     
     
                                   PETS
     
     A new puppy will often whine because he misses his mother.
     Wrap a towel around a warm hot water bottle and place it in his
     bed. A ticking clock or a radio playing softly will also help.
     
     To help keep your puppy from chewing on the carpet and furniture,
     be sure he has his own rubber toys.  On furniture (table, chair
     legs, etc.) that he is chewing on, try putting a little oil of
     cloves on the wood.  The odor should keep him away, if not, the
     bitter taste will.
      
     For a new litter of puppies or kittens, confine them in a mesh
     playpen.  With a wooden playpen with wooden slats, tape screen
     around the pen so they won't get out.  Children's plastic pools
     are great for new puppies.  The pool can be rinsed out to rid
     odors or messes.
     
     To get your puppy's attention, put a few pennies in a empty soda
     can and shake.  The noise will make him stop what he is doing. 
     This can be a good training tool. 
     
     Housebreak your dog by hanging a bell by the back door.  When you
     want to take your puppy outside, ring the bell.  As he gets older
     he will ring the bell when he needs to go out.
     
     Don't leave cigarette butts in ash trays where a puppy can get to
     them.  If eaten, cigarette butts can lead to nicotine poisoning.
     
     Always keep the toilet lid down if you use toilet bowl cleaners. 
     They are often strongly alkaline and tempting for pets to drink.
     
     Keep your pets away from toxic plants.  Rhododendron, Japanese
     yew, and lily of the valley, as well as peach and cherry pits,
     can all cause problems if eaten.
     
     Be certain automotive anti-freeze is kept out of reach and any
     drippings are cleaned up completely.  Pets are attracted to its
     scent.  Antifreeze is highly toxic.
     
     Secure electrical cords to baseboards or make them inaccessible. 
     If your pet chews on them, it can suffer electric shock burns and
     may even die.  
     
     To hide cords that can't be made inaccessible, you can place
     paper towel or toilet tissue cardboard rolls over cords.  Place
     construction cardboard on walls over cords.
     
     Never give your pet chocolate.  This can be very toxic to your
     pet.
     
     Remove burrs from your pet's fur by working oil into the tangle
     or by crushing the burrs with pliers.  You can comb out crushed
     burrs as they lose their holding power.
      
     When bathing your pet, place a rubber mat in the bottom of the
     tub for a more secure footing for your pet.  It will feel safer
     and be more relaxed.
     
     When washing your pet, a creme rinse is helpful for dogs that
     have fur that tangles.
     
     To wash away strong odors and cut soap film, add vinegar or lemon
     juice to the rinse water.
     
     Baking soda in the rinse water will leave your pet's coat odor
     free, plus softer and shinier. 
     
     Place a tea strainer in the tub drain to keep pipes from clogging
     up with your pet's hair.
     
     Dry clean your pet instead of washing, by rubbing baking soda
     into his coat thoroughly and then brushing off.  This will
     deodorize as well as clean.
     
     Your dog's ears can be washed out with a vinegar and water
     solution.  Mix equal amounts of water and vinegar in a small
     bottle.  This is the same thing many vets use, except it doesn't
     have any coloring.
     
     If your pet has had a run in with a skunk, in a well ventilated
     area, wash your pet in tomato juice.  Then wash with shampoo and
     water.  Rinse with a gallon of water to which a few tablespoons
     of ammonia have been added.  Thoroughly rinse your pet with clear
     water.
     
     If your puppy has an accident, blot up as much moisture as
     possible.  Rub the spot with a solution of vinegar or lemon juice
     and warm sudsy water.   Blot a few times, then pour straight club
     soda over the spot and blot again.  Place a dry towel over the
     stain and put a heavy object (like a book) on top of it.  Replace
     towel if it becomes soggy and repeat blotting.
     
     For cat accidents, follow the same steps but, when the spot is
     dry, rub with a cloth dampened in ammonia.  This will take the
     offensive odor away and it will prevent the cat from ever going
     in  that spot again.
     
     Reflector tape on your pet's collar might help cut down on the
     danger of its being struck by a car at night.
     
     To rid your pet's house of fleas, place pine needles in the house
     or under his bedding.  Salt crevices of dog houses to keep fleas
     out.
     
     Wash your pet in salt water to kill the fleas on them.
     
     Brewer's yeast rubbed on your dog's coat prevents fleas.
     
     If you're going to use a flea collar on your pet, be sure to put
     it on before flea season starts.
     
     Vacuum floors and carpets often during flea season.  Put salt or
     mothballs in vacuum bag to kill hatching fleas.
     
     Your pet's dish will stay put while he is eating if placed on a
     rubber mat.
     
     To keep ants out of your pet dishes, place the food dish inside
     of a pie pan of water.
     
     Store large bags of pet food in clean plastic pails with lids. 
     Keeps food fresh and easy to dish out.
     
     To keep stray dogs from attacking your garbage, sprinkle full-
     strength ammonia over the garbage bags before placing them in
     cans.
     
     If your dog stays outside in a dog house, make a flap for the
     house entrance to keep the wind and rain out.  A rubber floor mat
     or carpeting cut to size and slit up the middle makes nice flaps.
     
     To keep cats off of tables, put strips of double faced tape on
     them.  Cats will not like the feel of the sticky substance on
     their paws.
     
     Cats hates plastic so to keep your cat off your chairs, cover the
     chair with plastic until he learns it's off limits.
     
     A spray bottle of water will quickly train a cat not to do
     something.
     
     Cats love to hide in empty boxes or paper sacks.
     
     Attach a string to a ping pong ball and hang it on a chair or
     shelf to entertain your pet.
     
     Crumble aluminum foil into a ball for your cat to bat around.
     
     When your cat refuses to take liquid medicine, spill the medicine
     on his fur.  He will lick himself clean and take medicine at the
     same time.
     
     Remove your pet's hair from your clothing by using masking tape. 
     Roll tape out and attach the tape backwards on the roll so the
     sticky side is out.  Roll the tape on your clothes and the hair
     will stick to the tape.  
     
     To remove excessive hair from clothing, dampen a sponge and
     briskly rub clothing.  Hair should ball up and you'll be able
     pick off the hair balls. 
     
     If you plan to travel with your pet, start out with small trips
     first before going on long trips.
     
     Be sure to pack a pet's own food and water to avoid upsets on
     trip.  Some animal's stomachs will become upset on food or water
     that it is not familiar with.
     
     Pets should be confined in carriers while traveling. Your pet
     will be unable to leap from open doors or interfere with driving.
     
     Dog harnesses are available that hook to car seats.
     
     Sedatives from your veterinarian can be given to jittery pets for
     unavoidable traveling.  Otherwise if your pet doesn't like
     traveling it's better to leave him with a sitter.
     
     Be sure to have identification on your pet while traveling.  Be
     sure to include area code with telephone number.  Two collars are
     good in case one falls off.
     
     If you're a bird lover, help make their nesting easier by
     providing building material.  Collect bits of string, yarn, hair
     from your brush, lint from dryer.  Fasten together lightly and
     attach to a tree branch.
     
     In winter, treat birds to a pine treat by covering pine cones
     with hardened bacon grease (or other  fat) and roll in bread
     crumbs or bird seeds.
     
     Pine cones can also be coated with peanut butter and rolled in
     sunflower seeds.
     
     Don't forget the hint from the kitchen section.  The one that you
     use for cooking grease and birdseed.
     
     To attract birds to an outdoor birdbath, drop a few colored
     marbles into the water.   
     
     If you have a indoor bird for a pet and it gets loose in the
     house try this:  Close the drapes and turn off the lights.
     Birds will usually stay motionless in the dark and you'll be able
     to catch it easier.
      
