Hints make home safe for pets

Dear Readers: If you are planning on bringing home a kitten or puppy in the very near future, you first need to take some steps to prepare your home for the safety of your new family member.
Remember, kittens and puppies are playful and curious -- they will get into just about everything in their new home. You need to make certain they can't hurt themselves or your home by kitty- or puppy-proofing, just like you would childproof a home. Here are some safety hints:
UKeep electrical cords hidden with cord protectors or keep them out of reach so your pet can't chew on them.
USecure any valuable, breakable objects your pet could accidentally tip over when racing around the home.
UDon't let a kitty or puppy roam around the garage alone. It might get into insecticides or chemicals, or lick up spilled antifreeze -- all of which could be toxic.
UMake sure you have no plants in or around your home that are toxic to puppies or kittens. Also, know which ones have leaves or berries that could make your pet sick.
UEven after your puppy or kitten settles into its new surroundings, continue to keep an eye out for possible safety threats your pet could come across. Heloise
Dear Readers: Paula Pierce of Montalba, Texas, sent a unique picture of Mrs. Mugsy the dog posing next to a deer that is lying down in the hay. They both are definitely mugging it up for the camera! In case your newspaper doesn't print this photo, go to www.Heloise.com and click on Pet of the Week to see these "deer" friends! Heloise
Dear Readers: Hamsters are a popular pet choice for families with children. But you can end up with more than you bargained for if you have two hamsters in the same cage and are unsure of either's sex. According to our sources, a female hamster is sexually mature from 4 to 6 months old and comes into heat every four days! The odds of baby hamsters, if the other hamster is a male, are very high! So, be safe and keep hamsters apart until the sex can be determined. Heloise
Dear Heloise: We have two precious Scotties, and when we leave the house, we always put them in their crates. I did not realize the importance of closing both bolts. I always locked the top sliding bolt and left the bottom one open.
One day, I ran a short errand and came home to find our female Scottie with her head stuck in the crate door. I was horrified to find her unable to get her head back in the crate or her body out and shuddered to think what would have happened if I had left them for the day (the dog is all right. Heloise).
I felt that others might not know the importance of closing both bolts on dog crates and hope that this might help prevent a tragedy. June Thomas Myrick, Lawrencburg, Tenn.
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