HELOISE Resist the temptation to give a pet as a gift

Dear Readers: Do you pass pet shops and stop to look at those adorable puppies and kittens? Are you tempted to give one as a gift to a loved one? Well, think again before you surprise someone with a pet.
If you are thinking about surprising a child with a cute little pet, please think about it seriously. Most children love animals, but when it comes time to take care of them day in and day out, some children slack off, leaving the care to their parents.
Fish are relaxing to watch and don't require too much care except feeding, but the tanks require quite a bit of care to keep them clean. So consider a fish as a first pet. Heloise
Dear Readers: Pat Booth of Wolfeboro, N.H., sent her mother's 13-year-old cat, Mouse, to live with her son, who has two dogs. They were worried about how the cat and dogs would get along. Not a problem. The photo Pat sent shows one of the dogs -- Olive, a rat terrier -- cuddling up to Mouse like they've known each other for years.
Please visit my Web site, www.Heloise.com, and click on This Week's Pet to see this photo of Olive and Mouse. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When my pet parakeet got out of his cage, he flew out the open window. I remember reading an article about how to capture a bird if it gets out. I tried it, and it worked!
I put the cage on a table outside, left the door open and put some food outside the door and also on the floor of his cage. I rang his favorite bell and could hear him chirping nearby. Before long, he was standing on the table, then went into the cage. I quietly walked over to him and closed the door behind him. Now he is safe and back in our home. Joyce B., San Antonio
Dear Heloise: My beautiful rabbit, Sonny, lives in a pretty big pen outdoors, but it's not large enough for him to exercise in. To make sure he gets enough exercise every day, I made a "playpen" using heavy wire fencing, called hardware cloth, 2 feet high by 15 feet long. It was easy to unroll and connect together using heavy wire ties from top to bottom.
I placed it in a shady, grassy area, clear of any fertilizer and chemicals. Since rabbits eat grass, chemicals would certainly harm, if not kill, them. After getting the playpen in place, I put his water and food dishes inside and a soft blanket that he loves to lie on. It's nice to know that he can run around safely every day. Karen G., via e-mail
Dear Heloise: Recently, I was playing with my dog in the back yard. He started panting, so I grabbed the hose and sprayed him to try to cool him off. Bad mistake! The water was hot because the hose had been lying in the sun. Now, I run water through it until it's cool before I spray anything, even my plants. Karen B., via e-mail
Dear Readers: Does your pet slip and slide while you are trying to bathe it? What usually frightens them about a bath is the slipping and sliding, but that can be prevented easily. Put a large piece of rubber mesh, which is used for lining shelves, in the bottom of the sink, tub or wherever you bathe your pet. Heloise
King Features Syndicate