Universal Press Syndicate

The No. 1 behavior problem reported to veterinarians when it comes to cats? Missing the litter box, by far.

But don't blame the cat.

If your cat is hit or miss where the litter box is concerned, chances are the choices you've made factor into the problem. After all, your cat really isn't asking for anything more than you would when it comes to a bathroom. All that's required for most cats is that the bathroom be clean, quiet and offer no surprises.

That sounds simple, but the failure to use a litter box sends countless cats outside or to shelters every year. Before you even consider such a drastic step, you need to try to work things out with your cat if you have a litter box problem.

The first step in solving such a problem is to make sure it's not a medical condition -- and that means a trip to your veterinarian for a complete workup. Urinary tract infections and diseases such as diabetes make consistent litter box use impossible for even the most well-intentioned cat. You cannot hope to get your cat using the box again until any health issues have been resolved.

If your cat checks out fine, you need to start working to make sure that everything about the box is to your cat's liking. The second rule of solving a litter box problem: If the cat isn't happy, no one will be happy. Here's what to look for.

-- Cleanliness. Cats are fastidious animals, and if the litter box is dirty, they'll look elsewhere for a place to go. Clean the box frequently -- twice a day at least -- and make sure it's completely scrubbed clean and aired out on a weekly basis. Having an additional litter box may help, too. (Multiple litter boxes are recommended for multicat households, since many cats simply will not share.)

-- Box type and filler. Many choices people make to suit their own tastes conflict with the cat's sense of what's agreeable. A covered box may seem more pleasing to you, but your cat may think it's pretty rank inside or scary. Likewise, scented litters may make you think the box smells fine, but your cat may disagree -- not only is the box dirty, he reasons, but it also has this extra "clean" odor he can't abide. Start with the basics: a large box with unscented, clumping-style litter.

-- Location. Your cat's box should be away from his food and water, in a place he can get to easily and feel safe in. Consider a location from a cat's point of view: Choose a quiet spot where he can see what's coming at him. A cat doesn't want any surprises while he's in the box.

Make the area where your cat has had mistakes less attractive by cleaning it thoroughly with a pet-odor neutralizer (available from pet-supply retailers). Discourage reuse by covering the area with foil, plastic sheeting or plastic carpet runners with the points up.

If changing things around doesn't clear up the problem in a healthy cat, you may need to retrain him by keeping your pet in a small area such as a guest bathroom for a couple of weeks.

Make sure the area you choose has no good options besides the litter box -- no carpet, no pile of dirty laundry. Block off the bathtub or keep an inch of water in it to discourage its use as a place to go. After your cat is reliably using the litter box, let him slowly expand his territory again. As long as you keep up your end of the bargain and keep the litter box clean and safe, you have a good chance the good behavior will become permanent.

If you just can't seem to get the problem resolved, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist. These veterinarians are skilled in behavioral problem-solving and are able to prescribe medications that may make the difference during the retraining period.

Q&A

Agility can be fun for dogs of all ages

Q: I have a question concerning my dog. She's a cattle dog mix, perfect in every way -- love at first sight at the shelter, even though we had wanted a younger dog. She's about 8 years old, they guessed, but very healthy and young-acting.

The only problem: We can't give her enough exercise. She'll play fetch forever, but it's not enough. We took her through obedience class (she rocked!), and the instructors suggested we take an agility class. Looks like fun, but at 8, is Tandy too old? I'd hate for her to get hurt. -- B.W., via e-mail

A: I have never in my life considered acting young to be a fault in an 8-year-old dog! Count your blessings, will you?

I'd take a slightly cautious approach to agility work for Tandy. Ask your veterinarian how he or she would assess the dog's fitness, and make sure she's not overweight so she doesn't stress her joints as she works.

When you start agility training, don't push too hard -- pay close attention and stop when you see your dog tiring. Work on emphasizing "fun" over "competition." That's because in training sessions, you can keep the jumps at levels lower than is required at trials, and spare the wear and tear on your dog's joints.

If you both do really well, though, you might try some limited competition. Top agility dogs in top form compete well into their senior years, and you and your dog may well catch the agility bug.

The bottom line: Proceed with caution, but give it a chance. Agility work is a joy for both dogs and humans, and it will go a long way toward keeping you both feeling young. -- Gina Spadafori

Flap up for new door

Q: I recently installed a panel pet door in a sliding-glass door. My cat will not use it. Only once was I successful in tenderly pushing him through it so he could see how it works. Last night, I tried to coach him through it, but his mind was made up that he wasn't going anywhere near the door. I even placed some treats on the other side of the flap, and he still wouldn't budge.

I read that I should first try taping the flap up so he can see that it's an outlet to the patio and then, over time, let the flap down. Do you have any ideas? -- L.H., via e-mail

A: The easiest way for an animal to learn to use a pet door is to have another pet who's already using it. But since that's not an option for you, you'll now have to start over with the training.

Start by taping the flap securely out of the way, or by removing it completely for the time being. If you are going to tape it up, be sure you use enough tape to keep the flap from falling down. If your cat gets hit in the nose, the training will take even longer.

Next, every time your cat wants to go out, let yourself out the sliding-glass door and close it behind you. Then call your cat, while kneeling on the other side of the flapless cat door and coaxing him with praise and treats. Chances are your cat will look through the wide-open door and come right on through. Never open the sliding-glass door to let your cat out. From now on, go out without him and make the cat door the only way out.

After he's going in and out with confidence, set the flap halfway up so he can still see through opening. Once that's working, you can put the flap all the way down. -- Gina Spadafori

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

PET BUZZ

Parrots like those who sound like them

-- Parrots are attracted to the sound of their own voice, or at least one similar. A study by the University of California, Irvine, found that female budgerigars prefer mates who sound like themselves. Although the parrots have an ability to imitate other voices, which is often used in the mating process where the male learns to sound like the female, the study shows that female parrots are most attracted to the male if he naturally sounds like her at their first meeting, before any imitation is done. The findings also highlighted the greater help males will give to nesting females if her sound is similar to his.

-- Boston Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon kept the ball he threw for the last out in the 2007 World Series. Unfortunately, reports Esquire magazine, his beloved French bulldog, Boss, got a hold of the ball and chewed it up.

-- A growing number of families are choosing unusual animals as pets, but some of these uncommon critters harbor illnesses that can be passed on to people. Turtles, chicks and mice may be carriers of bacteria and viruses such as salmonella and herpes, reports the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). "Nontraditional pets can introduce kids to new germs that their immune systems aren't prepared to fight," says Dr. Robert Frenck, a professor at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and a member of the AAP committee on infectious diseases. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

PET Rx

Do you know when to head to the vet?

Knowing what's a true veterinary emergency and what's not can save you hundreds of dollars, since emergency clinics -- like human emergency care -- can be quite expensive.

It's always a good time to review when a pet needs to see a veterinarian. Anything is worth at least a phone call if you're not sure what's wrong. And some things require immediate attention by a veterinarian.

How to tell the difference? Here are some signs that should have you heading for a veterinarian, day or night:

-- Seizure, fainting or collapse.

-- Eye injury, no matter how mild.

-- Vomiting or diarrhea -- anything more than two or three times within an hour or so.

-- Allergic reactions, such as swelling around the face, or hives, most easily seen on the belly.

-- Any suspected poisoning, including antifreeze, rodent or snail bait, or human medication. Cats are especially sensitive to insecticides (such as flea-control medication for dogs) or any petroleum-based product.

-- Snake or venomous spider bites.

-- Thermal stress -- from being either too cold or too hot -- even if the pet seems to have recovered. (The internal story could be quite different.)

-- Any wound or laceration that's open and bleeding, or any animal bite.

-- Trauma, such as being hit by a car, even if the pet seems fine. (Again, the situation could be quite different on the inside.)

-- Any respiratory problem: chronic coughing, trouble breathing or near drowning.

-- Straining to urinate or defecate.

Although some other problems may not be life-threatening, they may be causing your pet pain and should be taken care of without delay. Signs of pain include panting, labored breathing, increased body temperature, lethargy, restlessness, crying out, aggression and loss of appetite. Some pets seek company when suffering, while others will withdraw.

When in doubt, err on the side of caution, always. Better to be dead wrong about a minor medical problem than to have a pet who's dead because you guessed wrong about a major one.

Call your veterinary clinic or hospital before you need help, and ask what arrangements the staff suggests for emergency or after-hours care. If your veterinarian refers clients to an emergency clinic after regular business hours, be sure you know which clinic it is, what the phone number is and how to get there. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

It's all about the love

According to a survey by the American Pet Products 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

PETS ON THE WEB

Don't overlook rats when choosing a pet

Healthy, well-socialized rats can make lively, entertaining pets. And they're easy to train to do tricks.

Still, many people would never consider these as pets because rats have a bad reputation. But healthy pet rats are not street rats. With basic husbandry and an easy-clean housing setup, they are clean and friendly.

If you're open-minded enough to own a rat, check out the Rat and Mouse Club of America's Web site (www.rcma.org). The site packs in a great deal of good information, with plenty of reasons to keep a rat (or more than one, because they get lonely), as well as all the tips you need to care for these pets properly.

Rats are recommended for older children rather than preschoolers, and be sure as with all pets that children practice good hygiene habits with their pets, including frequent hand-washing. -- 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.

Universal Press Syndicate

Our dogs love spring and summer -- longer days, less inclement weather -- but they always seem a little disappointed when they realize they're not going to be getting as many rides in the car.

That's because in the winter there's not much risk to letting a well-mannered dog wait in the car during a quick pop inside the bank, drugstore or any number of local businesses that make up a morning's errand run.

But when the days get warmer, it's no longer acceptable to leave a dog in the car, even for a few minutes, even with the windows down. That's because the heat can build up quickly, even on a day that's just pleasantly warm, putting any pet in the car at grave risk for heatstroke.

Car rides and errands aren't the only risks to pets in warmer weather. Take care of your pets by watching out for these fair-weather hazards:

-- Heat risks. Cats have enough sense to nap on warm afternoons, but dogs do not. If you let them, they'll go where you do, even if it's too hot. Dogs are not good at keeping themselves cool, and they rely on us to keep them out of trouble.

Limit exercise to the coolest part of the day, no matter how happy your dog is to participate when it's warm. Even in the coolest part of the day, watch for signs of trouble: Glassy eyes and frantic panting indicate a dog who needs immediate veterinary help.

Remember that older, obese or short-nosed dogs are less heat-tolerant and that all dogs need constant access to shade and an endless supply of cool, clean water. 

-- Gardening risks. Protect your pets from poisonous plants, troublesome garden materials or yard chemicals. Check with the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center (www.aspca.org/apcc) to be sure your plants are pet-safe, and put any ones that aren't safe on the other side of a fence from your animals.

Be sure to use any pesticides or fertilizers according to label directions, and let lawn chemicals dry before allowing your pet access to the yard. Snail and rodent bait can kill pets, so do not use it in areas where animals have access.

-- Other outdoor problems. If you hike through open fields or wooded areas, be sure to check your dog afterward for foxtails and burrs. The spiky seed carrier of dried grasses, a foxtail, will burrow deep into the ears or flesh of an animal, and it will need to be removed by a veterinarian if it gets in a place your pet can't reach or is left to fester. Depending on where it ends up, it can even be fatal.

Warmer weather also means mosquitoes, and that means heartworms.

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, which pick up the microscopic heartworm larvae called microfilaria when they draw blood from an infected animal. They share the parasites when they bite another animal. Once in a new host, the larvae make their way to the heart, where they grow to be 9 to 14 inches long, blocking the flow of blood and causing severe damage and possibly death.

Most infested pets are brought to the veterinarian after their owners notice them coughing at night, coughing after exercise, or experiencing a general decline in their physical condition. By the time the symptoms are noticed, however, a great deal of damage has usually been done, not only to the heart, but also to other organs such as the kidneys, which rely on a steady flow of blood to operate.

Because of the risk and expense of treating a heartworm infestation, preventive care remains an essential part of a pet's well-being. Monthly heartworm prevention has been shown to be safe and effective for most pets. Don't ignore this essential protection: Talk to your veterinarian about heartworm preventives for dogs and cats.

PET BUY

Kits make artists out of your pets

We're now looking for gallery space for a pair of Pugcassos, otherwise known as our two pugs, Willy and Bruce, who recently completed three paintings using the Pup-Casso kit.

Pup-Casso's no-mess and non-toxic paint kit gave me a keepsake of my pugs' artistic skills that I can forever hang on my walls, and also provided bonding time for my husband and me to share with our pugs as we all four worked together to create the perfect painting.

The kit was extremely easy to use and came with a paint set of five colors, three art papers, three paw protectors (plastic sheets to sit over the top of the painting for the dog to walk across), a picture frame, and a small present for your dog (a yellow Frisbee with the Pup-Casso logo on it.)

To begin, paint colors are dotted and swirled around the paper by the dog owner, and then covered over by a clear plastic sheet, which is taped down to keep it from sliding. Treats are an important coaxing tool in the process because your dog is then guided back and forth across the plastic sheet over the paper to swirl and step into the paint, thus creating his own unique creation.

Two of our paintings were done in "Picasso" style with random swirls of color. But my husband, wanting to unleash his never-before-discovered "talent," decided to paint a picture of a dog on the grass with a sun on the top and had the dogs step over the top of it, with the final result looking much like a cheery preschool art project.

The kit's ease of use was exceptional. The directions were simple and easy to follow, there was very little cleanup needed, and we now have three keepsake paintings to always remember our time together as a family (our snorting pugs included, or course).

The only downside was the lack of a paintbrush, which made writing our signatures extremely difficult, as fingers to sign were too thick to be legible. In the end, we made due with the end of a pen as a makeshift paintbrush to memorialize all four of our names on our work of art. The paint kit also comes in a Cat-Casso variety, for all of the catty artists hoping to gain fame as well. Pup-Casso and Cat-Casso ($20 for either) are available from pet-supply retailers or from Art-Casso.com. -- Mikkel Becker Shannon

PET BUZZ

Prospects better for pets with cancer

-- Powerful new tools to treat cancer in animals are here, or on the near horizon, reports Veterinary Practice News. These include two new therapies that target canine mast cell tumors at the molecular level (from Pfizer and AB Science USA) and immunotherapy for melanoma (Merial). "Rather than use chemicals to kill the cancer or radiation to fry it, we can use our knowledge of cancer to outsmart it," notes cancer specialist Dr. Greg Ogilvie, director of the Angel Care Cancer Center at California Veterinary Specialties in Carlsbad, Calif.

-- This year marks the 125th anniversary of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia. Among the school's most well-known patients: the Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who ultimately lost his battle for life after shattering a leg in the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of racing's storied Triple Crown. The work to save Barbaro at UPenn has led to better safety on racetracks and better care for all horses.

-- Kitten season is no myth, and proof lies in the writhing bundles of kittens in animal shelters this time of year. The feline reproductive season runs from Dec. 21 (winter solstice) to Sept. 22 (autumnal equinox). Like Mother Nature's light-switch, the amount of daylight turns the cat's reproductive cycles on and off. That means in December, unspayed females are stimulated to come into heat, and usually they will be by the middle of January. A 60-day pregnancy means that cats will give birth around March 15 or so. The first wave of kitty litters will come to shelters shortly thereafter. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE SCOOP

Quick removal of ticks a seasonal must

Don't tolerate ticks: Prevent those you can and immediately remove those you find.

Tick prevention in pets means topical treatments, typically spot-ons available by prescription from your veterinarian (or from retailers with a prescription from your veterinarian). Talk to your pet's health-care provider about which product suits your animal best. In some areas, ticks may respond better to one product than another. In areas with heavy tick infestations, additional protection may entail the use of a tick collar. Again, talk to your vet.

Whenever you've had your dog out in an area with ticks -- and that could even be a green city park -- you need to go over your dog carefully to hand-pick any pests that hopped a ride. Don't wait for the preventives to kill them. Feel for tiny lumps and part the fur to get a good look at the skin.

When you've located a tick, don't use methods you may have heard of, such as applying alcohol, petroleum jelly or the tip of a hot match to remove them. They don't work. Instead, choose a direct method: Either use a tool to pull them off, or protect your fingers with a thin glove.

For tools, a curved-tip jeweler's forceps ($25 to $50) is probably the best, and well worth searching out and keeping on hand if you live in an area with lots of ticks, especially small ticks. Various tools with slots that fit under the parasite -- such as the Ticked Off spoon ($5.50 from retailers) -- also work well.

Start your tick hunt with a little bowl of isopropyl alcohol at hand. No matter if you're using a tool or your gloved fingers, get ahold of the tick close to where the mouth is attached to your pet and apply steady, even pressure to remove the pest -- no twisting required. Once out, flick the tick into the alcohol to kill it and then dispose of the dead ticks at once.

Use a mild disinfectant on the de-ticked areas, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water when you're done clearing all the pests from your pet. Keep an eye on where the ticks had been embedded for any sign of infection, and contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Experience matters in pet care

If it seems that you've always had a dog or cat, you're probably typical. In responses to surveys about how long pet owners have kept pets, those with dogs or cats had more experience in caring for animal companions than did those with other pets:

Dogs: 19 years

Cats: 17 years

Birds: 10 years

Freshwater fish: 8 years

Saltwater fish: 5.5 years

Reptiles: 3 years

Small animals: 1.8 years

Source: American Pet Products Association

PET TIP

Yes, cats can be hurt falling from windows

Cats are equipped with the amazing ability to right themselves in midair if they fall while hunting, rotating their bodies from the head back like a coil to align themselves for a perfect four-paw landing.

But what works for a supple small animal falling from a tree branch doesn't cut it in the modern world, where a cat's more likely to fall from a window than a tree. Cats can be badly hurt or even killed falling from the window of a two-story home, or from the balcony of a third-story apartment.

Many cat lovers assume their pets would be smart enough to be careful when up high enough for injuries, but it's just not in an animal's ability to make that kind of judgment call. Cats are comfortable in high places, and they cannot understand the difference in risk between a one-story fall and a six-story fall. Protect them with secure screens and closed windows. -- 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.

and Keith Turner

Universal Press Syndicate

With car companies struggling for sales in a tough economy, it's no surprise that two of them are chasing buyers that have so far proven willing to keep spending when they can: pet lovers.

Toyota rolled out the pet-friendly Venza in February at the massive pet industry trade show, Global Pet Expo. Not content to be the underdog, Honda showed up at the New York International Auto Show with a special edition of its already dog-friendly Element, with a built-in pet ramp, better ventilation and a showy badge with a dog on it.

The Honda development is especially interesting. Our DogCars.com Web site picked the Element as the first-ever "Best in Show" after reviewing dozens of SUVs, wagons and hatchbacks. Honda, which had been marketing the boxy vehicle to young, outdoorsy men, responded with an ad campaign touting the award. And now, a special Element will be for sale in the fall.

Saab and Volvo were first to cater to pet lovers, offering optional restraint systems in a couple of their models. But the new models from Toyota and Honda show just how anxious companies are these days to track down sales like a bloodhound.

The 2010 Element's options for dog lovers include:

-- cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with elevated platform

-- extendable pet ramp that stores underneath the bed

-- pet restraints in the second row and cargo area

-- second-row seat covers

-- electric rear ventilation fan

-- spill-resistant water bowl

-- dog-friendly exterior badge

All of these are in addition to the Element's already dog-friendly attributes, such as an easy-to-clean urethane floor, wide and flat cargo area, and wide-opening side doors.

For Toyota's part, it is offering the Venza with more than a dozen pet-friendly options, available through its dealers, from ramps to barriers to seat covers. Toyota is also promoting the vehicle everywhere it thinks it will find dog lovers, sponsoring both the recent telecast of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show and the new season of trainer Cesar Millan's popular show "The Dog Whisperer." The vehicle will also be on display at pet fairs for animal lovers to get a firsthand look.

Will the Soccer Mom be replaced by the Dog-Park Dad? In the eyes of the car companies, it doesn't matter which market turns out to be the biggest dog of all: Where there are sales to be made, they'll tailor a car to appeal to those buyers.

Q&A

Teeth-cleaning offers many health benefits

Q: My veterinarian has recommended getting my dog's teeth cleaned, and I would appreciate your opinion on this procedure. Is it really necessary? He claims it is preventive health, but it involves putting my dog under anesthesia, and that always worries me. Do you do this with your dogs? -- J.M., via e-mail

A: Yes, my own dogs are subject to periodic dental cleanings, and I am a believer in them as important preventive medicine for three reasons.

First, your pet needs to eat. Broken teeth and rotting gums make eating very difficult and painful, and anything to prevent such an outcome is desirable in my book. When I was doing animal-rescue work, I can't tell you how many pets came in with mouths that caused them a great deal of pain, the result of years of dental neglect.

Second, when gums get infected, your pet is constantly showering internal organs with some nasty bacteria. Over time, this is a grave challenge to your pet's immune system and may lead to some serious health problems.

Finally, there's the cleanliness issue. I live with my pets inside the house. They are family who share beds, furniture and lots of affection. Bad teeth and gums smell awful and make close interactions less than pleasant.

Anesthesia is indeed a concern, but it's a lot safer than it used to be. You can make it even safer by following your veterinarian's instructions exactly, especially when it comes to withholding food and water before anesthesia. Older pets may require some tests beforehand, such as a blood workup and possibly a chest X-ray.

Once your dog has had her teeth cleaned, you can keep them that way -- and extend the period of time between cleanings -- by brushing her teeth regularly. -- 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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

PET BUZZ

Obama's dog not first to fame

-- When the Obamas welcomed a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog into the White House, that dog -- whom the Obama daughters named Bo -- became arguably the most famous of his breed ever. But the dogs, long used as helpers by Portguese fisherman, have had other spins in the spotlight. In addition to the Porties owned by Sen. Edward Kennedy, a team of the dogs delighted fans of the San Francisco Giants by retrieving baseballs from McCovey Cove, the body of water behind the right-field wall.

-- Airplanes are increasingly hitting birds, alarming regulators because collisions can cause fatal crashes and damage jets. The number of bird strikes reported to the Federal Aviation Administration has grown every year since 1990, when there were 2,051 strikes. There were 9,361 strikes in 2007, FAA figures show. A total of 95,000 bird strikes have been reported to the agency since 1990, and the culprits, in decreasing order, are Canada geese, mourning doves and sparrows.

-- Biologists fear a mysterious illness that has been killing bats since at least 2007 is spreading rapidly and has likely wiped out hundreds of thousands of them over the winter in caves throughout the Northeast. Called white nose syndrome, after the white fungus the dead bats have on their faces, affected bats emerge early from hibernation, resulting in starvation. The cause of the syndrome is unknown, reports USA Today. Bats play an important role in nature's balance, eating insects and other pests that can damage crops, along with assisting in plant pollinations. Their decline has the potential for a long-term impact on the ecosystem. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

THE SCOOP

'Learning by earning' gets a dog to mind

If your dog doesn't seem to be paying attention, you need to lay the foundation for good behavior by showing your dog with every interaction that he has to earn what he wants.

This "learning by earning" starts with the basics of dog obedience -- sit and stay. Chances are your dog already knows these commands. If not, check out a class, book or video to help you teach him. Once your dog understands and performs these behaviors more or less on command, you're going to use them to reinforce your authority, gently but persistently.

Ask your dog: To sit before you put his leash on for a walk. To sit before you pet him (which will also keep him from jumping up) or throw a toy for him to fetch. To sit and stay when his bowl is placed before him, and hold that position until released. To sit and stay before the door is opened, to sit and stay before being let out of the car into the park and so on.

Be patient. Your dog will soon catch on as long as you're consistent in insisting on his good behavior before good things come his way.

No sit, no reward, no discussion.

The real beauty is what's happening deep down. Without raising your voice, jerking a leash, spanking or otherwise roughly handling your dog, you've made it clear to him that there are household rules that must be followed. And that's going to make everything else about living with and training your dog easier -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Pet spending still strong

According to the American Pet Products Association, spending on pets and their care continues to grow, despite the difficult economy. Recent annual spending on pets:

Year Billions

2009 $45.4 (est.)

2008 $43.2

2007 $41.2

2006 $38.5

2005 $36.3

2004 $34.4

2003 $32.4

2002 $29.5

2001 $28.5

PET TIP

Fences, patios keep cats out of trouble

Keeping cats indoors is safer for the cats, life-saving for birds and less irritating to the neighbors.

You can keep your cat happier by providing safe access to the outdoors, such as with a cat door into a screened-in porch. You can also buy kits for portable outdoor pens, complete with tunnels for connecting the pens to the house.

Many cat lovers have put together some grand outdoor spaces, such as a two-story enclosure clinging to the side of the house with areas for climbing, sunbathing and hiding. These needn't be expensive, especially if you're a capable do-it-yourselfer.

Also consider cat-fencing, which runs along the top of a traditional fence and keeps your cats on your property. It won't protect the birds, but it will keep your cat out of your neighbors' yards. -- 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.