Pet precautions for Halloween

DEAR READERS >> HALLOWEEN will be upon us soon, so here are some safety suggestions for our furry friends:

• The noise, costumes, lights and activity can be scary for a pet. Keep them calm in a quiet area.

• Pet costumes can be cute, but a simple bandana or colorful collar should suffice.

• Cords for lighting decorations should be kept away from pets so they won’t chew on them.

• Appropriate snacks for pets? Carrots, apples and green beans. Candy? No way!

• Always keep your pets safe, on Halloween and every other day!

DEAR READERS >> Debbie M. emailed a picture of Chapin and Gibbs, her rescued coonhounds. They are about 1 1/2 years old. She disagrees with the experts’ contention that hounds may not be as intelligent as other breeds!

Debbie says Chapin and Gibbs ring the doorbell to go outside, and can even open the door to come in! To see these two smarties, visit Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week”!

How smart is your dog or cat? Send us a pic to prove it!

WRAP IT UP — I’LL TAKE IT

DEAR HELOISE >> I love your column and look forward to reading it every day! I have an idea that we used when I was living at home as a child 70 years ago.

Back then, we didn’t have plastic bags to throw our garbage in; we wrapped it in newspaper. I have started doing this again since plastic bags are becoming a problem. — Betty in Kettering, Ohio

DEAR BETTY >> Betty, I love how you’re thinking green! Readers, look in the supermarket or online for biodegradable trash bags, or wrap trash in the newspaper — after you’ve clipped my column!

DEAR HELOISE >> One of my shortcuts and dish-soap savers is to keep one smaller bottle of dish soap diluted about 1/3 soap to 2/3 water and use it to wash dishes. I use a scrubbie and rinse the items, and either drain or dry them.

I also came up with the best way to use up the hand soap remaining in the bottom of the pump bottles: I dilute with water and drain into a squeeze bottle. Using the pump bottle makes too much of a mess.

I read your column in The (Martins Ferry, Ohio) Times Leader! — M.H. in Ohio. DEAR M.H. >> HAVE YOU HEARD?

DEAR HELOISE >> Don’t know if you’ve heard this one, but it works: Painter’s tape is good to help keep boxes of crackers, cookies and cereal fresher. Insert the tab into the slot on the top of the box, and put the painter’s tape on the closure.

It can be taken off and retaped several times, and it helps to distinguish opened boxes from unopened ones. — Ellen B. in North Carolina