ShouldBworking: I have a 17-month-old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. From reading, I understand that as this breed is a drafting dog, we can start to train him for drafting at 24 months. He is registered with the AKC and I was wondering where in the Pittsburgh region I would be able to find training for this task?

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Swissies are a great breed. They are great pets. Drafting is one of the things they have been bred to do, but training is still required. You generally need to start with obedience training with any dog, before you move on to "tasks," be that drafting, herding, hunting, whatever. You don't say where you live. There are many good training clubs in Allegheny, Westmoreland and other counties. And there is a group in Westmoreland that has members with Swissies and Bernese Mountain Dogs that are trained for pulling carts and such, i.e., drafting. E-mail me at lfuoco@post-gazette.com if you wish and I can be more specific. Or, contact the breeder who bred the dog. He or she should have contact information.

Sugarbear: Why is it cats don't have to be licensed and tagged as dogs do? It seems to me there would be less loose, feral cats running around.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Perhaps the cat lobby is stronger than the dog lobby. Just kidding. Some towns have tried to enact cat leash laws and it never seems to work, because even the cat owners who try to comply run into stiff opposition from most cats. Many cats don't like to wear collars and will find ways to "loose" the collars that would carry the tags. And I've always heard that the agricultural lobby has been opposed to cat licensing laws. Most barns need cats to keep the rat and mouse population down and the word is farmers don't want to be required to license the cats. You might bring this up with your local officials? We all could ask.

FelixTheCat: Do animals with rabies exhibit any typical symptoms?

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Well, animals with rabies generally do not foam at the mouth, despite what you might see in movies. Rabid animals are generally described as acting "strange" -- a calm dog becomes hyper, a hyper dog becomes lethargic. Wild animals that are generally nocturnal start hanging around in daylight and do not run away when confronted by people or pets. It's not always rabies -- with the wild animals they could be very ill with another disease, especially raccoons that are prone to distemper. But in any case, stay away from wild animals and from dogs and cats that you don't know. Call your animal control agency or the police.

k9pal: With that rabid cat in Hampton, has the city or county thought about what they can do about all these strays? I mean, spaying/neutering will not make a difference if it ends up with rabies.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Wow. Good question, k9pal. The cat problem is huge and right now all of the local shelters are swamped with cats and kittens that need homes. The problem is, cats can fare very well on their own in the "wild," be that rural, urban or suburban locales. They can survive on their own for a year or two and during that time that can produce many kittens. Cats are hard to catch, unlike dogs, so animal control "catches" many dogs but few cats. Groups like the Homeless Cat Management Team, a volunteer non-profit group, traps them humanely, inoculates and neuters them and then release them back where they came from. At least it cuts down on the population. Any suggestions for this problem?

k9pal: Regarding the drafting: If you can go to the Cleveland Dog Show in December, they have a weight pull that goes on there all four days and you could make connections there.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Great tip, k9 pal. Thanks for the information.

k9pal: I am going to start using a humane trap to get the feral cats out of my neighborhood (off of my porch, a/c unit, etc). I am not going to put my dogs at risk because someone feels sorry for these cats/kittens, but not sorry enough to get them shots.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Yes, k9pal, stray cats can put your dogs -- and people -- at risk. The Homeless Cat Management Team does not charge for the neutering and shots, though donations are welcome. You can contact them through their Web site.

flip195: Regarding the Dogs Deserve Better incident: Do you believe that the owners of the animal should be charged with animal abuse given the evidence against them?

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Well flip, there is no evidence against the owners of Jake -- or Doogie, as he is known in Dogs Deserve Better circles. The owners should have been investigated, probably, but the dog is gone now and the DDB Web site says he is doing better now. So how could the owners even be investigated at this point?

Sugarbear: What do you know about separation anxiety in dogs? Mine has a fit if I even go outside to take out the trash.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:What kind of fit does your dog have? In the really extreme cases of separation anxiety, they tend to demolish furniture and anything else they can get their teeth on, including the crates that people are advised to use -- for the safety of the animal, as well as to safeguard the contents of the house. How long have you had this dog? Did it come from a shelter or rescue? Those dogs have been "dumped" by someone who never came back and that's what they are anxious about. When you leave the dog, say, "I'll be back." When you come back, announce, "I'm back!" The help of a professional trainer is often needed if the anxiety behavior is severe.

k9pal: Tammy Grimes ruined most chances for the owners to be charged by taking the dog and holding the dog. If he's improved that much, how are they going to establish there was abuse now?

Linda Wilson Fuoco:That's exactly what I think, k9 pal. And no, I'm not an attorney but I've spent a lot of years covering court cases.

flip195: There are two videos, two vet reports and at least five witness statements. I have seen people sent to prison on less evidence. Also my question was should they be charged not investigated. DDB did the work for them, now it is up to the powers that be to get off their behinds and follow the state law regarding failure to provide medical help to the animal. Don't you think?

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Dear flip, in this country we do not charge or arrest people until there is an investigation. DDB does not have the legal authority to do police work. The video could be presented in court, but the police and district attorney actually never have seen the dog. Heck at this point we don't even know if the dog is alive. Did Jake's owners provide veterinary care for the dog? I don't know. Maybe they did and maybe they showed those records to the police. If Ms. Grimes wanted the owner to be charged, she should have turned Jake and the vet records over to the police and the humane agent in that area. That's what I think.

k9pal: We often add drama to separation anxiety by making a big production of our comings and goings. They take the tension in our voices and translate that into more anxiety. A trainer should/could be able to help, plus they have medications if necessary ... but I'd look into obedience training and an instructor's assistance to give you a better idea.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Thanks k9 pal. I agree with you on all counts, including the obedience training. I've never personally had a dog with separation anxiety, so I don't have first-hand experience with remedies.

aranbp: I have been following your story about Doogie. There is a right way and a wrong way to go about what that lady did. I consider what she did wrong. She trespassed and stole property. If the dog was in trouble call and report it.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Many people would agree with you, aranbp, and many would vehemently disagree. BTW, there's a middle ground that doesn't seem to come up. Ms. Grimes said the dog was reported and help did not come in a timely manner, so she took the dog. She took the dog to a veterinarian. The next step in the "middle ground" scenario is to give the dog back to authorities at that point.

k9pal: My dog is chained for about one hour a day (4- to 15-minute intervals), but he has an auto-immune disease, and when he comes out of remission, sometimes he doesn't look as great as I wish he would. I would HATE for someone to decide to film him on those couple of bad weeks and try and use that to convict me of abuse or neglect. The humane agents would have reviewed vet records and had an independent vet look at the dog. Tammy screwed up (in my opinion), and may have done damage to her cause.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:The scenario you paint, k9pal, is the one many of us fear -- that a well-cared for, much-loved pet with an illness could be snatched by someone who thinks we're not taking good care of him or her.

aranbp: What's your feelings for chaining up a dog? I usually do not. I have a large fenced in yard, but if I go camping or something, I will not let my dog run wild.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:I would call chains, tethers and tie-outs the lesser of two evils. I won't let my dogs run loose. I don't like tethering 24/7 -- it's not good for dogs, but what's the alternative? Not everyone has a fenced yard -- some municipalities and some homeowners groups don't allow fences. Dogs Deserve Better, on the Web site, seems to encourage "invisible" fences, but they don't work on all dogs.

DeeDee: My question is about DDB/Tammy Grimes. Has there been an explanation as to why there was not an investigation of the owners? The dog being missing is not an excuse. We do murder investigations and prosecutions without bodies, enough evidence, etc. You don't GET evidence unless you investigate. Why is there no investigation?

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Do we really know that there is no investigation of the owners of Jake?

k9pal: Invisible fences don't work! If your dog has a high pain tolerance or something particularly tempting on the other side, they'll go through it, but they aren't getting shocked for the thrill of coming back home so they often don't return.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:That's what I hear, k9pal. Breeders of Siberian huskies tell me the fences will not work on their breed because the desire to run is much stronger than the fear of getting shocked. And working breeds have been bred to have a high tolerance for pain. I hear that Labrador retrievers, especially males, are prone to running through the electric charge.

DeeDee: Considering the media attention this has gotten, I would have thought the police would mention if they were investigating. If for no other reason than to get people off their backs . . .

Linda Wilson Fuoco:If I can ever get through to that police department, I will ask some of these questions. I keep getting a busy signal or voice mail because they are getting hundreds, if not thousands of phone calls -- at the urging of Ms. Grimes and her supporters. Also, police do not investigate just because there is public pressure.

Sugarbear: Regarding the anxiety: I rescued and adopted her in January. She's 6 years old and who knows what kind of life before me? She barks and howls continually if I leave the house, so I crate her inside comfortably while I'm gone. I've learned to tell her I'm going to the store, and tell her Mommy's home when getting back. I've also learned not to fuss over her too much. You're right on that.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:OK, Sugarbear, it sounds like you're on the right track. They usually get better in time if you don't reinforce the "bad" behavior.

smpjcu: My black Labrador laughs at us when he ran through the fence in the front yard. Goodness, I felt so dumb thinking the fence would work.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Well the fence people don't tell you they don't work for all dogs.

DeeDee : Actually, police investigate because of public pressure all the time. Ask one.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Do they respond well to public pressure? Even if they do, they can't arrest and charge without cause.

Sugarbear: I've been reading about Doogie and agree with you. My community does not allow fences nor having animals chained outside. So she's an indoor dog; I wouldn't have a dog to keep it outside....what's the point then? They are our companions.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:With no fences and no tieouts it's a little hard to keep a dog, especially if you have children who need supervision and care. You can't always leash walk a dog at the drop of a hat, and dogs should not run loose.

k9pal: A radio or TV in the background sometimes helps with seperation anxiety. Along with no big drama/praise when you come or go.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Thanks, k9pal. Certainly worth a try and those suggestions should do not wrong.

smpjcu: But they do, its in their flyer ...

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Sorry, I don't understand this comment. Who is "they," what do they "do" and what is in what flyer?

k9pal: Even if there is an investigation of the dog's owners, she compromised a great deal of the case. I'm sure they're looking into it, but Tammy & DDB have a vested interest in keeping ?her? court things on the front page. I hope there is an investigation, but I hope she is prosecuted for overstepping her authority. Has there ever been any complaints against these owners prior to this? Did they ever submit vet records? I mean, these are reasonable questions, but as I said, she needs prosecuted for doing something illegal and then refusing to comply.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:I know the answer to one of those questions. Neither the police nor the Humane Society in that area had ever received complaints about Jake. And Ms. Grimes is going to trial in criminal court. It generally takes a case about six months to get to trial, her attorney told me.

Linda Wilson Fuoco:Well, our hour is up. Thanks for chatting. The next chat, and the next Pet Tales column, will be in two weeks.