Universal Press Syndicate

Cats like places more than they like people, right?

Wrong. Your cat would rather be with you, no matter where you move to. But if you handle the days before and after moving day improperly, you're at a real risk of losing your cat. That's why it's important to take some time to do it right.

Cats are highly territorial and will seek out familiar places when stressed, which is why they attempt to return to their old homes. While you'll never manage a stress-free move for either you or your cat, you can make the best of the situation by keeping your pet secure before, during and after the move, and then by allowing your pet to gradually adapt to his new surroundings.

The best way to move your cat is to confine him to a "safe room" before and after the move, and to transport him from one house to another in a secure carrier. The ideal safe room is a spare bedroom or bathroom where your cat isn't going to be disturbed, and where he can be outfitted with food and water, a litter box, a scratching post and toys.

Don't feel bad about confining your pet. He'll be more relaxed in a small space where he won't be subjected to the stress of seeing people tromping around his house with the family belongings. Confining your cat also prevents him from slipping outside, which is a danger at both the old and new home. A frightened cat may be hard to locate on the day of the move if you don't make sure he's somewhere you can put your hands on him.

When you get to your new home, leave the carrier, with its door removed, in the safe room. Close the door to the room and leave him be while you unpack. Coaxing him out of the carrier with treats and praise is fine, but let him choose when and how much of the safe room he wants to explore. Never drag him out -- you'll upset your cat, and you might get scratched or bitten.

A couple of days after you've unpacked and things have settled down, open the door to the safe room so your cat can explore the rest of the house. Even if you plan to let him outside, keep him in for a couple of weeks. He needs to stay inside to start forming a bond with his new surroundings. Better still, make the most of the opportunity offered by a move and convert your pet to indoor-only status. Your new neighbors will appreciate it, and your cat will live a longer, safer life.

It's relatively easy to manage a conversion to indoor cat in a new home. He'd carry on like crazy in your old home if locked in, but in new surroundings he'll accept the change with little fuss. Part of the reason cats don't like to convert to indoor-only is because they've marked the outside as part of their territory and have a natural desire to revisit and re-mark it. A newly moved cat will learn to accept the territory he has been offered, and if the outdoors isn't part of it, he won't miss it as much.

Above all, don't rush your cat through a move. Confinement during the transition is also good for avoiding behavior problems that might pop up with the stress of moving. By limiting your cat's options to the litter box and scratching post in his small safe room, he will quickly redevelop the good habits he had in your old home.

Q&A

Birds can fly -- by plane!

Q: We're moving cross-country. We're trying to figure out if going by air is the best way to move our umbrella cockatoo. I'm not sure I could stand a long drive with him and the dog. Our college-age daughter (it's her bird, really) has volunteered to fly with him. Is that best? Or should we all go by car? -- W.T., via e-mail

A: This question comes up from time to time. Yes, birds can fly commercial. My "Birds for Dummies" co-author, top avian veterinarian Dr. Brian L. Speer, has offered some tips to help.

Speer says whether you're going by car or by plane, the first thing you'll need is a good carrier. He recommends altering a dog carrier for the job. Choose one that's made of high-impact plastic and is designed for air travel. Then make it bird-friendly by fitting it with a perch so your bird is off the floor and able to sit facing the door. For a cockatoo, the size for a small to medium dog -- not a tiny dog -- will do.

Before any trip, you'll need to make sure your bird's wings are clipped and that he's in good health. For air travel, you'll need a health certificate from a veterinarian.

But road trips can be fine, too, says Speer, who used to drive to work every day with his blue-and-gold macaw, Toby. Your bird will need a crate for car travel, too. At rest stops, give your bird a chance to get out and stretch his wings. To keep him well-hydrated, offer him fruits that have a lot of moisture, such as oranges and apples.

If you decide to go by air, your cockatoo will be riding in a pressurized cargo hold. Try to book a direct flight if possible, and try to avoid peak travel times. Your airline will have other requirements, so check well in advance. Plan to get to the airport early to make everything go smoothly.

As with travel by car, make sure your bird has fruit to keep him hydrated on the journey. Because of the value of a large parrot such as yours, Speer recommends wiring the crate doors shut to thwart would-be birdnappers. -- 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

Drugs in the litter box? Yes!

-- The war on drugs ends in the cat box. Mixing cough syrup, Vicodin, Lipitor and other leftover medications with cat litter, preferably used cat litter, is the new recommendation from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This method is better for the environment than flushing old drugs down the toilet, and it renders the medication too yucky for consumption by drug abusers.

-- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has formally declared that canine rabies has been eliminated from the United States.

-- Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common hormonal diseases of dogs. It's twice as common in females as in males, and the peak age at onset is 7 to 9 years old. The breeds most at risk include schnauzers, the bichon frise, Cairn terrier, Keeshond, fox terrier and poodles.

-- Experts at a symposium on canine vector-borne diseases -- illnesses that can be transmitted by dogs, in other words -- said that the numbers of blood-feeding parasites such as ticks are growing at an epidemic rate. Because ticks thrive in humid, brushy areas, global warming has contributed to the increased numbers of ticks and tick-borne diseases. -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE SCOOP

Some cats are big by nature

The average weight for a healthy adult cat is between 8 and 10 pounds, although among purebreds, what's normal can vary dramatically by breed. The Singapura, a rare breed whose lines trace to the feral cats of Singapore, is perhaps the smallest breed of cat, with some animals weighing in at less than half the weight of an average cat.

The Siberian, another rare breed, is said to be the biggest cat, with some animals topping the 20-pound mark. Other breeds that aren't quite as large but still qualify for big-cat status include the ragdoll, Turkish van, Maine coon, Norwegian forest and British shorthair. -- Gina Spadafori

PET Rx

Neutering necessary for bunnies, too

Unwanted offspring aren't the only reason why it's important to neuter pet rabbits. Just as with altering dogs and cats, altering rabbits eliminates many health and behavior problems.

Female rabbits, for example, are at a high risk for uterine cancer, a leading killer of these pets over the age of 2. Spaying also removes the potential for common and potentially lethal reproductive-system infections.

Besides extending your pet's life span, neutering eliminates sex-related behavior problems. Sexually mature rabbits can be territorial or even aggressive, and may spray urine.

Neutering is riskier for rabbits than it is for dogs and cats because the anesthesia is a little trickier. In recent years, however, advances in anesthesia have tipped the scales in favor of neutering as a preventive health measure.

Work with a veterinarian who is experienced with rabbits -- not all are. The final safety precaution is yours: Follow your veterinarian's pre- and post-operative directions precisely.

Neutered rabbits make for better pets -- and fewer rabbits. With rabbits now adding to the strain on shelters and neutering being safer than ever, there's no reason not to have your bun fixed. -- Dr. Marty Becker

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Who trains the dog?

According the American Kennel Club's survey, the vast majority of dog owners train their own dogs. Here are the responses to the "Who'll train your dog?" query, with multiple answers allowed:

Train own dog 86 percent

Use books/videos 26 percent

Use private trainer 20 percent

Attend training club 8 percent

Attend pet store training 7 percent

Other training 4 percent

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Don't give in to naughty pup

Your puppy grabs your shoe and bounds away with a playful wiggle in his prance and a "you can't catch me" glint in his eyes. At that moment, resist calling your puppy unless you feel certain he will zoom to your side.

Instead, ignore him and get your hands on one of his toys. Then, with toy in hand, toss and catch it with all your attention on his toy. Do not even look at your puppy. Chances are your puppy will drop the shoe and will come over to play.

When your puppy knows the words "off" and "leave it" and will sit reliably upon request, you can approach the issue more directly. In the meantime, avoid losing the chase game and your temper.

(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 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

Every year at this time we offer a list of the most common holiday hazards for pets: feeding problems, foreign-body ingestion and accidental poisoning.

The bad news is that many pets will end up at the veterinarian's office this holiday season. The good news is that yours won't be among them if you keep an eye out for these hazards. Be careful, and watch for:

-- Feeding problems. Foods too rich, too fatty or too spicy -- or anything your pet's not accustomed to -- can trigger a bout of intestinal upset. For some animals, the treat can trigger a serious inflammation of the pancreas or intestine, and that means a life-threatening illness.

What to avoid? Anything you wouldn't eat your pet should avoid, too. While a little bit of meat -- beef or poultry -- won't hurt and would be appreciated, steer clear of the fatty parts and the poultry skin, which also harbors fat.

-- Foreign-body ingestion. Cooked poultry bones may seem like the perfect gift for the pet who has everything, but do him a favor and save them for the soup. (Low-sodium poultry broth is a wonderful treat poured over your pet's regular food.) Even the largest cooked turkey bones are prone to splintering, sending shards through the animal's intestines. Should one pierce through the lining, the result can be deadly peritonitis.

While cooked poultry bones are out, some raw or cooked beef bones can be safely substituted. Knuckle bones (for large dogs) and oxtails (for small ones) stand up to vigorous gnawing, providing your pet with plenty of yummy, messy fun. Supervise your dog's chewing, and throw bones out after a few hours of attention or if they get broken into pieces that can be swallowed.

-- Dangerous decorations. The Christmas tree is full of hazards for dogs and cats. Tinsel can be an appealing target for play, but if ingested, it can twist up the intestines. This is a particular danger to cats and kittens, who seem to find tinsel -- along with yarn, ribbon and string -- especially appealing to eat.

Ornaments, too, are deadly in the mouths -- and stomachs -- of pets, and even the water at the base of the tree contains secretions that can at the very least cause a stomachache. Light strings are no good for chewing, and the whole tree can come down on the cat climbing in its branches. Some dogs may even be inclined to break the rules of house-training on a freshly cut tree -- why else, they reason, would anyone bring a tree into the house?

The best way to keep your pets out of tree trouble is by making the tree off-limits unless you're there to supervise. Putting the tree in a room with a door you can close is probably the easiest solution.

-- Poisonings. Holiday plants such as mistletoe may look intriguing to your pet, but they're also toxic, as are the bulbs of the amaryllis plant. (Long the poster child for holiday poisoning, the falsely maligned poinsettia can be safely welcomed into the pet lover's home.)

And before you share your holiday candy with your pet, be aware that chocolate is toxic to dogs and may be deadly to the little dog who gets a good-sized piece. Again, the best cure is prevention: Keep all dangerous plants out of the reach of your pets, and make the candy dish available to people only.

Stay safe this holiday season!

SIDEBAR

Poison control center a number to know

If you're not sure about what can be toxic to your pets, you might want to review the information on the Web site of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.aspca.org/apcc).

The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center is where veterinarians call when they need quick answers for patients who've been poisoned, and the information provided to the general public on toxic plants and products is the best you'll find anywhere.

It's also a good place to check out the rumors that pop up on the Internet regarding various products. The APCC is prompt about investigating such dire warnings and about posting its expert opinion on the Web site on whether or not the concerns are justified.

Highly recommended: Order a free magnet from the ASPCA with the center's toll-free phone number. You can fill out the form online and expect your free magnet in six to eight weeks.

Q&A

Keeping loose dogs from attacking

Q: How do I defend myself and my dog when out walking and other dogs come at us? Generally, our morning walks are uneventful, but I need advice on how to deal with the occasional surprises. -- K.J., via e-mail

A: When it comes to professional pet behavioral advice, nothing works all the time and everything works some of the time. With that disclaimer in place, we can tell you that when facing a potential canine challenger, your best bet is to communicate with body language to thwart an attack.

Deter canine confrontations by sending clear signals in dog language that no threat exists. When you see a loose dog making a beeline in your direction, put your dog on a down-stay. Simply lowering your dog's position and posture communicates to the loose dog, "I'm not here to fight or challenge you." You dog is essentially saying "Uncle" before a confrontation starts.

Although your heart may be pounding, demonstrate emotional leadership. Take a deep breath and exhale so your own dog can hear you, letting all your tension out to signal your dog to also relax. We lower our dog's arousal rate by lowering our own.

Keep your side toward the loose dog so you can glance at him but not stare. Keeping a relaxed and loose muscle tone, stand tall in front of your dog to keep your dog's attention on you. If you see your dog begin to move, calmly yet firmly insist that your dog stay. Stand on the leash to prevent your dog from suddenly leaping up in response to the approaching dog.

When dogs are on leash, they are more likely to fight defensively because they cannot get away. Your dog must learn to rely on your leadership and be well-trained in advance before you can expect him to follow your instructions when on leash -- especially when challenged.

Keep in mind, there are dogs -- as there are people -- who suffer from mental illness. If the loose dog was not properly socialized to other dogs as a pup, he may not read canine body language or respond well.

When dogs are not trained and live boring lives, they also create their own jobs, such as barking at mail carriers. Regardless of whether the other dog is attacking to protect his space or exercising his macho ego or simply having some fun, your best bet is to simply ignore him.

Do not turn your back and retreat or run. If the dog attacks you, stand like a tree and fall like a rock with your arms covering your neck, and let your dog fend for himself. Rarely will your situation come to this extreme, but now you know what to do. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp, AnimalBehavior.net

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

PET BUZZ

Harness your dog and take a hike

-- "Mushing" is a general term for a transportation method powered by dogs. The term is thought to come from the French word "marcher," or "to move" (the command to the team to commence pulling). "Mush!" is rarely used today. Instead, "Hike!" is more common in English.

-- According to the National Retail Federation, more than 7.4 million households dressed up their pets for Halloween. The most popular dog costumes were devils, pumpkins and witches, but other costumes -- such as a peacock and a mini-Princess Leia from "Star Wars" -- also sold. There are even costumes for turtles, such as a fin that makes the turtle look like a shark as he goes through the water.

-- "When the old dog barks it is time to watch." -- Latin proverb

-- The Wall Street Journal reports that Asia is getting passionate about pets. As proof, the newspaper traces the rise of pet-friendly cafes in places like South Korea where patrons can socialize with resident pets. For people who want to go a step further, there are businesses that rent pets by the hour, day or week. Most popular -- and pricey: pugs and St. Bernards. -- Dr. Marty Becker

[Put ABOUT PET CONNECTION here, under BUZZ]

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.

THE SCOOP

Christmas not best time for puppy

Despite the warnings of those in the know, every year parents give in to the begging of their children and pop for a puppy.

The attraction is understandable: Who doesn't love a puppy, and who wouldn't want to delight a child? But there are reasons why shelters, rescue groups and responsible breeders are uniform in their advice to think twice about a Christmas puppy.

Christmas puppies are often a parent's headache by February, when the animals are still not house-trained, the kids are tired of the responsibilities involved in caring for a pet, and it's still too cold and dark outside for dog-training after work and school.

Puppies are not toys. They are living, breathing beings who need a lot of attention. Who has time for a pup during the holidays, that stressful season of socializing and shopping? With a houseful of guests and a holiday dinner to prepare, who will make sure the puppy isn't being mauled by overly enthusiastic children and guests? Who has time to get house-training started right?

Dogs who grow up unhouse-trained, unmannered and unsocialized too often never get a chance to grow up much at all. From summer to fall, pet experts hear from people who are tearing out their hair over their now-adolescent Christmas puppies. Some people work with the dogs, but many just dump them.

Dogs can be great for children, and children can be great with dogs. But Christmas is not the best time to launch such a promising relationship. Somebody has to be the grown-up here, and if you're the parent, it should be you. Wait until late spring or early summer to find the perfect pup, and get your pet off to a great start. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Spending on pets increases

According to a 2004 survey, more than half of those with companion animals are spending more on their pets than they were three years ago. The responses to the question on spending increase:

Spending more 53 percent

Spending less 5 percent

Same amount 22 percent

Didn't have a pet 14 percent

Don't know 6 percent

Source: American Animal Hospital Association

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Young pets need short lessons

Don't push your luck when it comes to keeping the attention of your puppy or kitten. Engaging your pet in frequent, shorter training sessions is more effective than long, periodic lessons for teaching youngsters.

Look for a few good responses, and try to end each lesson before your pet shows any sign of losing interest. Ideally, each lesson should end on one of your pet's best responses and your best praises. You want your pet to remember that best response and be eager for the next lesson -- not dread it.

Be an exciting teacher, not a boring one. When your pet associates your time plus food with learning specific behaviors, he'll naturally repeat those behaviors to earn your attention and food rewards. It's that simple!

(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 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

and Christie Keith

Universal Press Syndicate

Where others see death, Richard Avanzino sees hope. Where others see an intractable problem, Nathan Winograd sees a solution.

Together, the two men -- one carrot, the other stick; one preaching evolution, the other revolution -- are the visionaries of a grassroots movement to change the way the nation's animal shelters do business.

Their vision is a no-kill nation, where no pet is killed for lack of a home. They say it's not a dream, and it will be a reality.

"We think we will achieve success in less than 10 years," said Avanzino, president of Maddie's Fund. Based in Alameda, Calif., it was founded with the fortune of software moguls Dave and Cheryl Duffield and was named in memory of their dog.

As director of the San Francisco SPCA in the '90s, Avanzino turned around a struggling shelter by refusing to kill the city's adoptable pets. The SFSPCA put in place free spay/neuter clinics, mobile adoptions, trap-neuter-release programs for feral cats, behavior advice and foster care -- programs now common in progressive shelters nationwide.

"All the things that we did in San Francisco were initially rejected and received with great hostility," said Avanzino. "Today, I can look backward and say without almost any exception that all the programs the organized humane community fought against they have now embraced and made the cornerstone of their own programs."

But the pace of change hasn't been fast enough for Winograd, who, as director of operations at the SFSPCA under Avanzino, heard plenty of the criticism. "No kill" was derided as "someone else kill," and San Francisco's experience was dismissed as a fluke, a manipulation of statistics or the product of the city's unique characteristics.

So Winograd crossed the country to Ithaca, N.Y., taking over the Tompkins County municipal shelter. He ended the killing of pets for population control and led the agency -- an open-door shelter that held the animal control contract for the rural county -- to sending out more than 90 percent of the shelter's animals alive.

"The buck stops at the shelter director's desk," he said.

He slams home that point in a provocative book that puts the blame for millions of shelter deaths not on animal lovers, but on the entrenched ideas of shelter directors who fail to seek the help of a pet-loving population and who value clean, empty cages more than living, breathing animals who need help to find homes.

Winograd's book "Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America" (Almaden, $17) has made many of the nation's shelter directors both furious and nervous, even as it has energized animal lovers who want to know why no-kill can't happen in their communities. Winograd, now heading the No Kill Advocacy Center based in San Clemente, Calif., is telling them that it can.

"Shelters call people 'irresponsible pet owners,' but (shelters) are the ones refusing to take responsibility for the fate of the animals in their care," said Winograd. "While it's people who surrender animals to shelters, it's shelters who kill (those animals)."

While Winograd's take-no-prisoners approach is galvanizing audiences on the stops of his packed book tour, Avanzino and Maddie's Fund are more quietly building bridges, reaching out to no-kill skeptics while working to build no-kill communities.

"We aren't having a litmus test on who our friends are," said Avanzino. "We want to partner with everybody who loves animals."

Good cop, bad cop? Maybe. But Avanzino and Winograd both say the power of the no-kill movement doesn't come from either of them or from their organizations.

"The public's on board, and that's the salvation," said Avanzino. "That's what's going to be there as the true safety net for the animals."

"In communities that have achieved no-kill, the public has made the difference," Winograd said. "Society is now leaps and bounds ahead in terms of how much they value and cherish animals."

SIDEBAR

Join the discussion on PetConnection.com

For Christie Keith's interviews with Richard Avanzino and Nathan Winograd, as well as more information on Maddie's Fund (www.maddiesfund.org) and the No Kill Advocacy Center (www.nokilladvocacycenter.org), visit PetConnection.com. Join the discussion there on adoption policies and the creation of no-kill communities.

Q&A

Not all holiday plants not are dangerous

Q: It's that time of year again. Will you warn people to be careful when setting out their holiday decorations, especially holly, mistletoe and poinsettias? Save a pet's life! -- L.R., via e-mail

A: The holidays can offer up some hazards to pets, but poinsettias are not among them -- although the idea that they are seems almost impossible to eradicate.

But it's true: The popular holiday plant with the red leaves is safe around pets. According to the Animal Poison Control Center (www.aspca.org/apcc), the poinsettia can cause little more than a bad tummyache, even if ingested in fairly large amounts. That doesn't mean you should put poinsettia foliage into the food processor and then add it to your pet's dish. But it does mean that you can quit worrying that the plant your aunt gave you for the holidays is going to do in your dog.

Mistletoe and holly are another matter, though, as is the bulb of the amaryllis plant. These should probably not be part of your home's holiday decorating -- or at least put them where your pet can't get to them.

Maybe it's not a bad idea to invest in all the lovely fake greenery that's available these days. I remember when fake trees and other synthetic holiday greenery looked awful. These days, it all looks a lot nicer and can be used for years. Plus, fake greens are not as attractive to pets who want to chew. (I love my little fake tree with its energy-saving LED lights pre-strung!)

Next week we'll have our annual write-up of holiday hazards, with a complete list of everything worth worrying about (at least as far as your pet's concerned) from now until New Year's. -- 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

Protecting pets from the sun

-- White-coated and thin-coated dogs are vulnerable to skin cancer, and veterinary dermatologists have long recommended sunblock for these pets. But now there's sunscreen just for pets. Created by a veterinarian who's also a human aesthetician, Dr. Fleck's Epi-Pet Sun Protector meets U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards for both UVA and UVB protection.

-- MSNBC.com recently reported on the 10 cities that cater to the needs of pet and pet lover alike. This year's top-dog city is San Diego, chosen for off-leash beaches, pet-sitting services, pet-friendly restaurants and kayaking for dogs. Other pick-of-the-litter cities include Seattle; New York City; Carmel, Calif.; Chicago; Orlando, Fla.; Portland, Ore.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Austin, Texas; and Long Beach, Calif.

-- Hope for human knee pain sufferers comes from Dr. James Cook, a veterinarian at the University of Missouri's Comparative Orthopedic Laboratory. The Columbia (Mo.) Tribune reports that the FDA-approved device, perfected on dogs before approval in human medicine, brings blood to the damaged cartilage disk called the "meniscus," allowing it to heal.

-- Some 6 million dogs per year suffer from congestive heart failure. A new chewable drug called Vetmedin increases cardiac contractions and dilates blood vessels, reports Veterinary Forum. The earliest stages of congestive heart failure include fatigue and exercise intolerance. Other signs include weakness, shortness of breath, coughing, and fluid buildup in the abdomen and lungs. -- Dr. Marty Becker

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Get your pet's attention

When dogs are excited, it is difficult for them to respond or learn.

Prepare for attention-stealing events such as a person approaching your door or a cat running by within sight by teaching your dog a working vocabulary such as "sit," "watch me" and "quiet." Teach what the words mean when your dog is hungry and is motivated to learn. Then practice using those words in many locations.

Help your dog learn to respond when distracted by setting up circumstances you can control, such as a doorbell ringing. Use the words your dog knows in a firm voice to gain compliance when the situation demands it. Having a working vocabulary your dog understands helps you insist on acceptable behaviors.

(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.)

DOGCARS.COM

Mazda Speed3 will give your dog thrills

When did we forget how much fun driving could be? If you're looking for something to remind you, drive a Mazda Speed3.

When the Speed3 arrived, I wasn't that excited. I looked it over and figured it would be what I call a "city dog car" -- small, easy to park, and relatively inexpensive both to buy and to drive.

The four-door hatchback will never be used to haul a team of sled dogs, a load of pet crates or a ton of gear, but the seats fold flat, leaving a comfortable cargo area for a small, crated dog or a seat-belted larger one. Nice, but nothing special.

But then you turn the key.

The spine-tingling rumble of the Speed3's 250 turbo-charged ponies lets you know right away you're not in some economy hatchback. Strap in the pup: We're talking g-force when you punch it and thrilling stickiness on the curves.

City car? Oh sure, the front-wheel-drive wonder is easy to park and no problem in traffic, even with its six-speed manual transmission. But you and your canine companion will soon be thinking up reasons to get out of town, trying some twisting mountain roads just for the fun of it.

Prices start at $22,975. Fuel economy is a decent 18/26 mpg, although it does require premium gas.

Bottom line: It's a great city dog car, totally unleashed. And more fun than is legal in many states.

(Gina Spadafori reviews vehicles for dog lovers, all of which are on the Pet Connection's DogCars.com Web site.)

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Animal lovers say pets are people, too

According to a 2004 survey, 94 percent of pet owners say their pet has humanlike personality traits, such as (multiple responses allowed):

Emotional/sensitive 30 percent

Outgoing 28 percent

Inquisitive 26 percent

Stubborn 20 percent

Laid-back 17 percent

Competitive 8 percent

Reserved/shy 6 percent

Other 8 percent

Source: American Animal Hospital Association

PET TIP

Recycled covers for cat beds

Cats crave warmth, which is why they're wonderful bed companions on a cold night. But when you can't be there to provide snuggle space, your cat will appreciate a soft bed to sleep on.

The Denver Dumb Friends League uses old toilet-seat covers to cushion cats waiting for adoption. The covers are the perfect size for most cats and provide a perfect option to throwing out old covers when they're worn or your decor changes. (If you have extras, check to see if your local shelter will welcome the donation.)

Since covering upholstery is one way to protect it from cat hair, you might put a seat cover or two in places your cat loves to nap, such as the couch or a favorite chair. Whatever hair ends up on the seat cover won't get on your upholstery and will easily come out in the wash. -- 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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