Dogs and cats may lack the musical prowess of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart but they can appreciate soothing harp vibrations. Be it harp music in D (for dog) major or in C (for cat) major, canines and felines savor the healing power of music just as the great composer flips over the first crack of a musical note.

One of the more popular myths about dogs is that they should not be fed chocolates. Not so. You could but it is more about the kind and amount of each kind of chocolate that dog owners should worry about. For some reason, dogs are sensitive to caffeine and theobromine, two kinds of stimulants that seem to have a negative effect on the dog's heart. But as long as you keep it to a minimum amount, your dog is safe from any of chocolate's toxic effects.

 

Trakr is a retired search-and-rescue police dog. Immediately after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he was one of the first police dogs to go through the rubble to search for survivors. He is a 15-year-old German Shepherd who has rendered unconditional service to the community and now has degenerative myelopathy, a spinal cord disease that causes loss of coordination in the hind limbs.

 

An aluminum arrow shaft moored like an anchor was found in the chest of a two-year old Labrador owned by a Michigan couple. The arrow almost smashed the heart of the Labrador when it attached itself to the dog's chest until its better-late-than-never discovery.

NEW YORK, New York: If you're looking for a way to maximize your dog's physical and spiritual wellbeing, then you're looking for doga.

No, doga isn't a character from Star Wars - it's actually the name given to yoga classes for dogs. Seriously.

PARIS, France: Remy lives in an attic. His job is to sniff for poison in food. His life is constantly in grave danger, especially when he's around humans. That's because Remy is a rat. But Remy is not your ordinary garbage-raiding, leftover-eating vermin. Remy is a rat with superb culinary skills and a taste for gourmet dishes.

SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom: Own a porky kitty and or a chunky pooch? Well you're not alone. Welcome to a new online phenomenon - the online obese pet club. Here rotund pets can join their pudgy paws together in the virtual world of the World Wide Web - just as long as you don't mention the dreaded f-word - 'fat'.

EDINBURGH, Scotland: First, it was dogs. Then came horses. And now, cats have joined the club. The fat club, that is. Unfortunately for our feline friends, obesity also means a higher risk of diabetes.

HONOLULU, Hawaii: Roses are in full bloom, sunflowers are kissing the blue sky. Butterflies and golden dragonflies are flying happily. Skirts are getting shorter, shorts are back in season. Children are selling lemonade. Everyone loves summer, right?. Well, no. Summer can be a dangerous time for pets.