Universal Press Syndicate

Even in an off year, the housing market traditionally picks up in the spring, as families who need to change residences get moving so the children can be settled into the new neighborhood before the next school year begins.

But moving is tough on families, pets included. Animals always know when something's amiss, even if they can't understand exactly what's changing, or why.

The key to moving pets is to keep them secure before and during the move, and to settle them safely and quickly into a routine afterward.

Cats are a particular worry at moving time because they form a bond not only with the people in a home, but also with the home itself. Because of their mobility, cats can be difficult to keep around the new home long enough for them to realize that this is where the people they love will now stay.

The family dog is a bit easier to deal with: Put his leash on and drive him to his new address. Show him his new, warm home and the securely fenced back yard. Unless the dog is a high-jumper of Olympic caliber, he'll stay put while he adjusts.

Not so with free-roaming cats. The cases of cats returning to their previous homes are common for people who move short distances, and the instances of cats disappearing forever are just as common for families moving a great distance.

Confinement is essential when moving cats: It keeps them safe while they become used to their new territory and make it their own. Bring your cat inside, if he's not already an indoor cat, before the movers arrive. Set him up in a "safe room" -- a spare bathroom or bedroom is ideal -- and leave him be. Provide him with food and water, his bed, a scratching post, litter box and a couple of favorite toys while the packing and moving is under way.

The cat's ride to the new home is best undertaken in a carrier, especially for the cat who rarely sees the inside of a car.

At the new home, work the "leaving home" procedure in reverse: Put the cat into a "safe room" for a few days -- until the movers are gone, the furniture arranged and most of the dust settled -- and then allow him to explore inside the house on his own terms after things calm down a bit.

Quickly re-establish a routine. Pick a time and a place for feeding, and stick to it for all pets.

If you've been thinking about converting your free-roaming cat to a house dweller for his health and safety, moving to a new home is the perfect time to accomplish this. In your old home, you'd be constantly listening to your cat demanding to be let out into the rest of his territory. In a new home, he hasn't established any territory of his own yet, and you can make the new home his only turf by keeping him inside from day one.

If you don't want to convert him, keep him inside for a couple of weeks, until he seems relaxed. You can introduce your cat to the new yard by accompanying him on short tours with a harness and a leash. But in the end, you'll have to take your chances, open the door and hope for the best.

Moving is stressful for all, but taking a little extra care when it comes to your pets will help to move them safely and with a minimum of stress and mess at the new home.

SIDEBAR

Don't forget ID

Image: dog with old tag

Caption: Get new ID tags on your pets before you disconnect your old phone number.

During a move, your pet is at a high risk for becoming lost. That's why it's essential to get new ID tags on your pets before you disconnect that old phone number, or to update the ID tags with your permanent cell phone number. If you use a tracking service or microchip ID, be sure they know where to reach you as well by updating your records with the registry.

If you're going to need to change veterinarians, let the staff at the old hospital know and provide a working phone number in case anyone calls the hospital because of a rabies tag on a found pet. (Rabies tags usually have the vet's phone number on them.) And finally, check with the animal control department in your new community to get new licenses and find out what regulations cover your pets. -- G.S.

Q&A

Don't play vet at home

Q: At the pet store where I go, they have antibiotics for sale. Would it be a good idea to keep some on hand in case our pets get sick? -- D.F., via e-mail

A: Antibiotics are one of the outstanding contributions of modern medicine and have saved countless lives of both the human and animal variety. But we have become so comfortable with these medicines and their frequent usage that we sometimes forget they are powerful drugs that should be used with care.

And yet, some pet lovers respond to any sign of illness by dosing -- and often overdosing -- their pets with antibiotics commonly available at pet-supply stores (and often labeled for fish). This sort of treatment for your sick pet is a bad idea for several reasons.

First, if your pet has a viral or fungal infection, an antibiotic will not help.

Second, not all antibiotics are the same. They all have their own target bacteria, and they may have little effect on any bacteria they're not designed to combat as well as bacteria that are resistant to them.

Third, regular use of antibiotics may hurt your pet's immune system and may lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that will be hard to stamp out even with the "right" medication.

When your pet is sick, see your veterinarian. Getting the right diagnosis and the right medication promptly may well save your pet's life. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Vomiting parrot

Q: When I get home and go to let my sun conure out of his cage, he'll start bobbing his head and then vomit food. How can I get him to stop it? -- B.F., via e-mail

A: Strange as it may seem to those of us who don't have wings, what your little guy is doing is showing you his affection.

He's "regurgitating," and isn't that a much nicer word than "vomiting"? Like many animals, birds feed their young by bringing up food. Bonded breeding pairs do this to each other as a sign of closeness. When your bird brings up food for you, it's because he's showing you that he considers you a mate or companion, and he wants you to eat well.

Birds bob their heads to bring the food up, and when the behavior is performed between birds, the food is put directly into the other's mouth.

You can't stop this natural behavior, so just accept it. The behavior, that is, not the regurgitated food. -- Gina Spadafori

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Reward pet's good manners

Animals learn from the immediate consequences of their actions. Reward-based training is based on positive reinforcement -- giving an animal an immediate reward for "getting it right."

A reward can be anything a pet desires, such as food, praise, touch, toys, playtime, and indoor or outdoor access. Reward-based training teaches an animal that you are the provider and controller of everything good. It also builds trust and keeps the animal student eager to learn more.

When teaching your pet what you want him to do, offer what he likes the best as the reward. After the new behavior is learned, continue with intermittent rewards. Once the pet knows a behavior, you can withhold the reward when your pet gets it wrong. For example, the dog who knows how to sit but won't sit for his dinner dish can have his grub withheld for a few minutes. Then try again! Chances are he'll sit, and he'll sit even more quickly the next time.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dogmobiles," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

PET Rx

Broken teeth common in dogs

Birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim and dogs gotta chew. But sometimes, that chewing can prompt a painful problem.

Broken teeth are a common problem with dogs. Aggressive chewing on hard objects such as rocks or fencing, or on hard treats such as cow hooves, bones or hard nylon toys, are the primary cause. (Veterinarian's rule of thumb: Don't give your pet any chew toy that's hard enough that you wouldn't want it to hit you in the knee.)

To prevent broken teeth, dental experts recommend regular exercise of your pet to help prevent destructive chewing and having several veterinarian-recommended toys to chew so as to distract them from the bad ones. For extremely aggressive chewers, get a large toy the pet can't get his mouth around, or offer softer chews.

A broken tooth exposes the delicate pulp and nerve endings, making life extremely painful for the pet. Food and other debris can get impacted in the fracture and attract bacteria, leading to infection, the loss of a tooth or worse.

The most common signs of dental problems are: excessive drooling (especially in a pet who doesn't normally salivate much), not eating, or favoring one side of the mouth.

Just as the human family gets regular dental examinations and cleanings, you should take your pet to the veterinarian at least yearly for a comprehensive physical examination that will include a look at your pet's entire mouth. If your pet is having problems sooner, don't wait for the well-pet exam -- dental problems really hurt!

Dental cleanings under anesthesia are a regular part of a preventive-care regimen for many dogs, as is at-home care such as brushing. Ask your veterinarian what's best for your pet's teeth and gums, both to prevent problems and to fix them. -- Dr. Marty Becker

BY THE NUMBERS

Up and down dogs

The popularity of small dogs (under 20 pounds) has steadily risen over the past decade. Some of the biggest increases in registration are among these breeds:

Cavalier King Charles spaniels: 735 percent increase

French bulldogs: 305 percent increase

Brussels griffon: 231 percent increase

Of the breeds that have seen the highest decrease in registrations during the past decade, larger dogs are affected the most:

Dalmatians: 97 percent decrease

Chows: 91 percent decrease

Rottweilers: 83 percent decrease

Source: American Kennel Club

PETS ON THE WEB

Better care for hamsters

Hamsters are popular pets for children, who often manage to convince their parents to snap up the pets before anyone has thought carefully about how to care for them.

If that's the case, no worries. The Web has hamster sites that can be of great help.

The Hamster Hideout (hamsterhideout.com) is based in Singapore, so some of the information is too regional to be of much help. But beyond that, the Hideout offers sound advice on proper care and encourages sharing of hamster stories and pictures with a reader forum. The links page provides a generous selection of other sites, from those focusing on care to others dedicated to pictures, stories and online games.

Be sure to click on the "All About" link and then on the special sections just for those with a new hamster. A very useful, kid-friendly site. -- Gina Spadafori

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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

Universal Press Syndicate

The recent pet-food recall in response to the deaths of pets nationwide brought attention to an important body system that gets little attention until there's a problem: the kidneys.

The kidneys act like a water filtration system in reverse, trapping and recycling substances the body needs, such as proteins, and letting waste materials pass through. If any part of this complex filtration process breaks down, toxins in the bloodstream can rise to life-threatening levels.

"The kidneys are vulnerable, and once the kidney tissue is damaged, it is unlikely to regenerate," said Dr. Nancy Zimmerman of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, which is based in Portland, Ore., and has more than 600 locations nationwide.

Treatment -- often giving massive amounts of fluids -- is aimed at restoring the kidneys to normal function so they can resume doing their job of filtration. If that's not possible, the toxins in the blood must be reduced to safe levels some other way. Diet, drug therapy, agents that bind toxins and eliminate them, and even dialysis (see sidebar) can be used.

Chronic kidney failure is usually found in aging pets and can be detected with a simple blood test. Acute kidney failure is typically marked by vomiting, increased thirst, increased or lack of urination, lethargy, bad breath, diarrhea and lack of appetite. These symptoms signal a health crisis, with time being the difference between whether an animal lives or dies.

The critical issue of response is why veterinarians don't recommend that pet lovers wait a day or more after the onset of symptoms in hopes a problem will go away on its own. When sick pets finally arrive at the veterinary hospital, 75 percent of kidney function can already be gone for good. Wait much longer, and the chances of survival are not good.

Poisoning by pet food isn't by any means the normal trigger for acute renal failure, says Dr. Katherine James of the Veterinary Information Network, an online service for veterinary professionals based in Davis, Calif.

"In dogs and cats, we worry about ethylene glycol -- antifreeze," said Dr. James, who also has a Ph.D. in the study of kidney function. "In dogs, we also have the issue of grapes and raisins. That might be an issue in cats as well, except they won't eat the things. And in cats, of course, you have their sensitivity to lilies, which they will eat."

No matter what the cause is of sudden-onset kidney failure, the treatment needs to be swift. At the very least, says Dr. Zimmerman, the pet will need to be placed on intravenous fluids and may need to be provided with antibiotics as well as other medications to suppress vomiting and diarrhea. The treatment plan is designed to help to flush the kidneys while supporting the body through the crisis.

If the intervention is successful, the animal will be left with enough kidney function to survive, although perhaps with chronic kidney issues that need lifetime treatment.

Although the prognosis can be grim in many sudden cases of kidney failure, Dr. Zimmerman says it's always worth trying to save a pet.

"These cases are hard to predict at the beginning and very few times you can predict the outcome from the get-go," she said. "When there's a quality-of-life issue, then yes, it may be time to let go. But a lot of these animals are saved, and it's always worth trying."

(Gina Spadafori and Christie Keith contributed to this story.)

SIDEBAR

Dialysis, transplants also an option

Sophisticated -- and expensive -- medical procedures might save pets with some forms of kidney failure.

Dr. Larry Cowgill developed the world's first companion animal hemodialysis program at the University of California, Davis, in 1990. "We'll often see an animal with a recoverable disease who just needs to be kept alive until they're well," he said.

Dialysis can also be a near-miracle for pets who have consumed ethylene glycol products such as antifreeze. "If we get those animals soon enough," said Dr. Cowgill, "say, in the first 10 or 12 hours, we can get rid of that toxin before they get any kidney damage."

UCD is also one of the few places in the world where dogs and cats can receive kidney transplants. Cats in need of a donated kidney can get one from one of the hospital's own cats -- a cat who then has to be given a lifelong home. Dogs need to find their own donors. Pets who survive the first year post-transplant may go on to live for many years.

Costs are high. Transplantation costs range from $9,000 to $13,000. Dialysis setup runs around $3,000, with additional costs depending on the length of treatment. Veterinarians can refer clients to specialty practices or veterinary schools or colleges that offer such care. -- Christie Keith

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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

By Christie Keith

Universal Press Syndicate

In a dog lover's perfect world, everyone would have dogs, love dogs, work with dogs or be a dog. Luckily, you can visit that perfect world anytime you want, just by peeking between the covers of one of the many mysteries produced by some of the dog world's best authors.

The godmother of the dog mystery, Susan Conant, unabashedly writes about the dog world from an insider's perspective. "I was reading lots of mysteries," Conant said, "and I knew there was no series about dogs. What I wanted to do was hold a mirror up to all of us, and I thought that all of us would be amused by our reflection."

Conant holds her mirror on a Cambridge, Mass., that is populated by perplexed psychoanalysts and eccentric academics, and has an alarmingly high crime rate. The heroes of the story are dog writer Holly Winter and her Alaskan malamutes, Rowdy and Kimi, who manage to stumble on at least one murder in every book.

Proving herself to be a diehard dog lover, Conant's first concern wasn't that she wouldn't be able to sell the books to a publisher, but that Rowdy and Kimi would be so appealing it might make the Alaskan malamute a fad breed.

"One of the first letters I ever got from a reader was hilarious," said Conant. "She said, 'After reading your book, I'm never going to get a dog and certainly not an Alaskan malamute.' And I thought, 'Wow, I certainly succeeded there.'"

You may not know anything about the world of dog shows, but neither does Melanie Travis, the reluctant crime solver in Laurien Berenson's poodle mysteries.

"I really wanted to write a cozy mystery, and I wanted to set it in the dog-show world," Berenson said. So she created a heroine who not only wasn't a dog-show insider, but she'd also never so much as owned a dog before. Her eccentric, poodle-breeding Aunt Peg changes all that when she asks Melanie to help her look into the circumstances of her husband's death. Before you can say "best in show," Melanie's knee-deep in crime and sharing her life with a bouncing black standard poodle named Faith.

Melanie is as bemused as any average person would be at the excesses of the dog-show circuit, but Berenson swears she's playing down reality. "I remember being at a show where this storm blew in, just slightly below a hurricane," she said. "The rings were literally under water. And they judged the toy group by getting everyone to bring their grooming tables and putting them back to back, and the toys were moved up and down the grooming tables."

Sometimes the dogs in dog mysteries are more than companions: They're actually crime fighters themselves. Two of the standout series in the dog mystery genre feature working dogs. Bloodhound handler Jo Beth Sidden made her debut in the award-winning "Death in Bloodhound Red" by the late Virginia Lanier. Jo Beth and the dog she calls her soul mate, a blind bloodhound named Bobby Lee, track lost children, escaped convicts and drug dealers into the Georgia swamplands.

Carol Lea Benjamin was best known for her dog-training books, but found a whole new set of fans when she introduced private investigator Rachel Alexander and her pit bull, Dash. The hard-boiled New York PI routinely looks into crimes that showcase the darker side of human nature, tackling themes including child abuse, homelessness and mental illness.

"I don't write dog mysteries," said Benjamin. "I write mysteries with a working dog in them."

SIDEBAR

Book 'em, doggo!

Here's an overview of the latest from the current top-selling writers of canine mysteries.

The Rachel Alexander series

Author: Carol Lea Benjamin

Sleuth: A private investigator in New York City

Dog: Dashiell the pit bull

Most Recent: "The Hard Way" (William Morrow)

Best: "A Hell of a Dog"

Darker and grittier than other mysteries in the genre, Benjamin's books touch on difficult themes, including homelessness, 9/11, child abuse and mental illness. The series becomes darker as it progresses and less focused on dog-related plots -- although Dash is still front and center. This is a dog mystery series for mystery buffs who don't like books about dogs, but it will also work for those who do.

The Melanie Travis series

Author: Laurien Berenson

Sleuth: A single mom and schoolteacher in a small New Jersey town

Dog: Standard poodle (and show dog) Faith

Most Recent: "Chow Down" (Kensington)

Best: "Best in Show" 

Melanie Travis does seem to get into an awful lot of trouble despite her seemingly benign life as a schoolteacher and single mom. And her poodle, Faith, isn't much help in solving the mysteries, but rather too good at getting her embroiled ever more deeply in them. And she has nothing on Melanie's Aunt Peg, who never met a mystery she didn't want Melanie to solve. Light and charming.

The Holly Winter series

Author: Susan Conant

Sleuth: A dog writer in Cambridge, Mass.

Dogs: Alaskan malamutes Rowdy and Kimi

Most Recent: "Gaits of Heaven" (Berkley)

Best: "The Barker Street Irregulars"

Either being a dog writer is a lot more dangerous than anyone could imagine, or a certain suspension of disbelief is needed to read Susan Conant's mystery series. Still, Holly is so delightful -- and her malamutes so captivating -- that most readers will be more than happy to take a little break from realism. Conant holds up a mirror to the world of dog people, with a mostly loving effect. -- Christie Keith

Q&A

Keep litter box on the inside

Q: I rescued my cat when he was 6 months old. He's about 2 years old now, and he's an inside and outside cat. I would like him to stop using the litter box and start going to the bathroom outside. How can I get him to do so? -- C.K., via e-mail

A: Although your cat can probably figure out how to make the transition to using the outside facilities on his own, I'd recommend sticking with the inside litter box for at least three good reasons:

First, being a good neighbor. When your cat's using the litter box, he's not using your neighbor's flower bed, vegetable garden or children's sandbox. It's not fair to your neighbors for them to have to deal with your cat's mess. And it's not very safe for your cat! You would not believe the number of angry e-mails I get from people who are ready to trap and take to the shelter (or even kill) a neighbor's cat over this issue.

Second, there's a health consideration. When you're cleaning the litter box once or twice a day, you're able to see changes in your cat's patterns of elimination. Is there a problem with diarrhea? A sudden increase in urination? Straining to pass feces? All of these problems could be symptoms of a serious health issue, and the sooner you catch it, the better for your cat (and your bank account).

Finally, there's an environmental concern. Cats are non-native species who spread diseases such as toxoplasmosis. Preliminary studies suggest that cat waste washed off the land and into the sewer system can end up killing native species such as otters in some parts of the country. The safest way to handle cat waste is to remove it from the litter box and place it in a digesting pet waste composter (not your garden compost!), or wrap it and place it in your household trash receptacle for pickup.

Honestly, it's not that difficult or time-consuming to keep a litter box clean. There are even litter boxes on the market that will clean themselves, wrapping the waste for easy disposal every few days. My advice: Keep the box inside for the good of all. It's the responsible thing to do. -- Gina Spadafori

Muzzle, please

Q: Our dog is a Rottweiler, a wonderful, lovable and obedient dog except for her aggression toward other dogs.

When I'm walking her and she sees a dog, she starts biting her leash, pulling and going crazy. The first incident resulted in her grabbing a small fluffy dog and shaking it. More than $1,000 later, she was lucky she did not get reported. What should I do? -- B.W., via e-mail

A: Your dog will kill another dog if you do not take responsibility from this second forward. Do not take your dog off your property without putting a comfortable box muzzle on her to prevent her from hurting someone else's pet. And make double-sure your fences and gates are secure so she does not get the chance to get out on her own.

Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate your dog's aggression and set up a program to help you control, manage and potentially retrain this animal.

I'm glad you're taking this seriously enough to ask for help. If, with the help of a behaviorist, you cannot get your dog to a stage where she can be trusted, she must always be in a comfortable muzzle when she's away from your home. The sad alternative to managing her aggression, I'm afraid, is euthanasia, and I know you do not want that. -- Gina Spadafori

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Make carrier a cat's home

Every cat benefits from learning to relax inside a carrier. This prepares the cat for traveling safely and with less stress, whether to a friend's house, for boarding or for a veterinary visit.

Select a cloth-type bag that can fit under an airplane seat or a hard plastic carrier that is easier to clean and keep long term.

Put the open carrier in your cat's favorite location -- on a dresser or by a favorite window is ideal. Make sure nothing bad happens in or around the carrier, and make it the best place to be. Add a cushy bed. Feed your cat in the carrier, play in and around the carrier, and hide treats and sprinkle catnip inside.

For two weeks, look at, speak to and love up the cat only around and inside the carrier. Otherwise, the cat is ignored. Close the carrier door with the cat inside for short periods after a few weeks of acclimation.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dogmobiles," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

THE SCOOP

Tips for teaching your cat not to bite

Do you have a cat who loves your petting one minute and bites your hand the next? While you can't completely turn a "skitty kitty" into a purring slug cat, you can work to increase your pet's tolerance for petting.

If your cat bites your hand while you're petting him, you've missed more than a couple of messages from him asking you to stop. The key one: a tail twitch that becomes more agitated and finally escalates into a noticeable thump or thrash.

You should also be aware that some places on a cat's body are more sensitive than others. For a highly reactive cat, restrict your caresses to behind the ears, under the chin or at the base of the tail.

Work to build your cat's tolerance to touch over time. When you pick up your cat for a petting session, don't surprise him. Come up on him slowly and pick him up gently. Pet the safe areas only, watching for the first sign of a tail twitch.

When you get that first early warning sign, stop petting him and allow him to calm down or leave if he wants to. Don't let it go so far that he feels the need to bite or to jump off you quickly. The key is to work up to the outskirts of tolerance and stop there, so your cat will learn to trust you in longer sessions.

Never hit a cat for biting. If you miss the signs and end up in your cat's non-affectionate embrace, just freeze. Providing no resistance will help calm your cat so he will just let go.

If you fight back or physically punish your cat, you are more likely to get bitten or scratched. You'll also undo your good training efforts and may hurt your relationship with your pet in the long run. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Cats and dogs rule

Cats and dogs remain the most popular pets, according to a 2006 survey of American pet owners. The percentage of households that have a particular kind of pet, by type:

Dog 37 percent

Cat 32 percent

Freshwater fish 12 percent

Bird 5 percent

Small animal 5 percent

Reptile 4 percent

Horse 4 percent

Saltwater fish 1 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

PETS ON THE WEB

Get to know your budgie

All budgerigars are parakeets, but not all parakeets are budgerigars. Got that? So quit calling those little blue or green birds "parakeets" and do as the Brits do: Call them budgies.

Far from just being a "starter pet" for children, budgies can fit into almost any household situation. They're small enough that their cages don't take up too much space, and they're quiet enough to keep the neighbors from complaining. Some budgies are also outstanding talkers, learning to mimic hundreds of sounds, words and phrases.

The Me & My Budgie Web site (www.budgies.org) is a good place to go to start increasing your appreciation of these great little pets. The site offers good advice on care and feeding, as well pictures and stories submitted by budgie fans. There's even an arts and crafts section, with instructions on how to make safe, inexpensive toys for your bird. -- Gina Spadafori

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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