Dear Heloise: Thank you for sharing with us the most private moments you experienced during the

Dear Heloise: Thank you for sharing with us the most private moments you experienced during the deaths of your dogs. For two weeks now, my husband and I have been trying to get up the nerve to take Lottie, our 121/2-year-old standard poodle, to the vet to be put down. She is just not the dog she used to be and has developed numerous ailments.
Lottie has been with us since we were first married and she was just 6 weeks old. She was quite a lady and always dignified.
Reading your stories about ending the lives of your dogs has given me courage to do what I know is right. I was scared because I have never been through this before, but now I think I know more of what to expect. I hope you read this and know that you have helped me in a personal way. Melissa D., Franklin, Tenn.
Melissa, I am sorry for your difficult time. The right time is always hard to determine, but know that your Lottie had a good life with a loving family. It is a difficult decision to make. Each time, a tiny piece of my heart dies with my dog, but the memory also stays with me. Please visit my Web site, www.Heloise.com, to read about J.D. and Savvi. Heloise
Dear Readers: Ida-Jo Shuman of Williamsport, Pa., sent in a photo of pals Patches the dog and Chicken Little the chicken enjoying their supper of dog food together.
Both were raised by her daughter, Heather. Patches was a birthday present, and the chicken was a peep whom Heather rescued. Chicken Little has presented her with many beautiful brown eggs. If your newspaper doesn't print the pet photo, go to www.heloise.com and click on "This Week's Pet" to see this photo. Heloise
Dear Heloise: To keep my cats from digging in my large potted plants, I put gravel on top of the soil. I use large rocks for potted trees, and smaller rocks or gravel for smaller plants. The plants no longer interest my kitties, and water goes through just fine. Donna Day, via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I recently purchased an inexpensive tower bird feeder without a bottom tray to catch birdseed. I also purchased a large, plastic bottom tray for potted plants, drilled small holes in it to allow water to drain and glued it to the bottom of the bird-feeder tray. Instead of paying quite a bit more for a bird feeder with a tray, I now have one that only cost a few more pennies.
One more hint: I secured small tree branches to the bottom of a cagelike suet holder to allow birds to perch on them instead of on the cage itself. The birds seem to stay on the branches longer than hanging onto the side of the cage. Bird Watcher, Rochester, N.Y.
Dear Heloise: My vet issues my dogs pet passports, in which all of their shots are recorded. There is a place for their photo on the first page of the 5-by-7 booklet. I keep these records with me at all times. Liz Ross, Springfield, Mo.
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; fax (210) HELOISE, or e-mail heloise@heloise.com.
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