Older pets do bring much joy to homes

Dear Heloise: Your column runs in our Hobbs News-Sun here in Hobbs, N.M. I recently read the letter from Claire and Joe in North Carolina, who ended up with an older pet. I totally agree with your response that an older pet can bring great joy to a home. I am personally owned by a 13-year-old cat and a 10-year-old dog.
At our Lea County Humane Society, we have animals of all ages and are delighted when an older cat or dog finds that & quot;someone & quot; and leaves us for a loving home.
Our goal is not only finding homes for the homeless but educating the public on pet care and the importance of spaying/neutering. Please keep writing pet hints and pet-care advice in your column; we need all the help we can get! Sharon Harrison, Lea County Humane Society, Hobbs, N.M.
Dear Readers: Shirley and Robert Martin of New Sharon, Maine, sent a picture of their & quot;animal-shelter refugee, & quot; a cat named Sweetie, who is dancing and singing for her teaspoonful of milk, which she has done each morning for the past two and a half years. Sweetie also loves to watch nature programs on television!
Go to Heloise.com and click on This Week's Pet to see this adorable picture! Send your favorite or unusual pet photo to: Heloise/Pet Photo, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Our next-door neighbor's cat often watches the birds that visit the feeders in my backyard, and I don't want it to get too close to the feeder and threaten these birds. I was told to throw orange peels around the base of the feeder to keep the cat at bay. So far, it has worked, and I'm also now eating more oranges! Sally, via e-mail
Sally, according to the Wild Bird Centers of America, throwing citrus peels where you don't want cats to be does work -- they don't like the smell. For other helpful bird-feeding information, you can visit the WBCA Web site, www.birdfeeding.org. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I got an 8-week-old puppy a while back and just stumbled on this idea. My granddaughter kept the puppy the first night and said it cried all night. When I picked up the puppy, she gave it one of her old teddy bears as a parting gift. That night, I wanted the puppy to learn to like her new kennel, so I put an old, flannel baby blanket and the stuffed bear in the clothes dryer for five minutes to warm them, and then put them and the puppy in the kennel. Not a peep all night! I figured she missed the presence and warmth of her littermates, and the bear and blanket made up for it.
Now, Tally is 5 months old, and I am still warming her bear at night. We have quite a ritual of going to the dryer and then carrying them both to bed. The best part is that she loves the kennel and feels safe there. Trudy Handte, San Antonio
King Features Syndicate