Take precautions for transporting pets

Dear Heloise: You have often mentioned the dangers of pets riding in the back of pickup trucks, and it reminded me of something I saw that as a "dog person," I thought you would appreciate.
I was driving in Des Moines, Iowa, on the surface streets near downtown. Traffic was heavy, and I was behind a pickup truck with two beautiful, husky-type dogs in the back (bed of the truck -- Heloise). I was concerned, because I knew that if the driver was to stop suddenly or there was an accident, the animals could be injured or killed.
Concern turned to amazement and then to amusement as I watched one of the dogs slide open the window at the back of the cab and wriggle inside. The second dog soon followed. It seems some dogs have more sense than their people! Lanette V., Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Lanette, these two dogs are lucky! Far too many dogs are injured or killed yearly because something happens and the poor dog goes flying out onto the pavement! Remember, dogs don't have hands to hold on with, and their feet are padded, so they can't grip or hold on to a surface or the sides of the truck.
Even if it is not illegal in your state, it definitely is not safe! Heloise
Dear Readers: Eileen Floyd of San Diego sent in a photo of 3-1/2-year-old Barney, a cute combination of cocker spaniel and bichon frise that they got from an animal shelter. Barney is resting on a bed after a full day of playing, seeming to have a life of leisure!
Go to www.Heloise.com and click on Pet of the Week to see the photo of Barney! Heloise
Dear Heloise: I have four cats, and I bought a kitty condo (the carpet-covered kind) for them. They all love it, so it gets a lot of use, and needless to say, it gets full of hair. I vacuum it and use a special brush to brush the hair up so it can be vacuumed up, but this never gets it all.
One night while I was brushing one of my kitties, it came to me to use their wire brush on the kitty condo. You wouldn't believe all the hair that came up, and it took just a short time! This worked so well, I wanted to share it with others who might have the same problem. Angie Amaya, via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I feed finches in the plastic-tube feeders, and I fill the feeders by using a ketchup bottle with a long neck. I wash it, cut the bottom off the bottle and then use duct tape, folded over the cut edge. This now becomes a funnel to pour finch seed into my feeders. Marilyn Noble, Salem, Ore.
King Features Syndicate