DEAR READER: Today's Sound off is about abandoned pets:
"Why do people abandon pets on the street or in rural fields to starve or get hit by a car? I get angry when someone says, 'Well, it's just a dog or just a cat.' If people have a pet they can't keep or don't want, they should contact the pet shelters in their area, or search for a friend or relative who'll give the pet a good home."
-- Roberta M., Kenner, La.
DEAR READER: Where I live, people "dump" animals, thinking that someone will take care of the dog. I've taken in two dogs that just showed up.
DEAR HELOISE: Here is how I keep drips and splatters of paint off doorknobs and hardware when I'm painting walls and woodwork: I wrap them in aluminum foil.
-- Ella J., Troy, Mich.
DEAR READER: Ella, that's a great idea! Here are a few more uses for aluminum foil:
• Baked-on food, in a glass pan: Use dishwashing liquid and a ball of foil in place of steel wool.
• Wrap foil around young trees, especially near the root area, to protect them.
• Shampooing your carpets? Be sure to wrap the legs of your furniture in foil to keep dampness and splattered shampoo off them.
DEAR READER: With beach and bathing-suit season almost here, most folks want to shed a few winter pounds. How many calories your body burns depends on a variety of factors, such as age, height and sex, how much real muscle you have and how active you are. With this in mind, here are a few reminders of how many calories you may or may not burn off:
• Aerobics for one hour: burns about 533 calories.
• Running for 30 minutes at 12-minute miles: burns 303 calories.
• Slow walking for an hour: burns 204 calories.
DEAR READER: With summer coming, many parts of the country will be experiencing extreme hot weather. Here are a few hints to keep in mind if you own furry pets:
• Always have fresh water available.
• If you keep them outside, place food and water in a shady spot.
• Bring them inside on extremely hot or cold days, if you can.
• Brush their coat while checking for fleas and ticks.
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Heloise@Heloise.com
ActiveStyle on 03/27/2017