Skunked? Try this bath mix for pet mishaps

Dear Readers: With the summer season upon us, dogs are in jeopardy of being sprayed by a skunk. We all know the old standby remedies of using tomato juice, feminine douche or vinegar, but here's the recent update: Mix together 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1 teaspoon of mild dishwashing detergent and 1/4 cup of baking soda. You might want to put cotton balls in your pet's ears and a drop of mineral oil in each eye to prevent the mixture from irritating the eyes. Now the mixture can be rubbed through your pet's coat, starting at the head and moving to the tail. Rinse well. Stubborn odors might take more than one application.
While on the subject of dogs versus nature: What is the most unusual thing your dog has brought to you or taken out of the house? My precious Cabbie, our mini-schnauzer, brought me a dead bird and a mouse. I checked with Heloise Central, and one of my assistants said her dog brought her a toad (in a very foamy mouth), one dog took off with a cell phone and one even took a remote control outside and buried it like a bone! So, drop us a note -- we will pick 10 of our favorites and print them. Those readers will receive a set of five favorite Heloise pamphlets. Send your pet story to Heloise@Heloise.com; fax to (210) 435-6473; or mail to Heloise/Treasure, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000. Heloise
Dear Readers: Sally Davis of Canton, Ohio, sent us a photo of her son's two cats, Bonnie and Clyde, who look quite snuggly on the dresser top. Sally says, "They were named Bonnie and Clyde, at my suggestion, due to their 'masks,' making them look like robbers." Visit my Web site at www.Heloise.-com and click on This Week's Pet to see the photo of the two adorable kittens. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I decided to buy a couple of little zebra finches from a pet store. Then I wanted to add some more, but the cost per pair didn't quite fit into my budget. A friend suggested I check with local bird associations to see if there was a breeder in my area. Sure enough, there was. I visited the aviary and purchased several birds at a much lower cost. K.M. in Texas
How smart! Did you know that finches can have a lifespan of five to 15 years? The large age range is due to the fact that there are many different types. So, you need to be prepared for the responsibility of pet ownership. Some of the birds are quite easy to care for, while other finch varieties can be more difficult.
One of my assistants raised zebra finches. She said that if you choose to have a breeding pair, be prepared, because you can end up with a lot of baby birds! Heloise
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate