For Your Pets

And You Thought They Were Just Cute
They are more than Snoopy's cousins; beagles have now been put to work. USDA's Beagle Brigade is a free coloring book which explains the background, training, care and feeding of a group of detector dogs that work in international airports throughout the United States keeping a lookout for agricultural contraband. A number of free postcards and fact sheets are available including Beagle Trivia, which provides information on the origin, characteristics, and myths about beagles. Contact: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 4700 River Road, Unit 51, Riverdale, MD 20737; 301-734-7799.

It Was Love at First Sight
You were strolling along an idyllic river in France when you stumbled upon an injured ferret. You nursed it back to health and now you want to bring it home with you. Pets and Wildlife is a free publication that describes the rules regarding bringing pets and wildlife into the U.S., and the quarantine procedures, as well as a list of prohibited species. For your free copy write: U.S. Customs Service, P.O. Box 7407, Washington, DC 20044; 202-927-6724.

Mommy, Mommy, May I PLEASE Have a Dog?
Kids beg their parents every day for a family pet, but few know what is involved, such as the care and feeding of a household pet. The office below has several fact sheets which parents can use to teach their children how to care for pets properly. Some of the free fact sheets include Dog Ownership Self-Test - for people who are considering adopting a dog Care and Nurturing of Cats - which provides information on your cat's health. The office also has two free publications dealing with pet food: Pet Cuisine Selecting Nutritious Pet Foods Contact: Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish Place, HFV-12, Rockville, MD 20855; 301-594-5909.