Howling praises for pet microchipping

Dear Heloise: I can't say enough good about the wonders of microchipping pets. Recently, there was a stray beagle in our neighborhood for several days. Rather than have someone call the dog warden or, worse yet, have the poor thing hit by a car, I brought her home. I called our newspaper and placed an ad, then called my vet and the shelter to see if anyone had reported her missing.
Although no one had, the staff at my vet's office recommended that I bring her in so they could scan her to see if she had a microchip. Fortunately, she did have one, and in a matter of minutes I found out her owner's name and phone number. It turns out that she lived in the next county, approximately 20 miles from my home. I contacted her owner and was able to return her that very day. What could have been a very sad situation turned into a very happy ending.
Although she did have a collar with her license and ID tag on it, she had slipped out of it like so many dogs can.
Please encourage your readers that if they have cherished pets that do not have a microchip, take them to their veterinarian and have one implanted. Trisa Liles, Hamilton
A pet story with a happy ... "tail!" Microchips are a good investment for all parties. Heloise
Dear Readers: Karen Ross of Sunbury, Pa., sent in an adorable photo of her beagle/cocker-spaniel mix, Chip. The photo shows Chip relaxing on the living-room couch with a pillow and a throw. He's one happy, pampered pooch!
If your newspaper doesn't print the photo, visit my Web site, www.Heloise.com, and click on This Week's Pet to see it. Also, don't forget to send in a favorite picture of your family pets, whether they are bird, feline, canine or other -- we want to see them all! Just send photos to: Heloise/Pet Photo, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000. Heloise
Dear Heloise: During the hot summer months, our black-and-white long-haired cat, Max, looks so miserable. The other day when I was making tuna salad, instead of draining the juice into the drain, I saved it in a little saucer, froze it and then gave Max his own "tuna-sicle." Hope this helps others with hot, fluffy cats! Tina from Michigan
Dear Heloise: Parakeets make excellent pets. The males can talk, and the young ones are easily tamed. Please advise your readers that allowing a bird to fly inside the home is dangerous. Aside from the obvious -- that the bird can fly away -- it can also fly into a wall, window, mirror or ceiling fan and be seriously hurt, if not killed. Keeping a bird's wings clipped is a safer way to have a pet bird and makes it much easier to tame. Cindy Lamb, via e-mail
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