THE KINDNESS OF NEIGHBORS CAN HELP STRAY PETS FIND THEIR WAY HOME

In the couple of weeks on either side of the Fourth of July, I lost one pet and found another. Both stories had happy endings because both the owners and the finders knew what to do. One pet made it home because of a high-tech strategy, the other because of a low-tech one.

First, the pet I found, a healthy young yellow Labrador. I worried that I'd have to find him a home, since he didn't have a collar or tag. I live in an area more rural than suburban, and I feared he might have been dumped by owners hoping a farmer had room for a nice dog they couldn't keep. (We rarely do out here because we all have pets already, but that doesn't stop people from hoping ... and dumping.)

I took the dog to our neighborhood veterinary hospital to be checked for a microchip. I was delighted to be wrong about my guess that the dog had been dumped in the neighborhood. Score one for high-tech: The Labrador was not only chipped and registered, but the owner was a neighbor who was actively looking for his dog.

The lost pet was my own -- one of my two indoor cats. Ilario slipped out unnoticed and had been gone several hours before I realized he was missing. He was microchipped and wearing a collar ID tag, and I reported him missing to the neighbors, the microchip registry and the county. As the days then weeks passed with no sign of him dead or alive, I sadly figured that he had been grabbed by one of the neighborhood coyotes.

But then, a lucky break: One neighbor mentioned to another that she'd seen a new cat wandering not far from my house, and that he seemed to be spending his days near yet another neighbor's outdoor aviary. That neighbor confirmed my cat was trying to eat his birds, and after two tries, I caught Ilario in a live-release trap. He was thin, dirty and scared, but he was alive after a month on the lam.

Score that one for low-tech: Even though Ilario had a microchip and ID tag, he was too frightened to be approached, not even by me. But with the help of my neighbors and a Havahart trap, I have my cat back.

The lessons? Cover your bases with collar, tag and microchip, and don't give up when your pet goes astray. And if you find someone's pet, don't assume he's been dumped because he isn't wearing a collar. Start looking for an owner by taking the animal to a nearby veterinarian or shelter to be checked for a microchip.

And don't give up on the possibility of a reunion. Although the Labrador had escaped from his family less than 24 hours before I found him, my own cat was missing for almost a month before he was noticed by the neighbors.

Finally, be a good neighbor. Many pets, especially cats, don't roam far from home. If we all work together, we can get more pets reunited with the families who are missing them. If you see a pet who seems to be lost, help that animal and its owner. We can all use more happy endings -- don't you think?

Q&A

Owners need to watch

their dogs at the park

Q: There's a new dog park in our area, and the rules are generally pretty good, as long as people follow them. We have a couple of people who bring in multiple dogs at once, including one person who is being paid to exercise dogs. We don't have a limit on the number of dogs a single person can bring in, but after a couple of incidents, we're thinking about it. What do you think? -- via email

A: People with multiple dogs, no matter how well-mannered their pets are, simply cannot stay on top of what all their dogs are doing once the animals fan out. That's why many parks have guidelines that address professional dog walkers or people with many dogs of their own.

Everyone who takes a pet into an off-leash dog park needs to be responsible for the behavior of that animal, watching to be sure the dog is neither bully nor victim and that no one gets hurt. The dog park is not for catching up on one's reading or visiting with other people. It is for safely exercising and socializing a dog. One dog is hard enough to monitor properly; more than two would be nearly impossible.

Further, dogs who live together or see each other regularly are more likely to gang up on those animals who aren't in their "pack." Dog packs have a different dynamic than individual dogs, and having a regular pack frequent the park could be a dangerous situation indeed.

To operate safely, dog parks need good basic rules, an active community to police through peer pressure and plenty of common sense. Work to put common-sense rules in place at the off-leash park not to limit the number of dogs, but rather to ban inattentive behavior on the part of the owners.

If that fails, it may be necessary to set an arbitrary limit as to how many dogs a single person could have in an off-leash area at one time. -- Gina Spadafori

THE BUZZ

Sled dogs the oldest

of American canines

-- The oldest evidence of dogs in North America comes from the northernmost outposts, where Inuit sled dogs can be traced back to animals who lived there more than 10,000 years ago. Discovery News reports that the genetics of the animals suggests that they originated in Asia, and are thought to have followed people across the landmass that once covered the Bering Strait. These dogs show no European heritage in their genetic makeup, making them rare among American dogs, most of whom can be genetically linked to animals brought over with European settlers of the New World.

-- The biggest litter box you can find may not be big enough for your cat's preferences. Some cats like their boxes long and wide and their litter deep. Feline behavior experts say that looking in the "storage" department of your favorite big-box retailer instead of the area set aside for pet supplies offers larger and sometimes less-expensive options. Check out storage boxes meant for sweaters, or that are designed to fit under the bed. Used without their lids, these can work well as litter boxes.

-- Petting zoos are popular with children and parents alike, especially during the season for fairs around the country that feature livestock among the attractions. But many parents are unaware of the risks of deadly strains of bacteria that may be present. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control cautions that children should be supervised to ensure they don't put their fingers in their mouths while petting animals or coming into contact with bedding or fecal material, and that everyone washes his or her hands thoroughly with soap and water on leaving such exhibits. — Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and also the authors of many best-selling pet care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

EXERCISE THERAPY: TIRED DOGS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE WELL-MANNERED

The joke in dog training these days is that when you get two trainers together, the only thing they'll agree on is that a third trainer is doing it wrong.

But there's something else that the fiercest advocate of a no-punishment training approach will find in common with the trainer who believes that a dog's actions need consequences: They'll both agree that your dog is likely not getting enough exercise, and that sedentary lives are at the root of a lot of canine behavior problems.

Look at the big, active dogs we adore, such as the Labrador retriever and the German shepherd. You don't have to go far down the popularity list to find other active breeds, such as the always-in-motion dog commonly known as the Jack Russell terrier. Factor in the countless retriever, shepherd, husky, hound and terrier mixes, and you have a lot of dogs whose genetics have prepared them to work nonstop for hours at a time.

Instead, many of them spend their lives in small, boring backyards. To burn off all that natural energy, they're busy barking, digging and chewing.

If you're thinking of getting a dog, think very seriously about what breed or mix you want and whether you can provide an active dog with the exercise he needs. If you can't honestly say that your dog will get 30 minutes of heart-thumping aerobic exercise at least three to four days a week -- daily is better -- then you really ought to reconsider those breeds and mixes.

Fortunately, there are alternatives. All dogs love and need their exercise, but not all dogs will misbehave if they don't get a ton of it. Consider dogs of breeds or mixes that are content with less exercise. For large dogs, consider adopting a retired racing greyhound, a dog known as the "30 mph couch potato." Many of the pug-nosed breeds are also touted for their couch-potato ways, but beware: that's because they're often born with compromised respiratory systems, with health problems to match.

Many small breeds are easy in the exercise department, and they're well worth considering because it's not as difficult to exercise a small dog with short legs. A Yorkie, pug or corgi can get good exercise in a small yard or on a brisk walk, but remember that even short legs won't get you off the hook with the most active and tough-minded breeds of terrier. These dogs need as much regular cardio as their bigger, more powerful relatives.

What if you already have an active breed of dog? I know the answer to this one, having shared my life with retrievers from high-drive hunting lines for almost 20 years. Keeping them exercised is a big part of my life. There's always a tennis ball in my truck, and I know all the safe and legal places to throw it, especially those that involve bodies of water.

So get out that leash. Find that tennis ball. Scope out the nearest pond. And make some time to get your dog moving a half-hour a day, every day. Your dog will be happier and healthier, and so will you.

As for those behavior problems, you'll find they're easier to fix if your dog isn't frantically looking for a place to direct all that energy. Ask your veterinarian for a trainer or behaviorist who can help.

Q&A

Adopting declawed cat

better than declawing

Q: I am thinking of adopting a cat or kitten, but shelters won't let me if I plan to declaw. I've always done it, and I've always provided a good home for life for my cats. Can I just lie on the forms? -- via Facebook

A: No. If you absolutely, positively have no tolerance for scratching, adopt a cat who has already been declawed rather than take home a kitten or cat with the intent to declaw. If you fall in love with a cat or kitten with claws, you can teach him to keep his claws off what you don't want scratched.

The best investment you can make for your pet's enjoyment -- and your furniture's preservation -- is a cat tree.

You can make a cat tree even more appealing by playing games with your cat on the tree and by petting and praising him for scratching there. Some cats may enjoy having fresh catnip rubbed onto the cat tree as added enticement.

Cat trees aren't the only options. Add other approved places for your cat to scratch, such as vertical or horizontal posts, scratching trays filled with corrugated cardboard or scratching pads hung from doorknobs. Experiment to see what your cat likes best.

Once you have approved scratching areas in place, make the places your cat shouldn't be clawing unattractive by putting double-sided patches (such as Sticky Paws) or tape on the furniture. Cats hate to touch anything sticky, and anything mounted sticky-side out will discourage scratching.

Start with your scratching alternative near the problem area. Your cat may shift his attention to the scratching post or tree and away from your furniture. Offer praise and treats for good behavior.

Once your cat understands what the scratching post is for, you can slowly move it to the part of the room where you'd like it. Leave the sticky deterrent on the furniture during the transition and be patient. -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE BUZZ

Check your young dog

for retained baby teeth

-- Puppies have 28 sharp little deciduous teeth that are eventually replaced with 42 permanent ones. Sometimes, baby teeth are retained after the adult ones come in, a situation that can cause many problems, including the misalignment of permanent teeth, incorrect development of the jaw and infections. Baby teeth that refuse to fall out on their own may need to be removed by your veterinarian.

-- Cats can get acne. Although most classic feline acne cases occur in cats who are simply not good chin groomers, there are other possibilities, including mites, ringworm and allergies. You'll need the help of your veterinarian to get your cat's chin cleared up. The area needs to be kept washed, at the very least, and resist the urge to squeeze any blemishes. You may also get prescription creams and pills. Since some cases are caused by an allergy to plastic, your veterinarian will probably also recommend switching to ceramic or stainless steel food and water dishes, and keeping them scrupulously clean.

-- Scientists from the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center say the parasite that causes the dangerous disease toxoplasmosis is more common that previously feared. The eggs of the parasite are found in raw meat and cat feces. The researchers did not go so far as to suggest that owning a cat puts a person at higher risk, but they did encourage keeping children out of public sandboxes, gardening with gloves and following safety recommendations in handling meat or cleaning the litter box. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and also the authors of many best-selling pet care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING ABOUT YOUR DOG MAY BE HIS NOSE

Is there anything a dog can't use his nose to figure out? Dogs have long been used to sniff out escaped cons and missing children (think bloodhounds), dinner (think spaniels, retrievers and hounds), and even truffles (think poodles).

But in recent years, trainers have come up with all kinds of new ways to use a dog's extraordinary sense of smell. Here are a few you may know -- and a few more we bet you did not:

-- Drugs. Dogs can be trained to sniff out all kinds of illegal drugs, finding them not only on people but also in massive cargo containers, long-haul trucks and school lockers.

-- Plant matter. Since fresh fruits and vegetables can carry insects and diseases that have the potential to cause great damage to agriculture, dogs are used to detect foodstuffs in the luggage of travelers coming through customs. Dogs are also used to sniff out invasive plants in fields, so they can be eradicated before they take hold.

-- Insects. Termites? No problem. Dogs are also being used to detect the resurgence of bedbugs in big cities.

-- Mold. It's not just the mold that bedevils homeowners, but also the mold that puts the vines at wineries at risk from the spread of disease.

-- Explosives. Meetings of important public officials would be hard to imagine without the diligent work of bomb-sniffing dogs. To take it a bit further, dogs are even being taught to sniff out cellphones that could be used to detonate a bomb.

-- Cows in heat. A lot of money depends on being able to artificially inseminate a cow without wasting time guessing when she's ready. While a bull could tell, he's not always available, as his contribution usually arrives on the scene frozen. A dog can tell when the cow is most fertile, although it's a good bet the dog couldn't care less.

-- Cancer. While cancer detection is still in the trial stage, it's looking pretty promising that dogs can spot a malignancy. Someday your doctor may order up a "lab test" and mean Labrador!

-- Chemicals. Dogs have been known to look for items as varied as mercury and the components of potentially pirated DVDs. They've also been used to detect the presence of fire accelerants in cases where arson is suspected.

While most of us tend to think scent work is the near-exclusive province of a handful of breeds -- bloodhounds, German shepherds and maybe a Labrador retriever here and there -- in fact, a wide range of breeds and mixes is trained to detect various scents. Because of their fine noses and friendly dispositions, beagles are used to work airports by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and any manner of mixed breeds -- lucky dogs pulled from shelters -- have been used for other kinds of detection work.

Because all dogs have keen noses filled with many more scent receptors than we humans have, a dog's future doing nose work relies more on enthusiasm, reliability and trainability than on the common canine ability to tell one scent from another.

Q&A

Cat's rubbing about

more than affection

Q: Why are cats so eager to rub up against us? -- via Facebook

A: When a cat rubs against a person, it's a sign of friendliness and affection. But rubbing also performs a very important feline function: scent-marking.

Cats want everything in the world to smell as they do, and they spend their lives trying to accomplish that feat. When cats rub against people or furniture, they're depositing sebum from sebaceous glands on their heads to spread their own trademark scent on what -- or whom -- they're bumping.

That's the most "people approved" form of scent-marking in cats, but there are others. When cats claw, they're not only keeping the tips of their claws razor-sharp, but they're also depositing scent from glands in the paws. When they lick themselves -- or you -- they're putting scent-impregnated saliva all over. Smelling right to a cat is so important that they'll even start grooming themselves after being petted, to cover your scent with their own.

The least popular form of scent-marking -- from a human point of view, anyway -- is urine-spraying. Although many cat lovers believe this to be a litter box avoidance issue, in fact it's a completely separate behavior.

A cat squats when urinating in a box. A cat scent-marking with urine stands, backs up to the object he's intending to mark, twitches his raised tail and lets it fly. Although urine-spraying is commonly a problem of unneutered males, cats of both genders -- neutered or not -- have been known to indulge in this messy, smelly habit. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

No problem telling

the girls from boys

-- In most species of parrots kept as pets, the only way to tell males from females is with a DNA test or surgical sexing. That's not the case with the Eclectus parrot: Males are a vivid Kelly green, while females sport feathers of bright red and royal blue.

-- Scientists at Cornell University have discovered the mutation that turns a benign intestinal virus into a cat-killer. In identifying the mutation that turns feline enteric coronavirus into feline infectious peritonitis, the research team's work may lead to accurate diagnostics and effective treatments for FIP, which is typically fatal. Led by virologist Dr. Gary Whittaker of the university's College of Veterinary Medicine, the discovery may also lead to effective treatments for related diseases that affect people.

-- Cats are able to squeeze through narrow spaces because they don't have a rigid collarbone to block their way. A cat's whiskers -- super-sensitive, specialized hairs -- spread roughly as wide as a cat does, helping the animal to judge which nooks and crannies are worth trying. But whiskers don't grow longer as a cat gets wider, which can lead some corpulent cats into sticky situations. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and also the authors of many best-selling pet care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.