heather at her filthiest for any other dogs in the world.

PETS ON THE WEB

You can find out about the American Kennel Club's retriever breeds by clicking on the Web sites of the various national clubs from the AKC's breed page, www.akc.org/breeds. The Labrador Resources site (www.labrador-resources.com) offers some of the most important questions you should ask when determining if the breed (or indeed, any retriever breed) is right for you. And finally, be sure to check out Golden Retrievers in Cyberspace (www.golden-retriever.com), a site devoted to finding new homes for goldens who need them.

THE SCOOP

Although most people associate rabies with dogs, cases of feline rabies are not uncommon -- and are very much a cause for concern. In many areas, rabies vaccinations are required by law for cats as well as dogs.

Rabies is caused by a viral infection of the nervous system. Although the risk of contracting rabies from your cat -- or any cat -- is extremely small, the disease is so deadly that, if your cat were to contract it, he would need to be humanely killed, and you might need to have a series of inoculations for your own protection.

This disease is nothing to mess with, which is why it's important to get your cat vaccinated, regardless of what the law requires, for the protection of your cat and the rest of your family.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: Are meat-based "real" foods healthier for dogs than high-quality dry kibble? I feed my dog both but worry about the cost and storage of these "real" products. -- E.M., via e-mail

A: A small but vocal minority of pet lovers feed their dogs a diet of raw meat and bones, along with vegetables and dietary supplements. Proponents argue that dogs weren't designed to eat the grains that are a major component of kibble, and blame everything from allergies to cancer on commercial pet foods.

Many veterinarians oppose raw diets (as do manufacturers of traditional dog foods, of course). Detractors, including some prominent veterinarians with advanced degrees in nutrition, believe raw diets don't offer nutritional balance, and can be dangerous because of salmonella and other risks that come with handling and feeding raw meat. Proponents respond that the majority of veterinarians have little training in nutrition, and are influenced by courses in school and post-degree training provided by pet-food companies. They point to plenty of healthy pets, including some who had health problems disappear after a switch to a raw diet.

You'll find good arguments either way you go, that's for sure.

One argument against raw-food diets is price and inconvenience. Commercially prepared raw diets are convenient but can be expensive. Preparing everything from scratch brings down the price considerably -- if you invest in a freezer so you can buy in bulk -- but does take a lot more planning and work than buying and opening a bag of kibble.

One of the leaders of the raw food movement is Australian veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst, author of the books "Give Your Dog a Bone" and "The BARF Diet." (Both are available from Dogwise, www.dogwise.com or 800-776-2665.) You'll also find plenty of Web sites and e-mail lists also dedicated to these diets, collectively referred to as "BARF," which stands for Bones and Raw Flesh or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.

If you're interested in a raw-food diet for your pet, do your homework first. Read books and Web sites, and join a BARF-related e-mail list. And if you decide these diets are not worth the effort you'll have to invest, don't feel guilty: The majority of people who feed high-quality kibble have dogs who look and feel fine -- as do the majority of dogs fed a well-planned raw diet.

Q: Is it really safe to use old newspapers in my bird's cage? What about the ink? -- B.D., via e-mail

A: Old newspapers are so commonly used to line the bottom of birdcages that many manufacturers size their products so that the trays fit the sheets exactly. My "Birds For Dummies" co-author, avian veterinarian Dr. Brian Speer, says he knows of no evidence that the ink causes any health problems for birds. He suggests sticking to black-and-white pages, though, and skipping the glossy color inserts.

If you really want to go ink-free, check with your local newspaper. Some offer the ends of the newsprint rolls that go on the presses, usually at a bargain price.

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

Whenever I write about an incident of animal cruelty, I always get a few nasty letters that come awfully close to ... well, not defending what happened, but certainly minimizing the significance of such crimes.

These people nearly always preface their remarks by claiming to like animals. But then they take me to task for not thinking about people, as if caring about animals leaves no room in your heart to feel horror over a crime against a fellow human being.

Typical was a letter I got a couple of years back after writing about Leo, the little dog who was killed when he was snatched from his owner's lap and thrown onto the freeway by a man enraged over a fender-bender. "You wouldn't care if he'd thrown a baby into traffic," wrote a reader who was angry at all the attention the case had generated. "You animal freaks are all alike. It's just a dog, for heaven's sake!"

What the letter writer missed was that the death of Leo was as much a crime against his owner as against a fluffy little dog. The man who killed Leo wanted to hurt his owner, and chose her dog as the means to his end. Anyone familiar with domestic violence will nod in recognition at the connection: It's common for abusers to threaten the lives of pets -- or even kill them, sometimes in front of family members -- to keep a mate terrified and under control.

And that's not the only link between cruelty to animals and crimes against humans.

The prisons are full of violent criminals who became hardened to cruelty by seeing it perpetrated on animals, and then by practicing on animals themselves before moving on to people. Further, some of history's most infamous mass murderers -- Ted Bundy, Albert DeSalvo and Jeffrey Dahmer among them -- honed their "skills" on animals first.

Once it puts down roots, cruelty only grows stronger, becoming bolder as it chooses its victims. A cat, then a child. A dog, then an elderly woman.

I was thinking about the link between animal cruelty and crimes against people in relation to recent events that happened within a couple of days of each other -- the barbecuing of a live kitten by a group of men in Missouri, and the kidnapping and murder of a young girl in Southern California.

There will surely be those who'll fault me for caring about the death of a little gray tabby when a beautiful girl's life has been cut horribly and tragically short. But the fact of the matter is that I care about the kitten not just because I care about animals, but also because I know there's a connection between someone who can torture a kitten and someone who can kill a little girl.

The facts speak for themselves.

It's important to us all to take animal cruelty seriously and prosecute it vigorously, and not minimize it because the victim is "just" an animal. The man responsible for the kitten's death has been charged with a felony, and this is as it should be. For when we fight cruelty against animals, we not only help animals but also spare the human victims that almost always come later.

And that might one day make a difference to the parents of another beautiful little girl.

PETS ON THE WEB

Christmas comes early for pet lovers, with the launch of the online edition of the Merck Veterinary Manual (www.merckvetmanual.com). The print version of this essential reference has been a mainstay in nearly every veterinary hospital since it was first published in 1955. The introduction of an online version immediately makes the site one of the most significant animal-health resources for every pet lover.

Every search of the Merck manual turns up interesting information: Did you know, for example, that based on 1995 U.S. figures, dry foods constituted 58 percent of $3.5 billion spent on dog food, compared with 24.8 percent for canned and 2.6 percent for semi-moist? (The remainder consists of smaller categories, such as frozen.) Of the $2.17 billion spent on cat food, 43.1 percent was classified as dry, as compared with 51.7 percent canned and 2.4 percent semi-moist.

THE SCOOP

Almost any healthy food you fix for yourself can also be shared with your bird, such as pasta, rice, casseroles, meats and cereal. Try to keep fatty and sugary foods out of the mix, along with dairy products. (Because they're not mammals, birds don't have the ability to digest regular or large amounts of dairy products.)

Another cross-species surprise: You can occasionally add dog kibble or monkey food (the latter is often available at bird-supply shops) to your pet bird's meals.

Sharing your meal with your pet bird helps your relationship, too. So knock yourself out fixing fabulous meals you both can enjoy. Just keep your portions separate: Your bird shouldn't eat food that has been in your mouth and vice versa.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I was reading your article on training collars and I do agree with you, for the most part. I own a 6-month-old Border collie/Newfoundland pup named Skip, who takes me for a walk, because he weighs 45 pounds already!

My local pet-store worker, a breeder of champion German shepherds, showed me how to use the training collar. Within 10 minutes, Skip was barely pulling. And when he did decide to pull, a quick reprimand usually stopped it.

I am also taking Skip to obedience training, in the hopes that I won't need to use the training collar soon. Lately, I've tried to attach the leash to his leather collar, using a technique I'm learning in obedience class. I do still put the training collar on him as a backup, should he start pulling too much. -- G.M., via e-mail

A: Your letter makes my point exactly. When used properly, the "choke" collar is a useful piece of training equipment. But it's not meant to be used for life, and it's difficult to use properly.

Before I wrote my column on collars, I spent a few days paying close attention to people walking their dogs. I observed that the overwhelming majority of people who used a "choke" collar were doing so incorrectly -- they either had it on wrong, kept it constantly tight, or both. The collar should be put on so the free-running part goes over the dog's neck, not under it, and it is meant to be tightened for a very brief second and then released.

Because these collars are so difficult to use properly, I've given up on them as a useful tool for most people to train their dogs. Instead, I like to recommend head halters, such as the Gentle Leader, which are easier on both people and dogs. Although I don't like the looks of a head halter -- it looks too much like a muzzle for my taste -- they work very well for many pet lovers and aren't as difficult to use.

Q: We keep our two young dogs (both over 65 pounds and around 2 years old) in the garage when we are not home. It stays pretty cool in there because it is well-insulated, but I feel bad leaving them in there all day long. They're in the house whenever we are, but they are destructive when left alone inside. They've done too much damage to our yard to be left alone out there. We take them on long walks every night and to the dog park on the weekend. Is it OK to leave them in the garage during the day? I feel like I'm not being a good dog-mommy. -- M.J., via e-mail

A: You can stop feeling guilty. If they're cool, safe and provided with water and some good toys, your dogs are fine in the garage while you're gone -- especially since they're getting lots of exercise and companionship when you're home. It's the perfect compromise for dogs who can't be trusted to have the run of the place when you're not around.

You may be preventing a behavior problem by keeping them in your garage. The sound-dampening qualities of an insulated garage minimize noises and other distractions that keep your pets from napping away their day. That will reduce their stress and keep them from barking out of protective instincts or boredom. The garage will also muffle any noise they do make. And I'm sure your neighbors appreciate your dogs being quiet while you're gone!

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

Cat lovers are notoriously resistant to putting collars and IDs on their pets. Some get tired of replacing the collars their cats keep slipping out of, while others are convinced their roaming darlings will get snagged and hang themselves.

Both groups are taking chances with the lives of their pets. Cat collars and tags are inexpensive insurance against loss. And as for the danger of being collared, humane officials insist your cat is more at risk for being lost and never returned than being hanged by a collar.

So play it safe: If you let your cat roam, give him a good shot at getting a ticket home with a collar and an ID. Even if the worst happens, and someone hits your cat or finds him dead -- sadly common occurrences with a free-roaming pet -- a tag at least gives you a chance that you won't have to keep wondering whether your pet is ever coming home. It's a small consolation, but knowing what happened to your pet beats spending months wondering.

Cat collars are made of lightweight material and are designed with enough give to enable your cat to wriggle free should the collar ever catch on something. Don't get a puppy collar by mistake. Dog collars are meant to prevent escapes, and cat collars are made to enable them. The fit should be snug but not uncomfortably so -- you should be able to slide your little finger underneath. (The fit on a dog's collar should be looser, since they aren't equipped with an elastic panel.)

After you get the right collar, get a tag. ID tags come in metal or high-impact plastic in a variety of colors and shapes (I'm personally fond of red hearts for my pets). Because cat tags are small, don't bother putting your cat's name on it. She's not going to answer to it anyway. Instead, use the space to put phone numbers so that whoever finds your cat can locate you, or a friend, neighbor or relative -- day or night. If you're concerned about dangling tags, look for those that attach flat to the collar.

Although it's not a substitute for a collar and tags, you ought to also consider getting your pet microchipped. The microchip is permanent identification no bigger than a grain of rice, which a veterinarian imbeds under the skin over your pet's shoulder blades by using a large needle. (But don't worry: One yowl is about all you'll hear, and then the job's done!)

If you go the microchip route, be sure to register your pet with a service such as AKC Companion Animal Recovery (800-252-7894), which offers 24-hour match-up service 365 days a year. The one-time cost to register is $12.50, and although the service was set up in conjunction with one chip manufacturer, you can register whatever brand of chip is being offered in your area (and any kind of pet is eligible, even though the service is run by the nation's dominant registry for purebred dogs). If a shelter with a chip scanner ends up with your pet, the service releases your number so you can be reunited with your cat quickly.

Many lost pets are not found by shelters but by neighbors. And neighbors don't have microchip scanners in their collection of home appliances. Which is why, although chips are wonderful for permanent ID, it's also important to keep your roaming cat collared and tagged.

PETS ON THE WEB

When I was growing up, I wanted to be a veterinarian. By the time I got to high school, it became clear that I'd be better off as a writer -- I just wasn't well-suited for a career involving so much math and science. For those who haven't given up on a dream of becoming a veterinarian, the Web site of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (www.aavmc.org) is a must-see visit on the Internet. The site offers advice on preparing for veterinary school, statistics on how many applicants to veterinarian programs get accepted (about a third) and forecasts on career potential for new grads.

THE SCOOP

The bed of a pickup truck in the sun is as hot as a griddle, and feels about as comfortable for the dog whose feet are touching that hot metal. Riding without restraints in the back of a truck is never safe, and it's often uncomfortable for dogs and is illegal in some states. The best situation for the comfort and safety of your dog is to bring him into the cab of the truck, or leave him at home.

If you must transport your pet in the back of a pickup, do it in an airline shipping crate, properly secured to the bed. A crate will keep the animal from jumping or being thrown from the truck, and will provide shade and cooler footing until you get where you're going. Remember, though, that a crate isn't much protection against the baking sun and should not be used to hold your dog once you've reached your destination.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: Recently, someone brought me a budgie who had flown into their back yard. She was coaxed down from a high branch with food and captured. Now she is with me. I ran a newspaper ad for three days without any replies. The sad part is her owners apparently just let her fly. Her wings were not clipped, which allowed her to go anywhere. There's no way to know where she came from, how far she had flown, or how long she had been in the wild.

My veterinarian said that there is a population of escaped pet birds in our area. I find this appalling. How callous can people be to deliberately release their pets into the wild? I don't have much sympathy either for folks who fail to keep wings trimmed and then their birds accidentally escape. Would you mention that people need to keep the wings of their pet birds trimmed and not let birds fly free? -- G.M., via e-mail

A: In many parts of the country, colonies of former pet birds survive and even thrive in their new habitats. Although warm places such as South Florida and Southern California are most hospitable to newly wild birds, parrots have been known to survive even in places as bitterly cold as Illinois and New York.

Although some birds will make the transition to feral living, many will not. And those who do will sometimes displace native birds, causing damage to the natural ecosystem. Both situations are compelling reasons to make sure a pet bird remains in captivity -- and that means keeping wings trimmed.

Wing trims also protect birds in the home. My "Birds For Dummies" co-author, avian veterinarian Dr. Brian Speer, reports treating a constant flow of pet birds who have been injured after flying into ceiling fans, sliding glass doors or even pots of boiling water on the stove.

So, yes, it's very important to keep wings trimmed. Furthermore, an improper trim can be physically and emotionally damaging. So it's important to learn from someone who knows proper technique, such as an avian veterinarian or experienced bird groomer.

Q: We have a new kitten, and she runs behind our vehicles as we are backing up. We have not hit her yet, but at this rate it seems inevitable. Do you have any suggestions on how to prevent this? -- T.P., via e-mail

A: Have you considered making her an indoor cat? Cars aren't the only hazards your pet will face if she continues to roam free. She's also at risk from dogs (or coyotes, in some areas), cat-hating neighbors, spilled chemicals such as antifreeze and more.

I recently visited friends in another state. I see them about once a year, and every time I visit, it seems as if there is a death in their free-roaming cat family. The calamities that befall these pets are typical: In the last three years, one was killed by a neighbor's dog, one was hit and killed by a car and the third just disappeared.

My friends and I agree to disagree on the subject of letting their cats roam -- they believe cats have to be "free." I can't help but feel even more sad when the loss of each wonderful pet was entirely preventable, especially knowing as I do that cats can be perfectly content as indoor pets.

A short life and tragic end are the fate of too many free-roaming cats. If you want to keep your pet safe, keep her inside.

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