HELOISE Kiddie pool makes doggie bath more enjoyable
Dear Heloise: I always dreaded giving my dog a bath. She would get so nervous in the bathtub that I couldn't hold her still, especially when I used the shower spray. In the summer months, I bathe her in a plastic kiddie pool in my yard. It is so easy since I put a plastic doormat in it. The mat fits perfectly in the bottom of the tub, and Chelsea sits quietly -- seems like she actually enjoys her bath. Carol, via e-mail
Sounds like you have a winning hint! Bathing dogs can be a hassle, but your hint makes it sound simple. I know many people (us included) who take their dogs into the shower for bath time. Cabbie, our mini-schnauzer, doesn't seem to mind, but J.D., the golden retriever, is a little too big. Heloise
Dear Readers: Marty Fast of Ojai, Calif., sent a photo of his Weimaraner, Arlo, sitting very straight with a frog on his nose. Mr. Fast didn't say if the frog is real, but it sure looks like it is.
Visit my Web site, www.Helo-ise.com, and click on This Week's Pet to see Arlo and the "real or fake" frog. Heloise
Dear Readers: Hamsters make wonderful pets, and housing them is really easy. A couple of them can live in an aquarium -- usually a 10-gallon one is a perfect size. Make sure you put a wire screen on top.
Clean the aquarium thoroughly every couple of weeks, and scoop out any wet or soiled bedding daily. Keep a metal exercise wheel in the cage. Don't put plastic in the cage -- hamsters will chew it! Use water bottles that attach to the cage, not a bowl.
Last but not least, hamsters are nocturnal -- they make all their noise during the night -- so it's best to keep them in a room where the household won't be disturbed. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I have two cats, so I buy large bags of dry cat food. I used to store it in our garage in a covered plastic trash pail that I bought for that purpose. Now I use a popcorn tin. The design is a country scene, and the colors are perfect for our kitchen. It really makes a difference to have it handy near the sink area. Natalie W., via e-mail
Dear Readers: Do you have a favorite tried-and-true pet hint that you would like to share in this column? It could be any pet, from a spider to a monkey. Send your hints to: Heloise/Pet Hints, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279. We would love to hear from you. Heloise
Dear Readers: Lost a pet? Contact your veterinarian and all the vets in your area, and the pet shelters, too. If you have photos of your pet, copy them and hand them out to the different rescue and animal organizations. If you don't have photos, print a detailed description of your pet along with information on where you last saw him or her.
Also, post signs (with photos, if possible) around your area with your phone number. Be sure to check the ordinances in your area about posting signs. Posting a reward sometimes works, too. Heloise
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
King Features Syndicate