OS and Gats ci

HOW much is that
doggie in the window?

At this time of year, the
. short answer is more than
either of you or the doggic
(or kittie) can afford.
Owning a pet is at least a
14-year responsibility that is
- one of the most rewarding
relationships you will ever
’. experience. Dogs and cats
have. a special trusting rela-
tionship with people and
offer unconditional compan-
ionship -and affection.
. However, all of the best
“intentions in the world will
“not help that relationship if it
gets off to a rocky start.
How: many of us have
“thought that a puppy or kit-
en would be just the right
thing for.a lonely friend or
‘family member? Or as we
-take a hard look at our aging
jog. or cat, think ‘that’ per-
haps hé/she could use a piay-
young, ‘friend? ese

thoughts are’ not at. all.
uncommon ‘and: they should:
¢ off alarm bells for the fol-.

lowing reasons.

During the holiday season
everyone © phiys catchup with.

)'s Car infect

in “and out of
which creates the right cir-
cumstances for a new pet to
slip outside unnoticed and
become lost in an unfamiliar
neighbourhood. In their
cageracss to play with the
new addition to your house-
hold, small children w
often handle your pet too
roughly. Older pets in their
twilight years become even
more attached to cheir own-
ers and may often resent the
presence of a young playful
puppy or kitten.

While a kitten: can be eas-
ily trained to use a litterbox
indoors, the cold, blustery

‘weather presents a significant

obstacle to house-training a
shivering young puppy.
nsel, tree ornaments,
turkey and chicken bones
and Icftovers given by well-
meaning humans, -are just
some of the hazards which
your new kitten or puppy will
have to navigate around.

- All of this hustle and bus-
tle causes stress, which may
lower your pet’s resistance to
disease: and cause a variety of

can be avoided

‘ing since these substances can

i. dry and irritate the ear and kill

ailments which will necessi-
tate a trip to an emergency
clinic, because you may not
yet have had time to find and
develop a relationship with 2
veterinarian
The word of advice for
adopting a pet as a surprise
gift for a friend ora member
of your family is “never.”
You may have to take into
account apartment or rental
leases, allergies, the person’s
work and leisure lifestyle and
a whole hese of other reasons
which send a clear signal that
at this point in time, for this
particulsr person, having a
pet just wouldn’t work out.
Perhaps, the most impor-
tant single reason against a
surprise gift is that owning
the pet is a lifetime commit-
ment and each person shouid
have the right to choose for
him or herself the new mem-
ber of their family with
which they will forge a spe-
cial bond of trust and friend-
shi
cre is nothing to pre-
vent you or your friends and
family from giving a good
home co a pet (especially if
adopted from an animal-shel-

HWE pct Tory Pots 7

iF you're choosing between a Mr. Potato Head ora P a8.a gift, go with the:
spud. This hectic scezon isn't the right time to oa pempy pet. into 20, home. -

ter) before or after the holi-
day scason when you have
the time and patience to
work out any problems

which may arise. From all of
us at the Humane Society of
Canada we wish you and
yours a safe and Happy

‘Holiday Season."

For information:.on the :
Humane Society of Canads
call 1-800- 641-5463

Bunny the champion of the world 7

George’s Poem

Whole oceans to run across _
Whole mountains to climb, the bevelled
Edge of your swivelled ears

Shazper than deep-sea soundings
- You are the quecn of all carpets
On your chair, you reign supreme
Hoisting the fat brid of your nose in the air like the
Funnelled frontispiece of
x - A747 ;
fou are curious, George:
There's no obstacle course
You won't tackle, no
_ Stipe of knuckle or other bare fiesh you won't assail
. Grooming i it with your tiny pink tongue

‘« normal bacteria,” advises Dr.
~ Puka

salar cleaning definite-

ly contributes to ear health —
icularly in breeds such as -

“cocker spaniels. and gelden

: who swim

r. Richard

jee bi for joy ies a ke Sey catapult

home.” - = The belpos.

“wets our pet owners’can use at

Q.: ‘have a white poodle — Katharine Hamer .
hose eyes are always running... oo os
and : staining -her. face. How’
ra I J prevent this? .

; ic ‘eyes of many. ‘dogs
pa to tear and. run,” says
Barbara’ Beland, -». an
Edmonion-area breeder and. -
Canadian . Kennel: Club dog

gdge: ‘In some breeds, tear-
ing occurs because the eye is
large; “ in’ other = breeds, it. -
occur ‘because the eye is very ;
small: ‘Other factors that con-
tribute to tearing, and conse-. :
quently . unsightly - ceddish. .
brown stains around the eye, .
include exposure te. wind or

: “Daily. attention can keep _
the coridition to an accepmble ©

“minimum,” says Beland. She

- advises pet owners to treat the
dog’s ‘eye ares with a mild
solution of boric acid or a

.commerci: eye bath, if that is

k.. - more convenient. -

Q. I live.in the city and

cise my "dog frequently but

lately I notice her paws look: -
- fough .and cracked: Can this
be prevented?
A. A’ new commercial paw
wax from = Specicare can be

tion, conditions that-must b
before the ‘underlying
cause of the car infection’ can

ausual discharge
ted. 3. >

nique: -
e Commercial, ear cleaners :-