When a local veterinarian anesthetized a pug to clean its teeth, she noticed something she had missed at the dog's annual exam. On one of the pug's rear paws there was a tumor between the pads.

"She said it almost looked like an extra paw pad," said the pug's owner. The vet removed the tumor and a biopsy revealed the growth was a malignant sarcoma that, fortunately, was caught early. The surgeon felt that the unusual location made lawn chemicals a likely source of the tumor. The moral of the story is, be sure to look under paws!

The pug's owner does not use chemicals on her lawn, but many of her Pittsburgh neighbors do. This dog is not allowed to run loose throughout the neighborhood, so her only chance to come in contact with lawn chemicals is on daily leash walks when she might meander along the edges of chemically-treated lawns.

Commercial companies generally put up little flags to let everyone know that chemicals have been applied. Do-it-yourself landscapers probably aren't doing that, so here's another reason for all of us to keep our dogs off other people's grass.

I asked readers for tips for dealing with the special issues that spring brings for pet owners, including heavy shedding and muddy paws. Here's tips from two readers.

"While watching the Westminster Kennel Club dog show a few years ago I got a tip for getting pet hair off carpets and furniture," said Heidi Patterson, of Orlando, Fla. "In a spray bottle, put 1 ounce of fabric softener and fill the rest of bottle with water. Before vacuuming, spray carpets and furniture and let dry for about 10 minutes. I have three cats -- one with long hair -- and even with a Dyson Animal vacuum cleaner, I get a bunch more hair when I spray first."

Jeanie Barrett, owner of Larry's Laundromutt in Sewickley, said her dog-owning customers are snapping up a product called Soggy Paws.

"They are terry cloth towels with pockets on the ends for your hands," Ms. Barrett wrote in an e-mail. "Your put it on the dog like a blanket when they come inside with muddy paws. It is a quick and convenient way to get your dog clean and dry."

The pockets "keep the mess off of you while you dry. I sell large ones for $22.95 and medium ones for $18.50. They even have a loop to hang them up by the door," Ms. Barrett said.

Larry's Laundromutt, 201 Ohio River Blvd., Sewickley, is a self-service dog wash that also sells a lot of products, including dog food. Go to www.larryslaundromutt.comfor more information.

The tale of Kahlua, the people-friendly pony that was murdered in Mercer County earlier this month, has saddened and enraged many. I've gotten nearly 100 e-mails from all over the country, and a few from foreign countries. Many want to donate money to increase the reward for information leading to an arrest.

By late last week the reward fund was up to $6,000 and growing every day.

Who could hurt a blind pony that loved and trusted everyone? Kahlua was always the first equine in the pasture to trot up to people -- even strangers -- who stopped by for a visit.

Kahlua's blindness and his trusting nature undoubtedly contributed to his death. While four other horses ran from danger, Kahlua did not.

Based on the horrible injuries that killed him, and the tire tracks in the pasture, Kahlua's owner, Tory Morgan, and humane officer Renne Dorogy, believe this is what happened:

An ATV hit the pony and knocked him down. Then someone tied a rope around his hind legs, dragged him behind the vehicle and left him to die a slow and agonizing death.

Large bones in both hind legs were broken. Skin was missing from his legs, chest and belly. Rope burns cut deep down to the bones in his leg. There were badly swollen bruises all over his body, including his withers, where another bone may have been broken.

Ms. Dorogy and State Police are investigating.

Here's the address to send donations: Humane Society of Mercer County Inc.; Reward Fund; P.O. Box 1046; Hermitage, PA. 16148.