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DEAR HELOISE: My sweet little dog died two days ago, and I can't stop crying. I know that in time, I'll calm down, but I had him for 21 years. He was like a child to me. I found him at a shelter as a baby -- skinny, scared and abandoned. He needed me, and I needed him. Any hints on how to deal with this heartache? I thought perhaps one of your readers might have a suggestion.
-- Corrine M.,
in Newport, Rhode Island
Corrine, having lost a number of pets over the years, I can honestly tell you that it never gets easier. Please take comfort in knowing you took him out of a bad situation and gave him a home, love, medical care and food. I have no doubt that he had a good life to have lived so long.
It may be too soon, but one of kindest things you can do is find another little pet who needs you. Shelters have all kinds of animals who are begging for someone to love them and take them home to a better life outside of a cage.
Readers, any suggestions on how you handle grief when you've lost a pet? We'd love to hear from you at Heloise@Heloise.com.
-- Heloise
DEAR HELOISE I work as a vet tech at a very busy clinic. Every spring, people come in with a mama cat and her kittens. It's usually between 10-11 people per week with a litter. They don't want the kittens but tell us that the shelters can't take any more strays or litters because they're packed.
The only way to avoid this problem is to have your animals spayed or neutered. Cats and dogs normally don't long to have litters, like a human might long to have a baby. The animal goes into heat, which is just nature's way of making sure that the species survives. So, the best way to make sure that these darling babies aren't killed by coyotes, cars or cruel people is to have them spayed or neutered. It's quick and easy, and your pet is usually happier, cleaner, and a lot calmer.
-- J.T., in Illinois
DEAR HELOISE: Cleaning the microwave is really easy. Place a wet paper towel over the stuck-on food item. Microwave this for 30 seconds, and the paper towel will loosen the stuck-on food so that you can wipe it up with ease.
DEAR HELOISE When I empty the dishwasher, I always put in the detergent packet for the next load. This tells me with one look whether the dishes have gone through a wash cycle.
-- Jim S.,
in Carpinteria, California
DEAR HELOISE This is in response to Patty G. and her suggestion about using an aerobic step to help her mom get in and out of bed. With mattresses getting thicker and my shortness, my husband used to give me a hand to get into bed. But a few years ago, I had an "aha" moment, took my old unused stepper, and put it next to my bed! A bonus is that my grandkids use it, too, so that we can read in bed together. I hide it under the bed after I make it up in the morning. It's the perfect inexpensive solution!
-- Sheila E.,
in Middlebury, Connecticut
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