Baby animals — chicks, bunnies, ducks, puppies, kittens — all little signs of new life, have always been used to symbolize the Easter season and the advent of spring, which begins today. The practice of giving little chicks and ducks, sometimes dyed like Easter eggs, has thankfully "died out" as a unintentionally cruel gesture which often left little children with "pets" they were neither equipped nor informed enough to love and keep. But pets can mean so much to a family as well as being a wonderful means toward teaching responsibility and tenderness. Before adopting an animal, however, the prospective owner should know the rudimentary rules of care.

The top five pets in the United States, according to the Pet Advisory Council, are cats, dogs, small animals (rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils), parakeets and freshwater fish.

The first consideration for some families contemplating a new pet would be expenses. U.S. pet owners spend more on their pets than they do on toys or candy, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. Pet spending has more than doubled from $17 billion in 1994 to a projected $35.9 billion for 2005, APPMA figures show. And, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, pets are the seventh largest retail segment in the country, not including what is spent on horse and pet prescription medicines.

In a National Pet Owners Survey, the APPMA found that basic annual expenses for dog and cat owners, respectively, were:

Surgical vet visits: $574 (dogs); $337 (cats).

Food: $241; $185.

Kennel boarding: $202; $119.

Routine vet: $211; $179.

Groomer/grooming aids: $107; $24.

Vitamins: $123; $32.

Treats: $68; $43.

Toys: $45; $29.

Annual vaccinations are the most important elements of insuring optimum health, according to Dr. Lori Honre of Carolina Vetenary Practice in Orangeburg. Dr. Horne cites heartworm as the most overlooked problem in cats, dogs and ferrets in the Southeastern region and urges that pet owners make sure that their pets have heartworm preventatives.

"A balanced diet is also essential for all animals," she said. "When purchasing pet food, make sure that it has undergone some level of food trial and that it is age-specifc to your pet."

Catering to Cats

The top ten cat breeds are, in this order, Persian, Maine-Coon, Siamese, Exotic and Abyssinian, but many families adopt cats from the animal shelter and many cats just adopt a family they find.

In China and Hong Kong, according to PetHall.com, cats live in shops and houses and are considered good luck. Italians love cats, and many cats roam around the ancient monuments of Rome. In Great Britain, 50 percent of the homes house a cat or a bird.

The Wuenscher family has had five cats, three coming from the animal shelter and two which they found. Eleven-year-old Kara Wuenscher, a sixth grader at Orangeburg Prepatory School, is one of many cat lovers in the Orangeburg area. The family's pet cat, Colorface, was born on Good Friday and will turn 14 next week.

"Cats love attention. They really respond if you give them lots of it," Kara's mother Kathy Wuenscher says.

The American Humane Society prefers that cat owners use scratching posts and claw covers rather than de-clawing their cats. Kathy Wuenscher says that she has tried the posts, but her cats preferred to scratch a rough doormat outside the back door so she bought another one for inside the house.

Cats are known to have an independent spirit, and experts say a cat flap is ideal as it lets the cat come and go as it pleases.

There is a pervading myth, however, that some cats need more attention than others.

"In comparsion to dogs, they don't need a lot of attention, but some cats get anxiety when they don't see their owners after some time," Horne said. "Animals are very adaptive, and, when moving them out of their familiar environment, they can become very unsettled and anxious."

Kathy had an experience of this nature when her family moved to another location and Colorface did not respond as well as their younger cats. "I had to keep her inside for fear that she would get lost."

After relocation, veterinarians say cats should be kept indoors for at least three weeks so they can adapt to their new environment.

The Dog: A Pack Animal

Man's best friend lives up to 12 to 14 years, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Dogs can be intelligent, faithful and fun, but a dog is a pack animal and will become upset if it is left on its own for a long period of time.

The five most popular breeds, in order, are the Labrador, the golden retriever, the German shepherd, the dachsund and the beagle. The top five smartest dogs, according to "The Intelligence of Dogs" by Stanley C'or, are, in order, the border collie, the poodle, the German shepherd, the golden retriever and the Doberman pinscher. Arabs do not keep dogs as pets, but Australian aborigines keep wild dogs, called dingos.

"Different dog breeds have different temperaments and abilities, and it's important that you find out as much as you can about the animal before purchasing or adopting it," Horne said.

As a spring and summer precaution, Horne says "dogs shouldn't be left inside cars as the interior overheats very quickly, even when it's not hot outside."

"When taking your dog to the beach," she says, "be sure he wears booties to avoid sand spurs getting into his paws, which can be very painful."

Jogging with your dog is a popular activity year-round, but in the summer, the advent of heat stroke is a real possibility, since dogs are still running in their thick winter coat. To be on the safe side, runners should alter their jogging routine to early morning or late evening when the temperatures are hotter.

A Chick, Chick Here...

Can different animals co-exist peacefully and happily? According to Lee and Rebekah Hollingsworth, they can. Together with their 4-year-old daughter Cameron, they have three dogs, 13 cats, one fish, two turtles and a flock of chickens. Rebekah described their daughter as an, "animal freak."

"She just loves animals," she said. "We decided to get chickens because we wanted Cameron to have a learning experince with her pets. This summer we plan to incubate some eggs so she can see the process and the birth."

Of their 15 hens, one was born with a deformity of the feet. "It's absolutely amazing how they protect her. Any noise or disturbance causes them to gather around her and cover her. They are very friendly and protective, and Cameron gets very close to them," Rebekah said.

Dr. Horne also has a chicken flock.

"Chickens are a bit high-maintenance," she says. "They need a big area to move around, a high platform to roost and a box in which to lay their eggs.

"The biggest concern when rearing a backyard flock is avian influenza , which can be transmitted to humans," Horne said. "The control measure for this disease is the rapid destruction of the chickens and the rigorous disinfection of the farm."

Our Flying Friends

According to the Association of Avian Veterinarians, your birds' diet is one of the most important considerations for its overall care. Adequate feeding plans may be developed from a wide variety of commonly available foods or formulated diets commercially prepared specifically for birds may be offered. A healthy bird can tolerate temperatures that are comfortable to its owner, however sudden changes in temperature may be a potential threat to a sick bird.

The largest cage that can be accommodated in the home is recommended for birds that are expected to be confined most of the time. The cage must be made of non-toxic material, strong enough to resist bending or dismantling by the bird and designed for safety and ease of cleaning. A cage should also have a perch which should be clean, easily replaceable, appropriately sized natural wood branches from pesticide-free and non-toxic trees like Northern hardwoods, citrus, eucalyptus and Australian pine.

Pet birds are intelligent, active animals whose psychological needs should be addressed. The provision of toys in the form of chewable items such as branches, pine cones, rawhide dog chews, natural fiber rope, and soft white pine provide a pleasant diversion from boredom.

Minimal body care is required for the healthy, well-fed pet bird. During the molting of feathers, additional fat, protein and vitamins may be required in the diet. Pure water is the most appropriate feather spray. Regular visits to an avian veterinarian for a routine health examination is advised in order to detect potential problems early.

Getting Fuzzy with a Fish

While care of most pets involves touching and attention, fish care can read like a biology experiment. Nonetheless, freshwater fish are number five on the Pet Advisory Council's list of top ten pets in the United States.

When outlining the basics of fish care, veterinarian Dale M. Cooper says most of his advice deals with maintaining the quality of the water in which the fish live because this one factor is essential.

Cooper's advice on fish care may be found at www.ahc.edu/rar/MNAALAS/Fish.htm.

With toxin-free water as the number one priority, Cooper says the amounts of chlorine, chloramine and ammonia should be measured using commercial test kits. If toxins are found, they can be controlled by pre-treating the water and through the use of a filter.

To remove chlorine, expose the water to light for 24 hours, aerate it or use 1 milliliter of 1 percent thiosulfate (or an equivalent product) to 10 gallons of water. Pet stores may carry products, such as activated carbon, that will remove both chlorine and chloramine. Find different water if there is heavy metal contamination in it.

Filters clear the water of solid particles, chemicals and toxic ammonia. Corner, canister and outside power filters must be changed when they become soiled and should be used with aquarium gravel. Undergravel filters don't support as many fish and should be supplemented with periodic "vacuuming" of the gravel with a sipon or pump.

For gravel, dolomite gravel can elevate pH level, zeolites can help buffer water and peat moss may be used to reduce pH and may stimulate ovulation!

Consult aquarium books on the right temperature for your fish and monitor it with a thermometer. Goldfish prefer cooler temperatures, no more than 75 degrees; tropical prefer no less than 75, sometimes 80 or 85.

Kits are also available to measure water pH (acidity), oxygen concentration, specific gravity and hardness of the water. Freshwater fish need a pH of 6.8 to 7.2 while saltwaters require higher: 7.8 to 8.3. Oxygen should be between 5 and 7 ppm.

Rocks, wood, plants and plastic items may provide hiding places for fish, but natural items should be tested with some extra fish before adding them to the main tank as they may carry bacteria, heavy metals or parasites. Real plants add more complexity to the care of the tank, requiring a full-spectrum light source in the tank that is powerful enough to provide two watts per gallon of tank, at least five inches of gravel, a certain temperature and so on.

A rule of thumb for carrying capacity is that freshwater aquariums can hold 1 inch of fish per gallon; saltwater can hold 1/2 inch per gallon.

New fish should be gradually introduced. Float the bag with the new ones in the main tank for 15 minutes before releasing them. If your original fish are valuable, keep new ones in a separate tank for a couple weeks before adding them in order to note any diseases.

When a tank is set up, several weeks are needed before water quality stabilizes.

An average tank needs 10 to 20 percent of the water changed every two weeks. Don't change all the water in a tank routinely, but only when there is a health problem or if the tank is being emptied and repopulated with new fish. The best way to change the water is with a siphon "vacuum."

Consult a fish reference to determine your fishes' diet, and buy the commercial food appropriate for your species. Shrimp or tubifex worms may be needed if you have carnivorous fish. Any fresh supplements, such as lettuce for herbivores, should be removed if not eaten.

Feed no more than will be eaten in 15 minutes but feed two to three times daily. Over vacations, arrange to have someone come in and feed your fish daily rather than rely on feeders or "loading up" the tank with food.

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