FEATURES
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
9A
Barking about the neighbors Tomorrow’s horoscope
Dear Annie: I have never written
you before. I pray dog owners choos-
ing to use a bark collar will see them-
selves as their neighbors do.
Dog ownership in our neighbor-
hood has risen tenfold in the past ive
years. We have chosen not to have a
dog — but love them and frequently
dog-sit for our friends and relatives.
Here is the problem: incessant bark-
ing and extremely irresponsible, cruel
dog-owning neighbors.
One neighbor leaves for work.
His two dogs have a dog door and
free access to the outside at any time.
When the dogs decide for themselves
to go out, the barking is constant for as
long as the owner’s shift lasts.
Two other neighbors have resorted
to using bark collars that shock their
dogs. This is absolutely inhumane.
I can barely stand it to hear the dogs
screaming in pain when those irre-
sponsible owners hit the buzz button
— at their random convenience. The
inconsistency just makes it even more
confusing for the dogs, I’m sure.
Owners, please stop using bark
collars. You have deluded yourselves
into thinking you are being consistent,
that it is an effective means of training
and that it doesn’t hurt the dog.
Reconsider your need to own a
dog if you do not have the time or
means to devote to proper training
Dear Annie
By
Annie
Lane
Creators
Syndicate
Inc.
and adjust your life to your individual
dog’s needs and personality..
We live in a rural community with
few resources, so options for reporting
and taking action to address situations
such as these are extremely limited.
We have approached the offenders
on several occasions — thus the rise
of the bark collars, which was not our
intention. — Weary of the Cruelty
Dear Weary: You’re right; the
shock collars are not only cruel but
also ineffective. They may stop a dog
from barking temporarily, but they do
not address the root issues that cause
excessive barking, such as stress and
separation anxiety.
People who have to leave dogs
alone all day while they work should
consider hiring dog walkers to visit
and tire them out during the day. Visit
www.humanesociety.org for more tips
on keeping animal companions happy.
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: My wife and I have
been married for 50 years. Since we
irst were married, we have shared a
love of dogs — in particular, a love of
golden retrievers. We have always had
at least two goldens in our house. We
have a 1-year-old pup, named Tucker.
Our 12-year-old dog, Trixie, just
passed away. Ten years ago, we would
have picked up the phone and called
the breeder immediately. But we are
older now, and we feel that two large
dogs would be a lot to manage.
The problem is with Tucker. He
really misses having a companion.
Since Trixie died, Tucker has been
chewing furniture and barking inces-
santly for us to play with him. What
should we do? — Goldies
Dear Goldies: I’m sorry for your
loss. I’m sure Trixie is on the rain-
bow bridge with all of your other
goldens. Animals grieve, too, and it
sounds as if Tucker is going through
that. One way to help him get over
the loss would be to get another dog,
as dogs are pack animals. (They
need not be of the same breed.)
Visit your local animal shelter, or
look on Petinder. Perhaps you could
ind a golden retriever mixed with a
smaller breed. That way, you would
be doing two acts of kindness in one
— saving a homeless dog’s life and
giving Tucker a new friend.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). How have
your choices, for better or worse, land-
ed you here? It’s the question you’ll keep
asking yourself. In order to make your next
move you have to understand your last one.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You haven’t
a clue what’s coming, and the surprise of
that makes life interesting for you. A fantas-
tic new circle of friends will celebrate your
ideas and support your plans.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). In the same
way that flowers can’t recognize their own
beauty and grizzly bears don’t think of
themselves as ferocious, you have this
talent that’s so close to you that you can’t
even see it.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). How will
you control the wild energy? Never doubt
that there’s a way to tame and direct it to
create huge beauty in the world. A Sagit-
tarius or Aquarius will be your ally in this
endeavor.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It’s more than a
cliche: Everyone is busy. It’s almost gotten
to the point of being a contest — not a con-
test you’d want to win, though. Clear some
space. Somehow, when you are less busy,
you’ll get more accomplished.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Someone
is pressuring you to move before you are
ready. Don’t buy into that person’s time
frame; you have your own! That someone
has a different sense of pacing doesn’t
make your pace wrong.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Needing to be
the best can help you break records and
push back limitations. It can also create
the kind of tunnel vision that disables you
to see the bigger picture. Be extra mindful
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
of the space and feelings of those around
you.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It’s not al-
ways easy to let go of the baggage. The
current nugget of emotional dead weight
you’re trying to drop might require more
work. Celebrate your small steps.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Brain-
storm. You’ll have a good sense, when all is
said and done, what the best ideas really
were. Allowing yourself that space to ex-
plore, well, that’s crucial. The elements will
fall in place and you’ll do very well.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There’s
nothing quite so poignant as outgrowing
your mentor, parent or teacher. This is what
you’re facing now — the bittersweet good-
bye to your wide-eyed point of view.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re try-
ing to go back, and yet there is no “back.”
All your opinions are changing. What hap-
pened then will be colored by what you
now know, which is a lot more and better.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). If a part-
ner is looking for reasons your relationship
won’t work out, this is a sign that it won’t
— though not for the reasons they reach
for. You’re better than this. You’ll be blessed
when heavy baggage leaves your life.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 23). It’s
a year of high ambition, and, remarkably,
you’ll match your aims. Whoever stimulates
that dreamy side of your personality is a
true godsend. You’ll appreciate, give to and
help the ones who support you, and in re-
turn you’ll all be lifted high. January brings
hot discussion and fast travel. Aquarius and
Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
9, 6, 44, 29 and 11.