Universal Press Syndicate

The day Ellen DeGeneres was weeping on her talk show over pet-rescue volunteers who took back a dog she'd given away, I was in the midst of adopting a dog from a different rescue group. And I was reminded, again, of two things:

-- All rescue groups are different, in terms of philosophies and policies.

-- Good contracts make good adoptions, but good people make better ones.

The day after the Ellen DeGeneres weepfest, I was finalizing the adoption, including initialing a contract with a paragraph now jokingly called "The Ellen Clause." And no, I won't be giving this dog away without contacting the rescue group first. Because they explained the contract to me, and because I agreed to its terms. And because I know they're only trying to help.

An interview, contract-signing, donation and home-check later, the dog is now in his forever home -- mine. But I know my easy adoption experience isn't universal, and I've heard many times from many people about how shelters and rescue groups make it too difficult for well-meaning families to adopt a pet.

How difficult? I've heard from people who've been turned down by a shelter or rescue group because they have an unneutered pet in the home (even though the pet they're adopting is neutered and they aren't planning to breed any pets at all). People who've been turned down because they won't rule out declawing or won't swear to keep a cat inside. People who don't have fenced yards or those who live in apartments. And people, most notably in the case of the DeGeneres incident, who have children in the home.

Sometimes it does seem that some shelters and rescue groups try harder to rule out prospective homes for pets than to work with people to make an adoption possible, through education, say, or by working to find a pet better suited to a home with children.

Having run a breed rescue, I know that when placing a hard-luck pet there's a real desire to make the next placement a final one, and that means a by-the-book, perfect one. But it's also true that when I was doing rescue work, I broke my own rules all the time, and over the years some of the people who proved to be the best homes were those who didn't look at all appropriate on paper.

Why did I place pets with them? Because I listened to them, I heard what was in their hearts and took a chance. And because I know that life is full of chances, changes and risks, and even a perfect home may change down the line.

But there's change on the way. The growing "no-kill" movement is changing the idea that a pet is better dead than placed in what appears to be a less-than-perfect home. And changing, too, is the idea that people are "bad" potential pet owners before being proven "good" by shelter or rescue group standards.

Next week, we'll introduce you to two pioneers who are changing the way we think about homeless pets, in a way that's good for both the animals and for the people who hope to adopt them.

The latest addition to my family, by the way, is Pippin, and I wasn't looking for another dog when he grabbed me by the heart and wouldn't let go. He was found wandering in Central California with a broken belt around his neck, pulled from a county pound by German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California, and then spent a few months in foster care until something in his eyes told me he needed to be part of my family.

He's not all shepherd, though, and maybe it was that classic border collie eye of his that got my attention. No matter: I now have a young dog that I'm calling a German Shedder-Brainy Collie mix, and he just couldn't be sweeter.

As for me, I couldn't be happier.

Do you have a shelter or rescue group experience, good or bad, that you'd like to share? Join the conversation on our PetConnection.com Web site.

SIDEBAR

The Internet has made it easier for shelters and rescue groups to find good homes for pets who need them, thanks to Web sites like www.petfinder.com.

Petfinder started up as a great idea by some tech-savvy pet lovers and soon became the dominant site for getting the news out about pets who needed good homes. The site also served as a clearinghouse for information following Hurricane Katrina, working to reunite pets with their owners and find homes for animals who needed them. Petfinder maintains its simple appeal and powerful database-driven search abilities, even though the site is now owned by the Animal Planet network.

Most shelters and rescue groups place their available pets on Petfinder, although each group maintains its own standards, of course, when it comes to what constitutes a suitable adoption. -- Gina Spadafori

Q&A

Staph infection a worry in pets

Q: I was wondering about the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and pets. I have a 6-month-old male cat with swollen glands under his jaw. His ears and skin near his chin and mouth seemed to be really red, and he seemed to be itchy. He had a slight fever and a red sore under his armpit. I was told to give him an antibiotic, Clavamox. The bloodwork showed a high white blood cell count. He seems to be OK -- he's eating and running around -- but the sore concerns me. His temperature is now normal, but his glands are still swollen. Is there a definitive test for MRSA in pets? -- K.K., via e-mail

A: MRSA is an up-and-coming issue in veterinary medicine, according to Dr. David White, director of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine. MRSA was first reported in 1961, soon after the antimicrobial methicillin was introduced into human medicine to treat penicillin-resistant staphylococci, White explains via e-mail.

"MRSA has since emerged as an important human pathogen worldwide, and more recently, there is concern in the veterinary medicine and food safety arenas with regards to MRSA as a possible disease transmitted between animals and people," he writes.

White reports that MRSA infections in domestic animals have been reported among horses, pigs, cattle, sheep, cats, dogs and rabbits, as well as being reported as an emerging problem in veterinary teaching facilities.

Both human-to-animal and animal-to-human transmission of MRSA are known to be possible. However, it has not yet been adequately determined whether animals are an important primary source of MRSA infections for humans, or if most animals are infected after contact with human carriers.

Now about your cat with swollen glands and the sore under his armpit. "We routinely culture patients we suspect have underlying bacterial infections, and microbiologists will identify MRSA," writes Dr. Marc Elie via e-mail, a board-certified specialist in veterinary internal medicine at Michigan Veterinary Specialists.

Dr. Elie suspects your cat had some sort of allergic reaction rather than an underlying infection, since you are describing extreme redness of the skin rather than sores (with the exception of a single armpit sore). The glandular enlargement and high white blood cell counts may merely be a systemic extension of the allergic inflammatory response. Alternatively, the cat may have prominent salivary glands that are being misidentified as swollen glands.

Dr. Elie suspects your cat improved not because he received Clavamox, but rather because his allergic reaction coincidentally waned with time.

"To answer the question simply, it may be appropriate to biopsy the lesion under the armpit and submit it for both histopathologic analysis and bacterial culture," writes Dr. Elie. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

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 "dog cars," 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 BUZZ

Doggy see, doggy do

-- New research in the online journal Current Biology shows that dogs may selectively imitate the actions of other dogs, not just take the easiest, most instinctive path every time. In the study, dogs were given the task of opening a box of food by pulling a rod. Dogs instinctively prefer to use their mouths to open the box, but one female dog was taught to open the box with her paw. The others imitated her method. If she had a ball in her mouth when she opened the box with her paw, the other dogs used their mouths. Researchers say this behavior is parallel to that of human infants, who also selectively imitate actions to reach a goal.

-- New figures from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service show that the number of hunters 16 and older declined by 10 percent between 1996 and 2006 -- from 14 million to about 12.5 million. The number of people who fish dropped 15 percent.

-- H2O no! It might seem crazy to bring water to the lake or river to give your dog, but ponds, lakes and rivers may be contaminated with bacteria and parasites such as Giardia that can make your pet sick. More serious is blue-green algae, which can be fatal if ingested. Other water risks include swallowing too much chlorinated water from a pool or too much saltwater.

-- Americans now spend $41 billion a year on their pets, according to an August cover story in BusinessWeek. That puts the yearly cost of buying, feeding and caring for pets in excess of what Americans spend on the movies ($10.8 billion), playing video games ($11.6 billion) and listening to recorded music ($10.6 billion) combined. -- Dr. Marty Becker

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Time outs for bad puppies

Dogs are eager to please those who feed and protect them, and most puppies learn quickly to please to earn what they need for survival.

Praising your puppy for bringing you a toy or for sitting typically increases the frequency of those behaviors.

Conversely, if your puppy is biting at people during play, the best consequence might be a time out -- removing the social interaction he craves. Stopping play and ignoring the puppy or putting the puppy in a bathroom or laundry room for a few minutes allows your pet to calm down and learn an important lesson: When puppy teeth touch human flesh, the good times stop rolling.

(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.)

PET Rx

Don't play doctor when it comes to antibiotics

Antibiotics are everywhere and can be purchased with very little trouble, either at some pet stores (where they're labeled for fish) or through Internet sources. Is it a good idea to keep some on hand in case your pet gets sick? In a word, "no."

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 animals with antibiotics. But this course of action is a bad idea for several reasons.

First, not all antibiotics are the same. They each have their target bacteria, and they may little affect any bacteria they're not designed to combat as well as bacteria that are resistant to them. And if your pet has a viral or fungal infection, an antibiotic will not help and may make matters worse.

Second, the 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. And finally, the improper use or overuse of antibiotics presents an environmental hazard.

When your pet is sick, your time and money would be better spent getting an accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment from an experienced veterinarian. -- Dr. Marty Becker

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Reptile owners: Smarter, richer?

A 2006 survey on pets, pet lovers and the pet-supply industry suggests that people who choose reptiles and amphibians as pets tend to be urban, affluent and better-educated, compared to the general population. The most popular pets among reptile owners in 2006 (multiple answers allowed):

Turtle/tortoise 50 percent

Frog/toad 23 percent

Lizard 19 percent

Snake 18 percent

Iguana 12 percent

Other reptile 5 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

THE SCOOP

'People food' great for parrots

Almost any healthy food you fix for yourself can also be shared with your parrot, such as pasta, rice, casseroles, meats, cereal and, of course, lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. 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.) Also avoid chocolate, alcohol and caffeine.

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. -- 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

Spend any time at a veterinary emergency hospital and you'll see that some people who bring their pets in didn't need to -- the condition was minor and could have waited until morning.

But then you worry about the people you don't see: those who don't recognize a truly life-threatening illness in their pets. Will those pets make it until morning? And how much suffering will they endure until then?

A really sick pet may be pretty obvious, as with an animal who has been in a bloody fight or has broken bones after being hit by a car. But not all medical emergencies are as obvious, so how can you tell the difference?

First and foremost: Call your veterinarian (or an emergency veterinary clinic if it's after hours). It's better to make a call, or even a trip, you needn't have made than to put your pet's life at risk. Normal findings and peace of mind are, as they say, "priceless."

Otherwise, taking your "ain't doing right" pet's temperature is a good place to start figuring out if more help is needed. Normal is between 100 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit for dogs and cats. Anything below 99 or above 103 is worth checking with a veterinarian, day or night.

Some other "see the vet now" indicators include seizure, fainting or collapse, as well as any suspected poisoning (including antifreeze, rodent poison, snail bait or human medication). Snake or spider bites, too, demand immediate attention. Cats in particular can be fatally sensitive to insecticides (such as flea-control medications that are safe for dogs), petroleum-based products or medications such as Tylenol.

Sometimes situations that might not seem urgent really are, such as eye injuries or allergic reactions -- swelling around the face or hives. A single incident of vomiting or diarrhea is probably nothing, but anything more than two or three times within an hour or so could indicate a serious problem. Other signs of possibly serious conditions are breathing problems, chronic coughing or difficulties urinating or defecating, the latter especially in cats.

Animals can sometimes seem fine after accidents, even after being hit by a car, exposed to extreme heat or cold, or being cut or bitten. Even if your pet looks OK, you need to take him to a veterinarian right away to check for internal injuries that can kill if left untreated.

There are also situations that may not be life-threatening but are certainly painful enough to warrant immediate veterinary attention. Some of the signs of an animal in pain include panting, labored breathing, lethargy or restlessness, loss of appetite, aggression, hiding or crying out.

While it may be possible to wait until your regular veterinarian is available when the problem is "only" pain, put yourself in your pet's place. Would you want to hurt all night if you could get relief sooner?

Of course not, so we're back to the first point: When in doubt, call the vet.

SIDEBAR

Have first-aid supplies ready

Preparing for an emergency is always good advice.

The first step: Program your veterinarian's phone number into your cell phone under VetE (for veterinarian emergency).

Next: Assemble a first-aid kit.

Basic supplies include: adhesive tape, antihistamines (such as Benadryl), antiseptic (such as Betadine), cotton (balls, swabs and rolls), corn starch or styptic powder (such as Kwik Stop), Karo syrup, tweezers, hydrogen peroxide, scissors, sterile gauze (pads and rolls), pet thermometer, antibiotic ointment, anti-diarrheal (such as Pepto-Bismol), clear plastic cling wrap (such as Saran Wrap), activated charcoal and a water-based lubricating jelly (such as K-Y). Add a soft fabric muzzle (for dogs) or a restraint bag (for cats), since an animal in pain may lash out.

You can buy a ready-made kit from a pet retailer. Hunting-dog outfitters, such as Gun Dog Supply (www.gundogsupply.com), have extensive selections of kits in durable containers -- no surprise, since an injury to a working dog may happen far away from a veterinarian.

Finally, remember the Boy Scout motto: "Be prepared." Check locally for pet first-aid and CPR classes to take before you need them. And read up. Amy Shojai's "The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats" (Rodale Books, $20) is one of the best books on pet first aid around.--– Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

Q&A

Is acupuncture legit for pets?

Q: Our veterinarian hired a new associate, and she's really pushing "alternative" care, especially acupuncture. It seems a bit woo-woo to us. Is there anything wrong with sticking to good old-fashioned medicine? -- I.R., via e-mail

A: If you're talking old-fashioned, there's no doubt acupuncture would qualify. It has been practiced for centuries.

"Alternative" or "integrative" care is hot in human medicine and, not surprisingly, in veterinary medicine as well. Lumped under the term "alternative" is a wide range of treatment options, from acupuncture to chiropractic to homeopathy to herbal medicine.

The whole patient is generally the focus, rather than the specific disease. "Western" medicine does better with acute illness, such as a bacterial infection, or with trauma, such as a broken leg. Alternative medicine's strength is often in dealing with more chronic conditions, such as arthritis.

Some veterinarians originally trained in Western medicine have furthered their study and now practice alternative care exclusively. Many others accept elements of alternative care as a complement to Western medicine. For my own pets, especially the seniors, I have had good results over the last few years with this "integrative" approach -- mixing the best of Western practice with alternative care, primarily acupuncture.

As I mentioned, some alternative treatments have been practiced for centuries, with good results. But I also see advertisements for "miracle herbs" that seem to be little more than snake oil, taking advantage of a pet lover's emotions. As always, work with your veterinarian (Western or alternative), ask what the benefits and risks are to any treatment, and do your own independent research to help you make sound decisions on your pet's care. -- Gina Spadafori

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

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 "dog cars," 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 BUZZ

Save a yard: Let dog dig

-- Digging pits are a good idea, says Cheryl Smith, dog trainer and author of "Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs" (Dogwise, $20). She says that many dogs, such as terriers, love to dig, so feed the need. Make the pit twice as long as your dog and at least as wide as your dog is long. Fill it with at least a foot of loose sand and dirt, and hide some tasty treats to get the digging started. Praise for a job "well dug." Smith also suggests making a dog tunnel. Cover a good-sized pipe with dirt, creating a mound but leaving the ends open. Your dog will either run through the tunnel playing chase or will take cover in the tunnel on a hot day.

-- Louisiana's recent ban on cockfighting makes this cruel practice illegal in all 50 states.

-- More than half of current asthma cases in the United States are the result of allergies, especially to cats, according to a National Institutes of Health study. Cat allergens were found to account for 29.3 percent of asthma cases, followed by fungus and white oaks.

-- Which animal has the greatest sex drive? Esquire magazine says generally the more social the species, the more likely it is to have sex for reasons other than just reproduction. Mother Nature's high achievers, sexually speaking, include pygmy chimpanzees and dolphins.

-- Car tires patterned after the toe pads of tree frogs are in production, reports Science magazine. -- Dr. Marty Becker

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Cats need more variety

Cats may become fixated on certain food shapes and textures, not accepting anything unfamiliar as food. When cats will eat only certain textures and tastes of food, they suffer if put on special diets or if a favorite brand becomes unavailable. And good luck trying to trick the food-fixated cat by hiding pills!

Avoid the problem by feeding kittens and cats a variety of foods. Introduce new foods by hand when the kitten or cat is very hungry. Mix a small amount of new food in with favorites to encourage acceptance.

Feed kittens and cats a wide selection of foods in various flavors, sizes, textures and shapes. Vary treats and flavors to keep your feline flexible in the food department.

(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.)

PET BUY

Every pet needs a safe way to travel

Few things are more important to your pet's comfort and safety than having a sturdy travel carrier. This is especially true for cats and smaller pets such as parrots, ferrets and rabbits. But it's also true for large dogs, who may seem just fine on a leash.

The reason? In a disaster, the pet who travels with his own "hotel room" is easier to deal with than one hanging out at the end of a leash.

I have always had all kinds of carriers, both in my van and in my home, where I can grab one in an emergency. When I travel with a smaller pet (such as my cat) on an airplane, I prefer to use a soft-sided carrier, such as the Sturdi (www.sturdiproducts.com). The flexible ribbing makes it possible to put the carrier under the plane's seat while still leaving as much room as possible for a pet.

For most all other uses, though, I prefer rigid carriers made of wire (from Precision, www.precisionpet.com, or Midwest, www.midwesthomesforpets.com) or hard plastic. Petmate (www.petmate.com) has long been the industry standard in hard-plastic carriers, and its large product line has something for every pet. With my big dogs, I use both wire crates and hard plastic ones, from all three companies.

For my cat, though, I prefer the Double Door Deluxe (small size is $30) from Petmate, which offers two ways to get pets into and out of the carrier. The Double Door carrier is also handy for when either my rabbit or parrot needs to see the vet. And for these animals, having their choice of doors makes what can be a stressful time for all just a little bit easier. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

There's nothing some dogs won't chew

If you've ever been embarrassed by your underwear-munching dog, take heart: You're not alone. The Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. surveyed its claims and came up with a list of the top items that had to be surgically removed from pets. Underwear was No. 2. Here's the list of the top 10:

1. Socks

2. Underwear

3. Pantyhose

4. Rocks

5. Balls

6. Chew Toys

7. Corncobs

8. Bones

9. Hair Ties/Ribbons

10. Sticks

Source: www.petinsurance.com

THE SCOOP

Proper handling keeps parrots tame

Altitude has a lot to do with attitude, at least when it comes to parrots. Pet parrots who see themselves as dominant to their owners can often be retrained just by getting their height adjusted.

The rule is known among behaviorists as "your head, my heart" and requires you to keep your bird's head no higher than your heart. That means canceling shoulder rides in favor of letting your bird perch on your waist-level arm or hand. It also means removing cage-top play gyms and lowering the height of the cage itself by removing the stand on which most models rest.

When your bird no longer looks down on you physically, he won't be as likely to look down on you socially. You'll then be in a better position to train him in the basics of well-mannered behavior. -- 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

It's the question every pet lover dreads, the one for which there's often no easy answer: "When is the right time to say goodbye?"

Choosing to end a pet's life is the hardest decision we make when it comes to our pets, and we can tell you from decades of experience that it's a decision that never gets any easier. Your veterinarian will offer you advice and support, and friends and family can offer you sympathy, but no one can make the decision for you. When you live with an elderly or terminally ill pet, you look in your pet's eyes every morning and wonder if you're doing what's best.

Everyone makes the decision a little differently. Some pet lovers do not wait until their pet's discomfort becomes chronic, untreatable pain, and they choose euthanasia much sooner than others would. Some owners use an animal's appetite as the guide -- when an old or ill animal cannot be tempted into eating, they reason, he has lost most interest in life. And some owners wait until there's no doubt the time is at hand -- and later wonder if they delayed a bit too long.

There's no absolute rule, and every method for deciding is right for some pets and some owners at some times. You do the best you can, and then you try to put the decision behind you and deal with the grief.

The incredible advances in veterinary medicine in the past couple of decades have made the decisions even more difficult for many people. Not too long ago, the best you could do for a seriously ill pet was to make her comfortable until that wasn't possible anymore. Nowadays, nearly every advantage of human medicine -- from chemotherapy to pacemakers to advanced pain relief -- is available to our pets.

But the addition of high-level care shouldn't change much when it comes to easing suffering: If you can have a realistic expectation that a course of treatment will improve your pet's life -- rather than simply prolong it -- then those options should be considered. But you must also ask yourself: Am I doing right by my pet, or am I just holding on because I can't bear to say goodbye?

If it's the latter, you know what decision you have to make.

Many people are surprised at the powerful emotions that erupt after a pet's death, and they can be embarrassed by their grief. Often, we don't realize we're grieving not only for the pet we loved, but also for the special time the animal represented and the ties to other people in our lives. The death of a cat who was a gift as a kitten from a friend who has died, for example, may trigger bittersweet memories of another love lost.

Taking care of yourself is important when dealing with pet loss. Some people -- the "It's just a pet" crowd -- won't understand the loss and may shrug off grief over a pet's death as foolish. I find that the company of other animal lovers is very important. Seek them out to share your feelings, and don't be shy about getting professional help to get you through a difficult time.

Choosing to end a pet's suffering is a final act of love and nothing less. Knowing that your decisions are guided by that love is what helps us all through the sad and lonely time of losing a cherished animal companion.

SIDEBAR

Finding help when you need it

You're not alone in losing a pet, and many resources are out there to help you cope with your emotions during a difficult time. Here are places to go for help:

-- Pet-loss hot lines. Most veterinary schools offer pet-loss support lines staffed by volunteer veterinary students. The University of California-Davis had the first, and it is still taking calls from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Pacific Time, Monday through Friday at 800-565-1526. A list of other pet-loss hot lines can be found on the American Veterinary Medical Association's Web site at www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/goodbyefriend/plhotlines.asp.

-- Pet-loss chats: The Web site PetHobbyist.com offers a pet-loss chat every night of the year, which is staffed with volunteer moderators and attended by other pet lovers. Petloss.com is another online resource for information and help.

Q&A

Halter problems? Try a harness

Q: I've heard that head halters can cause serious injuries if used incorrectly. A too-abrupt tug could jerk a dog's head, causing neck or spinal injuries, couldn't it? -- S.T., via e-mail

A: Anything's possible, which is why I don't recommend using a head halter with one of those long, reel-type leashes. The force of a running dog hitting the end of a 30-foot line does have the potential to cause injury.

In truth, just about every piece of canine equipment has the potential for problems if used incorrectly. Slip-chain collars can choke a dog or injure his neck. Breakaway collars, designed to release a dog who's caught on something, can result in a dog being off-leash when it's least safe, such as next to a busy street. And head halters can jerk a dog's head around.

Dogs who don't know how to walk nicely on leash end up not being walked at all -- and that can contribute to obesity and behavior problems. The same people who came up with the head halter have more recently come up with a product I like much, much better: the front-clip harness, which is called the Easy Walk. There are a few different ones on the market now, and they all work on the same theory: When the leash is clipped to the front of the harness (as opposed to the top center of the back), a dog's own forward momentum is used to keep him from pulling.

I've been recommending this product for a couple of years now, because it really works. It's especially wonderful for people who run with their dogs and for making it possible for supervised children to walk even a big dog.

Mind you, it doesn't train your dog not to pull on the leash. If you switch back to a collar, your dog will pull again. It's a management tool, and a great one.

I have never liked head halters. They make even nice dogs look as if they're wearing muzzles to keep from biting someone. And some dogs don't like them, especially at first. But everyone I've recommended a front-clip harness to has come back raving about it. Again: It really works.

The Easy Walk is available from pet retailers or from Premier (www.premier.com).

If you don't know what's right for your dog or how to use it, find a trainer who can help you choose the appropriate equipment and show you how it works. Every piece of training equipment is right for some dogs, but no single item is right for all. And no piece of training equipment is safe or effective unless it's fitted and used properly. -- Gina Spadafori

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

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 "dog cars," 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 BUZZ

Chip cancer scare unwarranted

-- Veterinary experts say there is no evidence that cancer is a problem in microchipped pets. More than 14 million-plus microchips have been implanted with only four cases in question.

-- The ASPCA is rolling out a forensics first: the nation's only animal crime scene van. USA Today reports that the $250,000 mobile forensic unit -- equipped with X-ray machines, computers, examination tables, cameras and video equipment for documenting evidence -- will travel when requested by local officials to wherever there are multiple cases of abuse or cruelty. Those most often will be dog-fighting operations, puppy mills or animal-hoarding situations.

-- Elephants are the largest land animals, yet these goliaths move quickly when they hear the buzz of a bee swarm, reports LiveScience.com. Their fear could be used to protect them from deadly conflicts between man and beast by strategically placing beehives (or even recordings of them) as an invisible fence of sorts.

-- Aging cats can develop a feline form of Alzheimer's disease, a new study reveals. Some 28 percent of pet cats aged 11 to 14 years develop at least one age-related behavior problem, and this increases to more than 50 percent for cats over the age of 15. Experts suggest that good diet, mental stimulation and companionship can reduce the risk of dementia in both humans and cats.

-- Mister Ed, the talking horse of the 1960s television show, is buried under a wild cherry tree near Tulsa, Okla. The palomino lived to the ripe old age of 33. -- Dr. Marty Becker

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Praise for proper placement

If you are house-training your puppy, recognize the behaviors that come right before your puppy eliminates. When you see your puppy begin to circle and sniff, or see his tail up in a certain way, quickly interrupt the moment with a loud and sharp-sounding, "Ah, Ah, Ah!"

When your puppy looks up, clap your hands and say in a friendly, excited tone, "Good puppy -- let's go," as you lead him outdoors to the place you have chosen as the puppy potty. Then look at the sky and be still like a tree. Your puppy needs to go, so it's only a matter of time.

When the deed is done, crouch down with open arms, praise your puppy, and invite him to a big heap of loving.

(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.)

PET TIP

Easy cleanups for messy birds

Cleaning isn't just about neatness -- it's also about health. Clean, fresh food and water are essential to pet birds, and so is keeping their environment as free as possible of bacteria, fungus and molds, all of which can lead to disease.

You can keep things relatively neat with a few supplies kept close to the cage and used on a constant basis. Among them:

-- Newspapers. Bird lovers go through a lot of newspapers. Put all the glossy inserts in the recycling bin, and stack the rest for use in the cage tray and under play areas.

-- Cloth towels. Worn bath towels are great for protecting clothing from bird poop -- just drape a towel over your shoulders.

-- Spray bottle with cleaning solution. Keep this near the cage, along with towels. Since birds are sensitive to fumes, skip the ammonia, bleach, pine solutions or any other strong cleaners. Simple soap and water are fine for everyday touchups, or you can try Poop-Off, a product developed just for bird cleanup.

-- Handheld vacuum. Great for snarfing up food pellets and feathers.

-- Mats for underneath the cage. The heavy, clear plastic mats intended for underneath desk chairs and sold at office-supply stores keep most of the gunk off the floor. Newspapers catch the rest.

-- Trash bin. Again, right by the cage. Every time you change the cage liner, put the old newspapers in the trash.

A few minutes spent cleaning a couple of times a day keeps things in good order and makes the weekly cage scrubbing easier to accomplish. Clean cage papers daily, at a minimum, and clean everything else as soon as the mess hits. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Veterinary specialists abound

The United States has almost 85,000 veterinarians, the majority of whom (56,000) are in private practice. Among those veterinarians (those not in the chart treat a variety of other kinds of animals, such as exotics, so numbers won't total 100):

Treat companion animals 76 percent

Treat horses 6 percent

Treat food animals 9 percent

Source: American Veterinary Medical Association

PETS ON THE WEB

No need for war with wildlife

As we've grown out from the cities and developed more and more land for housing, it's no surprise that conflicts between humans and native wildlife are a big problem.

Conflicts can be kept to a minimum by blocking off attics, chimneys and crawl spaces to prevent wildlife from setting up housekeeping, and by keeping garbage cans and other food sources securely sealed.

The Humane Society of the United States has an excellent collection of articles on the group's Web site (www.hsus.org/wildlife/urban_wildlife_our_wild_neighbors) that offers more suggestions on living peacefully with urban wildlife. From coyotes to skunks to deer, the site provides information that will minimize the potential for nuisance. The site offers advice on products that can help discourage animals, along with case studies of nonlethal methods of dealing with conflicts. -- 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.

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