Heloise

Dear Readers: With spring on the horizon, there’s an exciting trend to tell you about. Cities have embraced the construction of animal crossing land bridges and undercrossings, over and under busy roads.

These bridges and undercrossings can, as an example in Colorado, cut down on animal-involved crashes by up to 90% according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Who uses the animal crossing land bridges and undercrossings? Deer, goats, elk, rodents and turtles, to name a few.

Here in San Antonio, we have a new land bridge that crosses over the wending Wurzbach Parkway. The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge in Phil Hardberger Park is perfect for animals and people, and it is ADA compliant (people with challenges should have little difficulty).

With expansion and growth of cities, people, buildings and traffic move into land previously occupied by animals, and the animals have to find a place that’s safe to go.

When conservationists and animal activists come together with architects, great things can happen, for safety’s sake. – Heloise

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PET PAL

Dear Readers: Meet Ace. He’s a 9-year-old tuxedo cat who has a unique black heart on his tummy and a white “thumbs up” on his nose. He keeps his white paws sparkling clean and loves treats and naps on his dad.

To see Ace and our other Pet Pals, visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week.” Do you have a furry and funny friend? Email a picture and description to: Heloise@Heloise.com. – Heloise

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DO KNOT CHEW THIS

Dear Heloise: Our dog is an aggressive chewer. I tie multiple tight knots in old rags and old cut-up T-shirts. A rolled-up rag can be tied inside a knotted one. He likes floppy toys to catch when tossed in the air, then he chews the knots. I always watch that nothing is swallowed. He spits out the pieces. – M.P. in Dallas

M.P., when you provide many chew toys for your dog to chew on, they won’t chew on shoes, furniture, etc.! – Heloise