Area Pets A Wordy Bunch
It’s time again to reach into the mailbag. As always, you wouldn’t believe the letters Furry Talk receives from Inland Northwest pets.
To FT: “Why does my owner freak whenever she sees me heading for anything that might possibly be a puddle of leaked or spilled antifreeze?” — South Hill Spaniel
Dear SHS: Because that stuff can kill you. Though it’s thought that antifreeze tastes sweet to pets, conventional brands contain a deadly substance, ethylene glycol. Symptoms of ingestion can include staggering, vomiting and sudden panting.
Veterinarians are now better able to treat this form of poisoning than in the past. But pet owners still have to act quickly to avoid tragedy.
Also, there is at least one brand of antifreeze — Sierra — that claims to be far less toxic to pets and children.
But you need to be careful about what you lick.
To FT: “I saw in your newspaper that one of my relatives was described as a `Main coon cat.’ That should be `Maine coon.’ Please make a note of it.” — North Idaho coon
Dear NIC: Noted.
To FT: “How do I get PBS to do a `Nova’ show on a day in the life of me?” — Mead Mouser
Dear MM: Contact public TV through www.pbs.org. Good luck.
To FT: “Hey, Mr. Furry Talk. What would you recommend costume-wise for a Coeur d’Alene black cat thinking of doing a little trick-or-treating this year? Right now I’m leaning toward going as Sacajawea. The dog who lives here wants to go as the Abominable Corgi.” — Tuna Please
Dear TP: All pets should be kept in on Halloween night. But black cats should be confined to quarters starting several days prior.
Sorry. Lot of nuts out there.
To FT: “Is the time for furry suffrage in Spokane at hand?” — Beagle at the Ballot Box
Dear Beag: Probably not. If dogs and cats got to vote, candidates for public office would succeed only if they conducted themselves with honesty and dignity.
To FT: “I’m an easily awakened, blankets-loving cat with a question. How do you get people to keep still in bed?” — Sleepless in Spangle
Dear Sleepless: No comment.
To FT: “Am I just imagining it? Or do the people who volunteer at Inland Northwest animal shelters tend to be smarter, nicer and better looking than most humans in the Spokane area?” — People Persian
Dear Peep: No, that’s true. Correct on all counts.