Fences aren’t always practical. Even if you have one, some dogs can jump them, and to cats, they’re just a flat, narrow tree to climb.Indoors, we may want to limit our pets from out-of-bounds areas. Counters, tables, couches, babies’ rooms, balconies, and poisonous plants may be restricted areas or objects. Training methods such as spraying water deter pets only while we’re there.

Your cat darts across the carpet like it’s a bed of hot coals. Your dog has become a 24/7 scratching machine. You find red, itchy bite marks on your body when you wake up.Fleas can attach themselves to animals outdoors, move indoors with you, jump from one pet to another, spring from carpets or upholstered furniture, or hatch from dormant larvae in your home. They can live year-round indoors, and outdoors as well in warmer climates.

We remember…Blackie. Or Brandy. Or Buddy. Animals don’t live forever, but the imprint of their bonds with children does. Adult help in selecting pets and guiding children in their care can help nourish these bonds.

What kinds of pets are good with children?

Fluffy purrs when you stroke her head. Your hand moves down her back, along her soft fur. You feel the pleasure of connecting with your feline friend.

Suddenly her teeth or claws meet your skin.

Your cat didn’t turn into a monster. She gave you feline messages that she’d had enough, but we humans tend to be dense about understanding cat-speak.

You’ve packed for and practiced a home emergency plan in case there’s a fire, flood, earthquake, or other disaster. Does your disaster plan include your pets?

Plan and prepare with your pets in mind before a disaster happens, and your pets will have a much higher chance of survival.

You’re emotionally ready for your new puppy, kitten, dog, or cat. You’ve done your shopping — pet food, dishes, toys, brush, comb, identification tag, litter box, litter, collar, leash. Now you need to see your home from a dog or cat’s point of view.

She runs. She chases. She leaps. She pounces. When her little body has had enough, she suddenly sleeps. After all, this new member of your household is just a baby.

Taking care of a new kitten is a small challenge and a great joy. Kittens have rapidly changing bodies and inquisitive minds, and they’re learning how to interact with the world. The care you provide for your kitten will affect her for the rest of her life.

Your prized furniture has become a collection of cat scratching posts. While Fluffy can’t stop herself from scratching, you can’t accept the destruction of your furniture. Can scratch-free furniture and cats co-exist?

To prevent your cat from scratching furniture, you need to convince her that scratching furniture isn’t pleasurable, and that the alternatives you provide are.

He’s panting excessively. He’s restless and agitated, or maybe lethargic. He salivates, vomits, staggers, and loses coordination. If you’re there to see it, you may observe that his eyes are glazed, and his gums and tongue are reddish or purple. In just a short time, he may lose consciousness.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are preventable when you know how to take care of animals in hot weather. If you see these symptoms, you need to act fast to save the animal’s life.

Fido is eating less, he’s tired all the time, and he doesn’t have enough energy for exercise. He’s been having difficulty breathing. You hear abnormal sounds from his lungs, and he has a deep, soft cough. He may be losing weight and vomiting. Fluffy may also be having these problems — or you may see no signs of the condition that could kill her.

You know something is wrong, but what? And what can you do about it?