Keep bones and scraps out of dog’s dish

Dear Readers: Dogs and bones? They seem to go together like birds of a feather. But are leftover meat bones good for your dog? Experts for the Humane Society of the United States (www. humanesociety.org) and the Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov) say “No.”

Chicken bones are particularly bad. They are a softer bone, and they can easily break apart and get stuck in a dog’s throat, stomach or intestines. Bones also can lead to broken teeth and mouth lesions. This can result in painful and expensive surgery and recovery.

Avoiding table scraps altogether is the best plan for your pet

Dear Readers: Did you know that coffee filters are lintfree? Here are some uses for these handy helpers:

■ A towel to clean windows and mirrors.

■ A cover for foods in the microwave.

■ A pad to remove nail polish.

■ A blotting paper for makeup touch-ups during the day.

■ A strainer to remove sediment from juices.

■ A buffer between breakables when packing.

■ A “bowl” for snacks at movie time.

Coffee filters are cheap and readily available. Grab a pack the next time you’re in the supermarket. Oh, and for more on coffee, read on.

Dear Heloise: My grandmother sprinkled used coffee grounds around anthills, and within 20 to 30 minutes, the ants were gone. Fresh grounds work, too, but not as quickly or efficiently. It’s a safe, nontoxic way to get rid of ants by using a product we’d throw away.

This is a perfect nontoxic solution for people who have children and pets.

Dear Heloise: I never leave the house without drying my hair completely. I never know what my hair will end up looking like if I don’t take an extra couple of minutes to blow it dry and style it. I always like to be “camera ready.”

Dear Heloise: My husband wants us to convert to solar energy, but I hate those ugly panels on the roofs of homes that have solar power. We live where there is plenty of sunshine, and it makes sense to have solar energy in our home, but those panels are unattractive.

Hannah, currently there are solar panels and solar shingles. The panels can be upgraded from the standard panels to all-black panels, making them appear a bit more modern and streamlined. However, the reasons behind using solar energy are to reduce pollution and to save money. Both panels and shingles do this. For more information, please refer to the online sites energy.gov or www.eia. gov.