Check out a sitter thoroughly before trusting your pet to her/him

It also might be helpful to visit petsit.com for more information from Pet Sitters International, a super group of people who care about pets.

Dear Heloise: As you probably know, many veterinarians recommend elevating pets' food and water dishes to help eliminate digestive and joint problems. We have three large canine babies: Harley, a 10-year-old Dalmatian; Gus, a black Labrador; and Buddy, a golden mixed breed (all three were adopted).

The cost of raised food-dish stands can be quite expensive. However, we found a much-less-expensive alternative that works just as well as those found in stores and catalogs. We found wire plant stands that hold planters! We also bought bowls that fit inside each planter. They work very well and take up less room than the stands. The cost of each of these was less than $10, since we found them at a discount store.

-- Davena Sawyer, Jacksonville, Fla.

Dear Heloise: When our puppy was young, a friend told us of a training tool we could make that proved to be very helpful with her training. Put several coins in a clean, metal can and tape the opened end(s) very well so the coins cannot come out.

A quick rattle gave off a loud signal that got her attention very quickly and made her stop in her tracks when she was doing something wrong. This also gets the attention of our cats when they are misbehaving.

-- Rudi, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I write on the upper right-hand corner of my recipes the temperature I am to set the oven to bake my recipe. That way, I don't have to hunt when I want to preheat the oven.

-- Marsha Brady, Wabash, Ind.