I disagree with your opinion on dog parks, and so does the dog trainer whose class we took. She says she would never set foot in one. I know people whose pets have been attacked. Please spread the word.

– via Facebook

Dog parks tend to be only as good as the people using them, but I wouldn't put them all into the category of "never visit." We all need to look out for the safety of our own dogs as well as making sure our dogs are not causing problems for others.

So how can you tell a good park from a bad one?

The best way to check out a dog park is to go during off-peak hours. You want to see clean grounds and clear rules for pickup and good behavior, a double-gated entry so dogs don't walk in on leash (a known fight trigger), and, in the best parks, a separate area for small dogs so they're not trampled or looked at as prey by large ones. People should be paying attention to their dogs, not answering their email and checking their text messages.

A good park can change when a clueless person steps in with a dog that shouldn't be there, so be prepared to leave when you don't feel safe.

Dog parks are great for getting pets the exercise they need. When they don't work, they put people and pets at risk of injury. So go forth and unleash, but do so with common sense and caution.

– Gina Spadafori

The buzz

• No one really can say how many bones a cat has. A long-tailed Maine Coon cat will have more vertebrae than a Manx with no tail or a Manx mix with just part of a tail. And a cat with extra toes – they're called "polydactyl" – will have extra bones as a result. The range is usually between 230 and 250, with the average cat counting about 244 bones, about 30 more bones than we do. But we have something cats don't: collarbones. Lacking a collarbone, a cat can fit its body through openings the size of its head.

• Fleas aren't just an annoying problem for your pet; they can also transmit disease to humans. When you protect your pet against fleas, ticks and other parasites, you are minimizing your risk from zoonotic disease. Talk to your veterinarian about what parasite control is most effective in your area.

• Was your pet just skunked? Take 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap, such as Ivory. Mix and immediately apply to the stinky pet. Then rinse thoroughly with tap water. For a big dog, such as a Labrador retriever , double the recipe to improve coverage. Keep the mix out of sensitive areas such as the eyes and ears. Buy the ingredients now and keep them on hand. But remember: Don't mix them until immediately before application. And don't store the leftovers.

– Mikkel Becker and Dr. Marty Becker

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Order Reprint