HELOISE Basket will hold goodies for your pet

Dear Readers: Did you know that pet accessories are a booming industry? Almost everyone who has a pet has spent a little cash on something special for his or her pet. We decided to check here in Heloise Central to see if this trend holds true. Here is what we purchased in the past month:
USweaters
UCollars and leashes
UDishes and bowls
UBeds
UToys
UTreats
It's always a good idea if you have short-haired dogs to think about sweaters or other items to help keep them warm, especially in the colder months. And puppies or young dogs need toys and & quot;chewies & quot; to keep them occupied. Older dogs might need special diet items, so keep this in mind. And who doesn't like a special treat once in a while?
To keep chewies, treats and toys from taking over your house, place them all in a wicker basket and put it in an out-of-the-way spot. Don't worry -- Fido or Fluffy will find them and select what he or she wants. Heloise
Dear Readers: Lynn Scribner of Palestine, Texas, sent a photo of her golden retriever, Tucker, watching television. She says: & quot;No one believed me when I said that Tucker loves to watch the animal shows. He'll perch on the end of the couch in the den and watch intently. & quot;
Visit my Web site at www.Heloise.com and click on Pet of the Week to see Tucker. Do you have a unique pet photo that you'd like us to feature? Send it to us at: Heloise/Pet Photo, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000. Heloise
Dear Heloise: We learned the hard way that some fish get really big, no matter the size of the aquarium. We bought a 20-gallon aquarium and bought three little orange-and-silver Pacus (an aquarium fish that is sold in pet stores). Well, during the next several months, they got really big and somewhat aggressive. When we decided they were too big for our aquarium, we couldn't find a pet store that would take them. We finally found a friend who agreed to take them. We had to transport them in a cooler -- that's how big they were! The story had a happy ending for everyone involved. The moral of this story: Read up on fish you want for your aquarium before buying! K.M. in New Braunfels, Texas
Dear Heloise: I thought you would like to hear how I use vinegar. I have a fountain in my living room. The cats think it was put there for them to have running water and to drink from all the time. Their saliva and water deposits build up yuck, and the pump clogs. So about every two weeks, I run some vinegar through it for 15-20 minutes followed by clear water to clean out all of the vinegar. I have found that cider vinegar works best. Boy, does it run smoothly after cleaning. Ruth Greenwald, Kenosha, Wis.
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
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