Dear Heloise: After a near tragedy, I have a pet safety hint for your excellent pet-hints articles. Our dog loves to hold his head out the car window on his rare car outings with me. I roll down the rear-seat window just enough for him to get his head through and not fall out.
Yesterday, he stepped on the button and almost rolled the window up on his head. I quickly hit the childproof lock-out button on the driver's door, stopping the window. I never thought about him hitting the button himself. Please warn your readers with electric windows. Always lock out the rear-seat-window buttons before allowing your pet to use the rear-seat windows. — Denver D. Bryan, Rogers, Ark.
Thank you for sharing your experience — fortunately, you were able to get to that button in time while driving, but not all cars might have this feature.
Readers, although most dogs love to ride with their heads sticking out the window, other mishaps can happen, like flying debris, bugs and all sorts of things hitting them in their eyes! — Heloise
Dear Readers: Michelle Borgwardt of Tuscola, Texas, has a 1-year-old domestic shorthair cat named Hercules who loves to get into closets, cabinets, etc. — you name it, and he'll find it.
A photo shows Hercules in a box with mailing tape on the outside — "Hercules is ready to travel via parcel post." I think she also needs to insure and request a return receipt on this priceless package.
Also, don't forget to send in one of your unusual or just plain adorable photos of your pet(s) to: Heloise/Pet Photo, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000. — Heloise
Dear Heloise: As a person originally from earthquake country — and in light of the tragedy in New York — a good hint is to never leave your animals with less than a three-day supply of food and water. If you don't make it back for any reason, at least your animals have a better chance of survival until help gets to them.
Get them used to self-feeders (nonelectric) if at all possible.
Every pet I've ever had, and there have been many, have all gotten used to unlimited dry food available to them. Also, leave several water bowls around. — Cindy Kern, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Before training your dog, know what you need first!
Having a sturdy leash no longer than 6 feet with a swivel snap and a fixed-size collar — one that fits properly but does not tighten when you pull on the leash — will make a world of difference in the training process.
The proper equipment, a lot of patience and working with your pet for 30 minutes to an hour each day will help you and Fido be successful with his training.
© King Features Syndicate Inc.