Universal Press Syndicate

If there's one parrot problem that has both bird owners and veterinarians pulling out their own hair in frustration, it would have to be feather-picking, a bird's willful destruction of his own plumage.

The first thing you need to know about this problem: Feather-picking is a symptom of something else that's wrong with your bird. The only hope you have of "curing" feather-picking is finding out and treating what's behind the behavior.

Feather-picking relates to a staggering variety of problems, and any one or any combination of the following can be behind your bird's plucking:

-- Health problems. Medical conditions behind feather-picking include allergies, parasitic infections, bacterial infections, abnormal growths (cysts) in the feather follicle, internal health problems, vitamin deficiencies and hormone-associated problems. And that's the short list.

-- Low humidity. Many bird species originally come from extremely humid environments, and our houses can't hope to duplicate the conditions of a rain forest (we'd be miserable). The dry air of most houses can be a factor in feather-picking and can also set the stage for some secondary medical problems.

-- Boredom and pent-up energy. Birds are active and intelligent, and they don't handle well the strain of being forced to sit around in a cage all day. Without things to play with and stuff to destroy, and without being able to get out of the cage and exercise, birds may direct all their energy toward self-mutilation.

-- Psychological problems. Although birds need to have their wings trimmed for safety, a bad wing trim -- too short, with no allowance for an "easy landing" -- can upset a bird so badly that he starts tearing at himself. Obsessive-compulsive disorders can also trigger feather-picking.

-- Attention-seeking. You love how your bird looks. He starts tugging at feathers and you freak, imagining your beautiful bird with the broiler-chicken look. Every time he touches his feathers -- even for normal preening behavior -- you rush over. See how this works? "Aha!" thinks your bird. "All I have to do to get attention is pull a feather!"

What can be done with the feather-picker? First, forget the over-the-counter and home remedy "cures." They don't work, and some might even put your bird at risk.

See a veterinarian with experience in caring for birds as soon as the problem appears. Medical problems need to be addressed before looking at any behavioral strategies.

Make sooner, rather than later, your emphasis. In general, the longer your bird has been picking, the greater the probability of an unresolvable pattern of behavior being set. Don't wait a few years before addressing a picking problem. When it starts, you need to start looking for a solution.

After your bird receives a clean bill of physical health, start making environmental adjustments to see whether you can ward off the picking. Prepare for the project to be a long one! Start a diary to record your changes and any effects they may have on your bird's behavior.

Start shaking things up, in small increments. A daily misting with a spray bottle and the addition of a room humidifier may be part of the solution. Also consider different toys, a smaller or larger cage, a new cage location, keeping a radio playing during the day, covering the cage to ensure your bird 12 solid hours of sleep, and more interaction and play with you as possibilities in the war against feather-picking.

Sadly, the definitive solution to feather-picking doesn't exist.

The best you can do is be patient, work with an avian veterinarian and be prepared to love your bird no matter what he looks like. In some cases, feather-picking is for life. In others, the problem is only occasional. Yes, some birds do become full-feathered again, but not every pet bird is bound for complete redress in the plumage department.

Q&A

What's the best reptilian pet?

Q: My 10-year-old son wants a pet iguana. I've done enough research to know we're not going to go that route. I don't want to be left with a 6-foot lizard when my son goes off to college. But I'm getting conflicting information on what would be better. What do you recommend in the "scaly, slimy" pet group that's appropriate for a kid and a busy mom? -- T.W., via e-mail

A: You're right: Iguanas are popular but are not really suitable for any but the most dedicated of owners. These reptiles have care requirements that can be difficult to meet, and if they are cared for properly, dealing with a 6-foot lizard will present another set of challenges.

The Pet Connection staff has previously polled a panel of experts to get a list of low-maintenance reptiles and amphibians for the first-time owner. The consensus picks:

-- Bearded dragon: Best overall. While young bearded dragons can be reactive, as adults these pets will calm down with appropriate handling and become gentle pets that never get too large to handle.

-- Leopard gecko: Geckos are smaller than bearded dragons and less scary-looking (which may be a plus or minus, depending on your child). They're easy to care for and are entertaining to watch.

-- Corn snake: Captive breeding has produced wonderful colors and color variations in these calm snakes. Corn snakes are easy to care for and aren't usually inclined to bite.

-- Ball python: Bigger than corn snakes, these pets mature at about 4 feet in length. They love wrapping themselves around their owners, though, so at the very least your son will need a tolerance for that behavior and an education on how to unwind his pet.

-- Pac-Man frog and White's tree frog: Two of the larger species of frogs available in the pet trade, these pets are colorful and vocal. Neither will get exceptionally large, and unlike the other pets, frogs shouldn't be handled.

Once you've chosen a pet, have your son check out the reptile and amphibian resources at pethobbyist.com, which includes one of the oldest communities of reptile and amphibian fans on the Internet.

(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

Foul-mouth bird teaches others

-- The New York Post reports that the foul-mouthed parrot who became famous in England for cursing out a priest has been teaching other birds at the wildlife sanctuary where it lives its colorful language.

-- The domestic cat traveled the same ancestral road as humans, according to researchers from the University of California, Davis. The publication Veterinary Forum reports on the study, writing that the cat can trace its ancestors to the Middle East, to the area known to humans as the cradle of civilization.

-- Alternatives are being sought for drugs from animals, reports The New York Times. Chopped pig pancreas may not sound appetizing, but cystic fibrosis patients eat a refined version of it three times a day. And the blood thinner heparin comes from pig intestines. Worries about a virus in pigs jumping to humans have been long-standing and are among the reasons why research continues into developing alternatives to animal products. Companies such as Altus Pharmaceuticals of Cambridge, Mass., are working on synthetic versions of these animal-based drugs using enzymes derived from microbes that come not from animals but from bacteria and fungi.

-- Switzerland is the last European Union nation where hunters can still kill cats -- not only feral cats, but also pet cats who've strayed more than 200 yards from their homes. The New York Times reports that tanners pay about $5 for each pelt, which is then made into coats, hats and blankets.

-- Saw a doggie T-shirt in Hawaii: "My Dog Can Lick Anyone!" -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE SCOOP

'See Spot Sit': Fun with dog-training

Want to learn a lot about dog training while enjoying a lovely little read? Pick up a copy of Carol Lea Benjamin's "See Spot Sit: 101 Illustrated Tips for Training the Dog You Love" (Skyhorse Publishing, $11). It probably should instead be subtitled "101 really sneaky ways to get people to train their dogs without realizing it."

"Wow," I thought as I read it, "I bet (name redacted to protect the guilty) wouldn't even know I was sending her a dog-training book if I gave her this, and it might finally make her get why her dogs have so many behavior problems."

And then it struck me: Everyone should read this little book of dog cartoons, because it slips in its sensible, humane, effective message with such gentle humor that before you catch on, you'll find yourself nodding, smiling and reaching for a dog cookie to see if your dog, too, will do what's shown in the book.

It's funny and it's cheerful. And it's neither rooted in outdated training concepts nor is so firmly allied with any single school of training that it will get anyone's resistance up or lead owners astray (no choke chains, no "alpha rolls," but also, no clicker-training). It's just subtle enticement down the path of teaching you how to communicate with your dog so that the two of you don't get into trouble.

All of that is wrapped up in a little stacked-by-the-cash-register paperback package -- which means anyone you give it to will just think it's a witty little book of dog doodles. That's so deviously smart! -- Christie Keith

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

I love the way you love me

According to a survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, here are the top reasons why dog lovers enjoy having a canine companion (more than one response allowed):

Source of affection: 89 percent

Feel safe in home: 83 percent

Beneficial to health: 78 percent

Helps me relax: 77 percent

PET RX

Pet allergies blooming now

Spring can mean allergies for pets, too. The difference is that while sneezing is one of the primary symptoms in people, pets are more likely to get itchy.

In dogs, inhalant-related skin allergies are typically seen around the eyes and mouth, in the ears, under the legs, around the anal area and on the lower legs and belly. Cats may show allergies on their faces or with hair loss.

Because skin conditions can be a result of many different underlying problems, it's never a good idea to guess at the cause of itchiness, or to attempt to treat by throwing different foods at your pet or by adding vitamins or oils to meals.

An itchy pet is in constant misery and needs a trip to the veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. In more severe cases, an animal may need to be referred to a veterinary dermatologist. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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 best way to save your pet from an accidental poisoning is to know what items are poisonous and to keep them from your pet's reach.

What do you need to know? We touched base with Dr. Steven Hansen of the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center -- which handled more than 135,000 pet-poisoning cases in 2007 alone -- to find out what you need to know.

Some poisonings are a result of something an animal gets into, like a household product. But a surprising number of cases come from something intentionally given to an animal by the owner who's trying to help. The classic example of the latter is when an elderly cat is given an extra-strength acetaminophen for arthritis. The owner is trying to help, but unfortunately even one capsule of this common human medicine can kill a cat.

Dogs can figure out their way into trouble that their owners never envisioned. This includes opening cabinets to get cleaning products and counter-surfing to reach food items and pill vials. You need to realize that pets are basically like toddlers who can open any child-proof container, and you should take similar precautions:

-- Keep products such as medications, harmful foods and cleaning products in a secure cabinet above countertop height.

-- Use a kitchen garbage can with a lid.

-- Always read labels, especially on flea and tick products, and on lawn and garden products. Store out of reach in a high cupboard, not under the sink.

-- Be familiar with the plants in and around your home, and have only nontoxic plants.

-- Never give any medication or supplement to your pet unless recommended or approved by your veterinarian.

Many toxic substances aren't well-known to dog owners. For example, don't let your dog have significant amounts of raisins or grapes, macadamia nuts, moldy cheese, chocolate, onions, garlic or xylitol-sweetened gum and other candies or baked items.

Once the preventive measures are in place, you need to know the signs of poisoning. Many (but not all) substances first cause stomach upset, including vomiting and diarrhea. It's not fun, but vomit must be examined for evidence of chewed packaging, plant, food, pill or other important clues. Many poisonings progress to weakness and depression or nervous stimulation, including tremors and seizures. Pets may stop eating and drinking, or may drink excessive amounts, which could suggest liver or kidney involvement. Rapid or slow breathing, with changes in tongue and gum color -- from pink to white, blue or brown -- is important.

If you suspect poisoning, stay calm. Panicking will not help your pet and may waste precious time. If your pet is not showing any serious signs of illness described above, contact your regular veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435) to determine if your pet needs to be seen, or if treatment can be given at home.

If your pet is having difficulty breathing, is having seizures, is bleeding or is unconscious, go to your regular veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. Take any evidence including chewed containers and labels and even vomit. This information is key to helping your veterinarian save your pet.

Be sure you always have the numbers of your pet's regular veterinarian, your local veterinary emergency clinic and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. It could save your pet's life.

SIDEBAR

Do you know the top toxins?

The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) lists the top reasons pet owners called it in 2007, in order of the number of cases handled. Some represent serious concerns, while others result from common, but not deadly, encounters:

1. Drugs meant for humans, both prescription and over-the-counter.

2. Pesticides, including poisons meant to kill bugs, rodents and weeds.

3. Foods, including chocolate (chocolate accounted for about half of all food cases).

4. Biological hazards, primarily toxic plants.

5. Veterinary drugs.

6. Cleaning products.

7. Chemical hazards, such as acids, bases, alcohols and gases.

8. Metals, such as lead, zinc and mercury.

9. Cosmetics and personal-care items, such as hair dye, hair relaxant or perms, oral care or skin-care products.

10. General household hazards, such as batteries for electronics, matches, silica gel, ice melters, matches and air fresheners.

Not-so-honorable mention goes to home-improvement and hobby supplies, such as paint and adhesives.

Q&A

Redirecting nips of a playful pup

Q: We got a Christmas puppy, a yellow Labrador retriever. Our friends bred their Lab once, and we wanted a puppy, so this seemed perfect. Our puppy's mother is fantastic with kids, and we wanted a dog just like that.

The problem is that our puppy is kinda bratty. We're going to take her to training classes now that the weather is better, and we know we have work to do. We'll do it. We love our puppy, and we're working through it together.

The one thing we really need help with right away, though, is her nipping. She will not stop mouthing everything, and the kids are now afraid of being chewed on by her. She's not mean, just mouthy. How can we get her to stop this? Or will she just outgrow it? -- W.P., via e-mail

A: If you watch a litter of puppies play with each other, you might be surprised at how rough they can be. As puppies grow older, they learn from their littermates and their mother how to restrain those playful bites.

These lessons are important in the development of a well-mannered pet, which is why experts say puppies should stay with their littermates until at least the age of 7 weeks.

If you end up with a pup who missed the crucial lessons taught by her siblings, or if your puppy is naturally nippy (many retrievers and retriever mixes, for example, are very "mouthy" as puppies), all is not lost.

Teach your puppy to keep her teeth to herself by attacking the problem from a couple of different directions. The first would be to redirect the behavior. Clap your hands to startle the pup into stopping the nipping, and then give your puppy a toy to chew on instead. Don't forget to praise her for chewing on something that's not a family member.

Even as you're teaching the puppy what's OK to mouth, teach her how to leave family members unchewed by making the nipping unrewarding. Every time the puppy nips, dramatically cry "ouch" and immediately stop the play session. Fold your arms, turn away and ignore the puppy completely.

The message to get across: Play stops when nipping starts. If you're persistent and consistent, your puppy will get the message. It will also help if you make sure she's getting plenty of exercise, because sometimes dogs who don't get enough physical activity get too excited when they're finally offered the chance to play.

If the behavior doesn't show any sign of easing, or if the biting seems more aggressive than playful, don't delay in asking your veterinarian for a referral to a behaviorist or trainer. -- 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

Pets another reason to wash your hands

-- People struggling to get rid of recurrent staph infections might want to consider an overlooked source: the family pet. Dr. Neil Fishman of the Infectious Diseases Society of America told The Associated Press that while staph is rare and is more of a problem in people with weak immune systems, everyone should wash up after handling pets.

-- A gene that determines a dog's coat color may help scientists learn why people are thin or fat, or why they cope differently with stress. An article in Veterinary Economics mentioned that Stanford University researchers now say a gene that produces yellow and black fur in dogs also makes the "beta defensin" protein. Dogs and people have similar beta defensin-producing genes, and this protein determines canine-stress adaptation and weight regulation. If beta defensin proteins work similarly in people, new drugs and treatments for weight and stress management could result.

-- California law now lets victims of domestic violence name their pets in restraining orders against their abusers. The bill's sponsor said up to 40 percent of domestic violence victims don't leave their abusers because they worry about their pets.

-- If you fear your home has turned into the newest location of Bedbugs & Beyond, you might want to call on specially trained dogs who track down tiny bedbugs and their eggs, helping exterminators target spraying. The bedbug-sniffing dogs start around $200 per hour. -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE SCOOP

Teach your cat to scratch appropriately

Scratching is natural, normal and satisfying behavior for a cat that is best accommodated by training your pet to use a scratching post or cat tree.

The post or tree must be stable enough for your cat to climb and pull on, and should be covered with material your cat can dig her claws into, such as sisal.

Because clawing is also a territory marker, move the cat tree into a prominent place, such as near that clawed corner of the couch. Praise your cat for using the post instead. Move the post slowly -- a few inches a day -- to a place more to your taste after your cat is using it reliably.

Encourage your cat to use the scratching post by teasing her with a cat toy and praising her for digging in her claws. If your cat enjoys catnip, rub some on the post to encourage her to spend more time there, and give her treats for being on the cat tree as well.

Make the areas you don't want your pet to touch less appealing during the retraining process by covering them with foil, plastic sheeting or plastic carpet runners with the pointy side out. Use double-sided tape generously as well -- cats hate the feel of sticky stuff under their paws.

If you catch your cat clawing, squirt her with a spray bottle. Try to stay out of sight whenever you do so and don't lose your temper. Remember: The idea is to get the cat to believe that the furniture itself is doing the disciplining.

Yes, your house is going to look pretty ugly for a while, with cat deterrents all over the furniture and a cat tree in the middle of the room. You must live with it until your cat's new pattern of clawing where acceptable is established. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Fewer vet visits for cats

Cats may be the top pet in the United States and Canada, but they're not tops when it come to veterinary care:

Number of dogs: 72.1 million

Number of cats: 81.7 million

Annual average of vet visits per year:

Cats: 1.7

Dogs: 2.6

Source: American Veterinary Medical Association

PET TIP

Freezer veggies great for birds

Avian veterinarians say parrots do well on a diet of pellets, combined with a daily helping of fresh vegetables and fruits. There's an easy way to make providing vegetables easier for the cooking-impaired: Use frozen mixed vegetables.

Bags of vegetable mixes with corn, peas, beans and carrots are easy to find and easy to store. And it takes only a short spell in the microwave to bring them up to room temperature. (Put your finger in the bowl to make sure there are no "hot spots.")

Fresh fruits and veggies are always ideal for parrots, along with a good mix of other healthy "people foods" -- pasta, cereals, bread and more. But in a pinch, reach into the freezer. Little shopping, no chopping and no rotting veggies in the refrigerator -- what could be better? -- 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 may seem odd, but there's a parallel between abductions and dog attacks.

Most children who are victimized aren't randomly selected; they're attacked by a person or dog known to them. Just as an abductor is more likely to be someone known to the child -- an estranged parent, say -- a dog involved in a serious attack is more likely to be an animal the child knows, kept by the family, a friend or a relative.

Most of the risk can be minimized by making sure the family dog is just that: a member of the family, an indoor dog given ample opportunities for training and socializing. While this won't remove all the risk (see the accompanying story for signs of trouble), a dog who feels comfortable and secure can be what you hope for most -- your child's best friend.

If you've taken steps to make your family dog as safe as possible, the next step in bite prevention is to teach your child what to do if he or she encounters a potentially hostile dog while out and about. This is especially important because our instincts, when faced with a threatening loose dog, could not be more deadly. We want to scream and run, which may trigger predatory behavior in a dog.

The Humane Society of the United States suggests teaching your children how to behave around strange dogs and how to react if attacked. With the start of school at hand, and with many children walking on streets that may have loose dogs, be sure your children know the following:

-- Never approach a loose dog, even if he seems friendly. Dogs confined in yards -- especially those on chains -- should also be avoided. If the dog is with its owner, children should always ask permission before petting him and then begin by offering the back of the hand for a sniff. Pat him on the neck or chest. The dog may interpret a pat from above as a dominant gesture. Teach your children to avoid fast or jerky movements.

-- "Be a tree" when a dog approaches, standing straight with feet together, fists under the neck and elbows into the chest. Teach your children to make no eye contact: Some dogs view this as a challenge. Running is a normal response to danger, but it's the worst possible response to a dog because it triggers the animal's instinct to chase and bite. Many dogs just sniff and leave. Teach your children to stay still until the animal walks away, and then back away slowly out of the area.

-- "Feed" the dog a jacket or backpack if attacked, or use a bike to block the dog. These strategies may keep an attacking dog's teeth from connecting with flesh.

-- Act like a log if knocked down -- face down, legs together, curled into a ball, with fists covering the back of the neck and forearms over the ears. This position protects vital areas and can keep an attack from turning fatal.

Role-play these lessons with your child until they are ingrained. Dealing with the dangers in your own yard and teaching your children how to cope may spare your child a bite -- and even save a life.

SIDEBAR

Safety starts at home

Is your dog a time bomb? Answer these questions and be brutally honest:

-- Has your dog ever "stared you down"? If your dog gives you a hard, fixed stare, you need to recognize it for the challenge it is.

-- Does your dog adopt a dominant posture with you or other people? A dog who's trying to be boss will be up on his toes, with his legs stiff, ears forward and hackles raised. His tail will be held up or out, and may even be wagging a little. Don't confuse the latter for friendliness. There's big difference between the wide, relaxed wag of a friendly dog and the stiff, tight one of an aggressive animal.

-- Do you avoid doing certain things around your dog because they elicit growling or a show of teeth? Some people live their lives in fear of their dog, avoiding the animal when he's eating, sleeping, playing with a toy ... the list can be endless.

-- Do you consider your dog safe, except around a particular group of people, such as children? When he growls at the veterinarian, do you tell yourself the behavior is reasonable because the animal thinks the doctor is "mean"?

-- Has your dog ever bitten anyone? Whatever the reason, no matter the excuse, a dog who has bitten once is more likely to bite again than the dog who has never bitten at all.

A "yes" to any of these questions means you do have a problem, and you need to find help. Talk to your veterinarian about a referral to a trainer or behaviorist with experience in canine aggression.

While some dogs with aggression problems cannot be reformed, others can, with a combination of medication and retraining, and a big dose of dog-savvy on the part of the owner.

If your dog cannot be trusted, even after professional help, don't try to pass the problem along to someone else just because it's too hard to do what needs to be done. Take responsibility and euthanize your dog. You may be sparing a child a lifetime of fear and disfigurement, or you may even be saving someone's life.

READERS WRITE

Give up our pit? We'd move first

Thank you for speaking out against banning pit bulls. As you noted, the blame for most dog attacks can be attached to ignorant, negligent and sometimes criminal dog owners and breeders. I also believe that pit bull bans are instigated by sensationalistic reporting and enacted by self-serving, mean-spirited politicians.

Five years ago, we adopted a 1-year-old pit bull from the shelter, and she's been with us ever since. She loves every person she meets, and she's never as much as curled her lip at anyone. If our city ever enacted an ordinance like Denver's, we'd move rather than give her up. -- D.D., via e-mail

Giving up our dog

I wake each morning knowing that my time with my beloved Cyrus is coming to an end. I have been fighting since February 2005 because landlords do not want us because we have a "pit bull." Now we have to take a place for ourselves that does not allow our dog. It breaks my heart knowing he will no longer be with me.

He has always been there for me, and now I have to desert him. It makes me angry and sad. Cyrus is a loving member of our family. If our financial status were better, we could buy a place so we could keep him. Please keep spreading the word, and maybe it will save others the heartache of leaving a friend. -- K.O., via e-mail

In support of bans

The majority of serious dog attacks on humans are done by pit bulls. A few are done by other breeds, but they are seldom the unprovoked attacks that can maim and kill like pit bulls can. My brother is in law enforcement. He can show records of dog attacks going back many years. Most are by pit bulls.

To allow pit bulls within the city limits is absurd. These animals do the most damage the most often. Get rid of the pit bulls and save a life. Many gang types keep a dog as a weapon. Dog of choice: pit bull. Ban pit bulls. -- C.S., via e-mail

Gina responds: After my column against banning pit bulls ran, I was swamped with responses. Most were in agreement, but then, most (but not all) of those who defended pit bulls had them or liked the breed.

Other readers insisted that pit bulls -- a generic term for a handful of breeds, in fact -- were genetically different from other dogs and so should be exterminated down to the last loving pet.

Isn't it odd that the pit bull has been around for decades with no more problems than any other large breed until the criminal element got ahold of it? Does anyone remember when the Doberman was the "killer breed"? What make anyone think that people who want a dangerous dog wouldn't shift to another kind of dog once pit bulls are gone?

Now, to be sure, there are problems with pit bulls, and I'm not denying it. Pit bulls are more likely to be dog-aggressive, thanks to their development as a fighting breed. That's why the group Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls, aka BAD RAP (www.badrap.org), and others strongly advise against off-leash play with other dogs for pit bulls, and argue they do not belong in dog parks.

As far as aggression against humans, there's no doubt every attack is one attack too many. But my point is that strong and sensible legislation against all dangerous dogs -- not just pit bulls -- will provide municipalities with tools for dealing with menacing dogs no matter the breed.

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

PET BUY

Many dogs love little pools

There's no doubt that many manufacturers realize how much crossover there is between the children's market and the pets' market. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that more "baby" gates are sold to dog owners than to parents. And other products, from playpens to toddler toys, do double duty, selling well in both markets.

As summer approaches, you might want to pick up one of these double-duty items for your pet's enjoyment once the weather turns hot. That item? The kiddie pool.

For dogs who love water, a wallow in the pool is a great way to cool down after summer activity. Even dogs who wouldn't dream of getting completely drenched might be convinced of the pleasures of getting their tummies wet.

I keep two pools full for the dogs, draining and hosing them clean every other day before refilling them. While I'm sure the retrievers would rather have a built-in pool, the kiddie pools seem to keep them happy and cool enough all summer long.

PET Rx

Pets can get sunburned, too

While a pet's fur coat provides protection from the sun's harmful rays, some pets are still at risk for sunburn. Among them: hairless breeds like the Chinese crested, animals with thin, light-color coats, and pets whose coats have thinned with age. Animals who are recovering from surgery are also at risk on the areas that were shaved.

Prevention is always better than treatment. Keep high-risk pets out of direct sunlight. If your pet must be in the sun, apply sunblock. Recommended products include Johnson & Johnson's Waterbabies, Bullfrog waterproof and EltaBlock waterproof. The benefit of waterproof products is that they're also dog-saliva-proof.

You can also try putting a child's T-shirt on the animal to protect him from harmful rays. Pets with a small problem area, such as a light spot on a nose, may be a candidate for having the area permanently tattooed with dark ink.

If your pet gets sunburned, liberal amounts of an aloe vera preparation can be applied. Do not apply any other medication without first discussing it with your veterinarian.

Sun protection is important not just for sunburn -- the same kinds of dogs who are vulnerable to sunburn are often at risk for skin cancer, too.

(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)

THE SCOOP

Training your cat can be fun for you both

Some people point to the dog's ability to learn obedience commands and tricks as proof that dogs are smarter than cats. Others point to the same thing as proof that cats are smarter than dogs -- cats don't have to work for a living.

Cats and dogs are different in how they relate to us. Dogs have an ingrained need to be part of a family structure and to have a job to do within that family. Dogs are that way in large part because wolves are that way -- survival depends on the family, or pack.

The cat came from a different place, descended from solitary hunters who didn't need teamwork to survive.

If you want to put a good spin on it as a cat lover, you could say that dogs need to be with us, while cats choose to.

Because of this distinction, you absolutely cannot get a cat to do something she doesn't want to. Something must be in it for her. When training a cat, that something is usually food.

For example, you can start teaching the "sit" command to a hungry cat using a table, a quiet room and some treats. Get your cat to stand up by touching her in front of her tail. Then hold the treat a little over her head, saying her name and the command "sit." Slowly move the treat between your cat's ears, but not high enough for her to pick her front paws off the ground and grab the tidbit. Instead, she'll sit. After she does, praise her and give her the treat. Work in short sessions and be patient. Your cat will eventually get the idea!

Build on your successes. From "sit" can come "sit up." Many cats also love active tricks, such as jumping through hoops.

"Clicker" training -- marking a correct behavior with a noise and following with a treat -- works great when training cats. Clicker-training guru Karen Pryor offers a collection of instructions, streaming video, books, and other tools and tips for clicker-training cats on her Web site at www.clickertraining.com/training/cats.

PETS ON THE WEB

Resources for the hard-shelled

Felice Rood is a dynamo, a one-woman army fighting for the good of turtles and tortoises everywhere. Felice's World of Turtles Web site (www.turtlebunker.com) lets more people in on the commonsense care tips and lively sense of humor she shares in person with members of the Sacramento Turtle and Tortoise Club.

Best bets: excerpts from the club's newsletters, especially Rood's stories of her pets. The care sheets for various species are lifesavers, and you can order either or both of Rood's turtle and tortoise care videos on the site. World of Turtles would be helped out a great deal, though, by providing links to other sites devoted to these charming beings, such as the extremely comprehensive site of the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society (www.nytts.org), the California Turtle and Tortoise Club (www.tortoise.org), or the reptile resources on Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection (www.anapsid.org).

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

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