For protection from the elements, they have their own nylon pup tent. In the winter, we put warm bedding, inside (when it's really cold, we place insulated material over and under the tent), then close up the side panels. In the summer, we leave the sides of the tent open to let in the breeze. And when we travel with our dogs, we fold up the pup tent and take it along, so they always have their own place to sleep.

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Happy landing for chilly canine

Washington - the pilot of a United Airlines flight from Washington to San Jose, Calif., made an unscheduled landing in Denver when it was discovered that a dog mistakenly had been loaded into an unheated cargo hold.

Dakota, a 10 year old Basenji, emerged shivering but unhurt on the tarmac in Denver, concluding a tension-filled flight for his owner, Mike Bell of Santa Clara, Calif.

The drama began halfway into the four hour, 45-minute flight Saturday from Washington dulles Intl. Airport. a United empoyee discovered that a baggage handler had loaded dakota into the chilly forward cargo hold of hte Airbus A320. The airline radioed the pilot, who made a quick decision and informed passengers they were landing in Denver the nearest airport in hopes of saving Dakota. According to Bell, none of the 90 passengers complained.

After the plane landed, a ground crew grabbed the dog's crate from the cargo hold. The 4-pound dog was alive. Bell and the captain then went down to see Dakota. "He was indeed alive, but very cold from the unheated cargo hold," Bell said. Bell took Dakota from the crate and held him while the ground crew took turns petting Dakota.

As passengers cheered, Gell triumphantly carreid the dog to his seat in the rear of the plane. During the flight to San Jose, parents brought children back to pet the dog. It took Dakota about 20 minutes to calm down, but then, "he slept on the seat next to me for the rest of the way home with a couple of blankets to get him warmed up," Bell said. Dakota is an African 'barkless' hunting dog. The Basenji, which means "bush dog" in Swahili, was bred to flush lions from the bush.

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Useful Webmaps

Source: U.S. New and World Report allpets.com - Watch "petflicks" to learn what happens at a doggie dentist and how a vet spays a rabbit, select the looks and personality of your four-legged soulmate, or visit the "petcyclopedia" to learn vet lingo.

petfinder.org - Search by ZIP code, animal, or breed for adoptable pets like Cooper the black Lab, iggy the iguana, and HoneyPie the potbellied pig. Or track down local shelters.

petlinks.com - Links to sites on wallabies, chinchillas, alpacas, and arachnids plus cats, dogs, birds, and bunnies. Select accessories for your critter of choice find breeders and photographers and learn proper pet care.

dog-play.com - "Neat things to do with your dog," like playing Frisbee, rollerblading, and visiting hospital patients.

virtualpuppy.com - Adopt and name a virtual puppy, then feed her, pet her, and clean up her make-believe mess. When it's time to bid your pretend pup adieu, check her into the kennel. (Personally, I think this is good "rehearsal" for wannabe pet owners. It is also good for kids to practise taking care of pets).

family.go.com/Categories/pets - Teach kids how to interpret Rover's body language and how to pick him up properly. And get tips on taking the family pet on trips and preparing for new puppies, kittens, rabbits, and fish.

copyright© 1999 the herald

Attention Dog Owners:
The Food and Drug Administration recently warned pet owners that dog chews made from pork- or beef-derived materials may cause bacterial infections, such as salmonella poisoning, in people. Although the bacteria are harmless to your canine companion, they can wreak havoc on humans, causing fever, nausea, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea.