HELOISE Check dog's feet coming in for the night

Dear Heloise: Recently, a reader sent in a hint about washing her dog's feet every few days. I learned a lesson about this when vacationing. My dog had to be around chemicals in the grass and bugs, and I was warned to check her feet before bringing her in at night.
I got the idea to wash her feet off every night. After a while, I decided to just put her feet in a bucket and wash them really well. Now it has become a nightly routine (two feet at a time), and while I'm at it, I started brushing her teeth. She is very patient about it and is a real trouper, but then, you know how trusting and loyal schnauzers are.
She also wears boots for protection when going outside. They have been a real benefit to us both. Hope this hint helps others as much as it has me. Carol Maduri, Bellville
Carol, our mini schnauzer, Cabbie, will let me brush and trim her pretty easily, but sometimes that schnauzer personality comes out, and she takes her paws and pushes my hand away! Heloise
Dear Readers: Gretchen Uno of Texarkana, Ark., sent a photo of her two dogs -- a little dachshund, Skittles, lying on top of Gretchen's golden retriever, Wolfie. Gretchen says Skittles' favorite resting place is on the back of Wolfie, and he never seems to mind it. Visit my Web site, www.Heloise.com, and click on This Week's Pet to see these two cute pups. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Having been a cat owner for 40-odd years, cleaning and disposing of the litter in the litter box has never been a favorite pastime. However, I discovered something that combines recycling and sanitary dispensing while doing this miserable daily task.
We save the plastic tube that newspapers come in and, after scooping the litter, put the end of the scoop in the tube opening and empty the contents, then knot the bag. This makes a neat package -- easy to put in the trash without worrying about it smelling, and a good reuse for the plastic bags. Marilyn Wilson, Helotes, Texas
Did you know that almost 60 species of birds besides hummingbirds enjoy drinking nectar? Among them are chickadees, warblers, orioles and sapsuckers.
There are quite a few birds that love fresh fruit, according to the National Bird-Feeding Society. Just stick half of an orange or half of an apple on a tree branch, and watch those wonderful birds come to it. Try all kinds of fruit, such as watermelon pieces and bananas. You will be surprised how many birds nectar and fruit will attract. Heloise
Dear Heloise: If you need to spruce up your old aquarium, make a background yourself. Use blue poster board and cut it to fit the aquarium. Use crayons, markers or colored pencils to draw plants, fish and shells. If you are not artistic, cut out pictures of plants, fish, etc., from magazines and glue them on the poster board. Then simply tape the poster board to the back, outside of the glass. Taylor B., Colorado Springs, Colo.
King Features Syndicate