HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: We love to take our dogs for rides in the car, but if they are unrestrained or in the front seat, in the event of a collision, your dog can become a projectile and be seriously injured. The safest place for a dog in the car is in the backseat, secured in a crate or in a carrier designed for car traveling. For a larger dog, secure them in a harness attached to a seat buckle.

DEAR HELOISE: In a recent column, someone wrote about dog waste in their neighborhood. I recommend getting a hold of the local Lions Club, their city or their homeowners association. They might put up dog waste stations in their neighborhood. We have them along our walking paths, and they have made a difference.

— Joanne, Byron, Minn.

DEAR HELOISE: Just because a TV show or movie is animated (cartoon), does not necessarily mean it’s for kids. A lot of these shows have adult themes, adult humor and/or innuendo. Research a title before you let your kids see it.— Richard D. in Illinois

DEAR READERS: It’s so important to know what your kids are watching, or should not be watching.

DEAR HELOISE: A trip to the beach is one of my favorite getaways. Since I never go anywhere without a book, I now use an e-reader for convenience, and the beach is not a safe place for my reader. To protect it from sand and salt, I place it in a zippered, plastic, gallon storage bag. I can easily read through the bag, and I am assured that my reader is safe.

— Donna in Texas

DEAR HELOISE: To save water, I give my dog the empty yogurt, cream cheese and butter containers. He cleans them off for recycling.

On recycling day, I pick up the containers from the yard, put them in the recycling bin, and take the bin out to the curb. Saves water, and gives Scruffy a little treat.

— Larry B., Bethesda, Md. DEAR READERS: Make sure all foods are safe for your pets to consume.

DEAR READERS: Just a word on storing apples: store apples without washing in a crisper or moisture-resistant wrap that has breathing holes. Don’t store apples and carrots in the same crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Apples give off ethylene gas, which will make carrots bitter.

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email