Dryer sheet will keep dog’s fur static free

heloise

Dryer sheet keeps dog’s fur static free and fragrant

Dear Heloise: During dry winter days in Texas, there’s a lot of static buildup, particularly in our dog’s fur. We have one of those lawns of native grass that dies back in the winter. Our dog, 90 pounds of love and adoration, takes great delight in rolling around on it. She gets covered with millions of pieces of dried grass. I’ve tried brushing it off, but that only causes more static.

One day, I got the idea to rub her down with a fabric-softener sheet. Not only does it whisk away the bits of grass, but if I rub her down really well — rubbing against the grain of her fur — she can remain static-free for several days. Another benefit is that she is perfumed. As a side note, though, I use a sheet that isn’t too strongly scented. A Loyal Reader in the Hill Country, via e-mail

A double-duty hint! There shouldn’t be a problem, but check with your pet’s vet to be sure this is OK to do. Heloise

Dear Readers: Phyllis Spyker of Harrisburg, Pa., sent a photo of Big Guy, a large, 3-year-old Siamese cat who climbed into the car seat with her 4-day-old great-grandson Matthew. Phyllis says: “Matthew was sleeping in his car seat, and Big Guy jumped in with him. Big Guy has been bonding with Matthew from the time he came home from the hospital. I thought the photo was cute and unusual.”

To see the car seat filled with Big Guy and Matthew, visit www.Heloise.com. Heloise

Dear Heloise: We had a terrible time giving our cat pills, and suffered many a scratched hand from her claws and teeth. She could spit out anything, and refused anything crushed in food or tuna juice. My daughter found an item at the pet store in which you put a pill at the end of the tube and put it in the back of the cat’s mouth, press the plunger, and the pill goes down most of the time with no fuss at all. It is wonderful! The first time we tried it and it actually worked, we were shocked. Rae Ann, via e-mail

Giving cats pills can truly be a challenge! Thanks for reminding us about the cat pill-er! Heloise

Dear Heloise: I am a firm believer in recycling whenever possible. This is a hint I used to create a nice, comfy bed for our dog. I folded up a couple of old mattress pads to form the base of the bed. Then I sewed together two discarded bath towels — sewing around just three sides. I slipped the mattress pads into the towel covering, and voil °! A nice, comfy bed. The towel covering can easily be slipped off and thrown into the wash when it gets grimy. I have created two of these coverings so that I can have a fresh covering when the other one is in the wash. Ann, Pittsburg, N.H.

SBlt Send 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