▪ hild•roofing :IF .ET CONTAINM(NT your A nticipate. A dog has only a few dog is work, no two ways , around it. And if you have room g in your life for one more responsi- "Ft bility, then consider a canine com- panion. If you're getting it for the ..4.-. kids, or because your partner cc ,.... wants it, or you think a family c) a.) ought to have a dog, think. again. cd This is not a decoration but a liv- ..9:1 ing, breathing individual who will need daily walks, interaction, care, training, guidance, and su- pervision. az I] When you have a dog and chil- o dren in your home remember T c ) "S.A.F.E." first and foremost. Dogs and toddlers should NEV- .9441 ER be left unsupervised. Even ct the kindest dog will react when t cornered by a child trying to mea- l'. sure the depth of the canine ear with the sharp end of a pencil. A IP. parent's job is to keep dog and (i) cz. child S.A.F.E. L 1 il I:4 gct W C14 Supervise. Keep them in your ONO 1: vision at all times or physically separated—child in play pen or dog in crate. It's astounding just V411 how quickly a dog and child can make mischief. Keep them in your sight! ways of protesting. He can move away, hop up on furniture, or go under a bed. Once the dog has done this, he has no other means to stop a child other than a bark, growl, or nip. If you see your dog retreating from a child, stop that child! Do not expect your dog to tolerate something you wouldn't. F ollow through. If you say it, mean it. If you tell your child to stop bothering the dog, enforce that. If you tell the dog to sit, make him. All things are easier if your child and dog know that you mean what you say, and say what you mean. E ducate. This means both the dog and the child. Teach your child by word and example that animals are to be treated with care. Do not allow hitting, teas- ing or other harassment. Teach your dog, by practice and pa- tience, that people (children in particular) make mistakes. Show them how to behave when those mistakes happen. If you keep them both S.A.F.E., you have done your best to prevent the preventable. The Original Electronic Pet Containment System • 17 Years Experience • Over 1/2 Million Pets Contained • Indoor & Outdoor Systems • Professional Installation, Training & Service LIFETIME WARRANTY ONE-YEAR MONEY-BACK PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE Call Today for your FREE, No-Obligation Estimate! 31645 Southfield Rd. • BIRMINGHAM (810) 646-WOOF (9663) ROCHESTER AREA: Call (810) 969-2600i Fun Facts Did you know: • Frogs can live to be 30 or 40 years old. • Earthworms do not have eyes. • Reptiles roamed the earth long before dinosaurs ever existed. • Ostriches do not hide their heads in the sand (despite popular belief to the contrary). • Bulls don't get angry when they see red. Bullfighters hold red capes in front of them, but the truth is, it's the waving motion that gets the bulls excited. How do we know? Because bulls are colorblind. • A baby kangaroo, or joey, lives in his mother's pouch for six months. • Ducks can fly as fast as 70 miles an hour. Ask The Vet DR. STEVEN ZINDERMAN SPECIAL TO THE APPLETREE Our pets become "senior cit- izens" at about age 7. There- after, their visits to the veterinarian should become more frequent, and additional A: Advances in medicine diagnostic testing to monitor through changes in diet and overall health may be recom- lifestyle are allowing people to mended. Through blood work, enjoy longer, healthier lives. urinalysis, X-rays and a thor- With veterinary medicine par- ough oral and eye exam, a alleling human medi- veterinarian can detect cine more and early signs of disease. more, our pets are With advancing able to share in age and less activity, these advances. older pets require As our four- fewer calories, legged friends get while at the same ( P older, they are more time needing an increase prone to develop in some vitamins to help health problems such as heart counter the effects of aging. and kidney disease, obesity, Exercise is important to main- cancer, arthritis and tooth loss. tain muscle tone and circula- Through early detection of tion. Good oral hygiene is these diseases, their severity necessary to ensure your pet's can be lessened or even elimi- ability to eat and to prevent nated. tooth loss. Q: What kind of special care will my dog need as he ages? Dr. Zinderman is head of the Small Animal Clinic in Farmington Hills. You can send your questions to him c/o The AppleTree, 27676 Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI 48034.