HELOISE Web site lets you search for specific breed

Dear Heloise: Here's a wonderful Web site I found that lets you search for a specific species or breed of pet and gives you a list of public and private shelters in your area that have animals looking for homes. What better way to find a new pet than to save that animal's life, too! The site is www.pet-finder.com.
This is a free service. I am not affiliated with this site in any way, but I used it to find the organization I eventually adopted from. I subsequently became involved as a volunteer with that organization, and in running information booths have had a lot of people come up to me asking how to find certain breeds of cat or dog (and other species) that they haven't found in their local shelter.
After all, if you're grieving the loss of a beloved pet and are searching for another, what better way to honor the memory of your late pet than to adopt and save the life of another animal in need of a loving home? Beth Mustakos, Via E-mail
Beth, this is a wonderful site, and even if you aren't looking for a special breed, it sure gives you an idea of all the animals out there looking for homes. The Petfinder organization and Web site do a terrific job of informing the public about shelters and helping find homes for our animal friends.
In fact, my friend Liz Pearl adopted her miniature schnauzer, Smedley, through Petfinder and was so happy that she also adopted Cricket, a female mini-schnauzer, through a schnauzer rescue organization in her home state of New Jersey. Heloise
Dear Readers: Lois Nickerson of Londonderry, N.H., sent a photo of her adorable Shih Tzu, Dunkin, dressed to face the cold Northeast winter! He is wearing a coat, boots and hat, and he is ready to go outside. Visit my Web site, www.Heloise.com, and click on This Week's Pet. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Thanks for giving rabbits a plug in your column. If closer to Easter (or any other time you are so inclined) you feature bunnies again, it would be terrific if you could mention that rabbits can be neutered and spayed by a bunny-savvy veterinarian (usually one specializing in exotics).
Neutering or spaying makes rabbits easier to litter-train, takes the smell from the urine and certainly stops them from multiplying again. Shelley Stack, New Jersey Chapter of the House Rabbit Society.
Rabbits are popular pets, and knowing that they can be neutered or spayed makes it so much easier to keep them. But before you run out and get a rabbit, visit the House Rabbit Society Web site, www.rabbit.org, to learn about rabbits. Heloise
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate