PROTECT YOUR PET'S PAWSSnow, ice and chemical melters can wreak havoc on a dog's paws. Boots, just like sled dogs use, are one option. If using boots, make sure they fit properly and put them on the dog in the house at first to allow the dog to get used to them in a comfortable setting. If your dog will not tolerate boots, a protective wax, such as Musher's Secret, can help protect paws from rock salt. Rub the wax on the dog's paws before you go out, and wipe them off with a warm wet rag when you get home.-- Newsday
Donna Thomas' family moved from Cleveland, Tenn., to Pittsburgh 13 years ago. At the time, the children were young and were a little homesick in their new town.
"So their dad promised them a new puppy," Thomas said.
Dad kept his word by contacting a breeder and bringing home a Jack Russell terrier.
Diehard Georgia Bulldog fans, they named the puppy Hershey, a nod to their new state (home to Hershey's chocolates) and their beloved football team quarterback, Herschel Walker.
Two years later, the Thomases moved back to the South, this time with Hershey.
"What we call our Yankee dog has adapted well to Tennessee life," Thomas said.
Now 12, he's still entertaining the family, she said. His favorite trick is "putting a treat on his nose and waiting till we say, 'OK,' before he flips it up and eats it."
The breed's playful nature requires a lot of patience, Thomas said, but Hershey has reached an age that he has calmed down. "But he's very attached to his family and does not like to even be in another room apart from where we are," she said.
His favorite place is in the bed beside Thomas and her husband, Ron.
"We're not sure how much longer we will have with Hershey -- 12 is pretty old for his breed," Thomas said. "We are thankful that he is still very healthy. While his face is gray and he has become hard of hearing, he still enjoys the occasional game of hide-and-seek or catch."
E-mail Anne Braly at abraly @timesfreepress.com.