Dear Readers: Sunday marks FATHER’S DAY, a special time to honor Dad and to say thanks for everything he does. A necktie, an ice cream cake and a picnic are all lovely, but take the time to tell Dad what he means to you. - Heloise

ITCHY AND CHEWY

Dear Heloise: My dog was chewing on her skin and feet. She’s on flea and heartworm medication, so I was perplexed as to why she was so uncomfortable. We tried creams and balms; nothing worked. Then I talked to the veterinarian. What a relief for all of us! After the doctor examined my dog and asked me some questions, she decided the right choice for us was a prescription oral medication. Immediate relief! We will do some testing for food allergies in the future, but for now, my dog is happy and comfortable. - Elizabeth Z. in San Antonio

Testing is key. Readers, make sure your doctor has the resources to test for all kinds of allergies. There are some wonderful new medications on the market that can offer relief. - Heloise

SHOWER SAFETY

Dear Heloise: Recently, when I was home alone and went to take a shower, I placed my phone on the bathroom floor. I figured if I slipped and fell and couldn’t get up, my phone would be easier to reach. - Sue T., via email

VIN PASSWORD

Dear Heloise: After struggling with remembering passwords and writing them down where anyone can find them, I came up with a solution. I use the vehicle identification number of one of my vehicles. If I cannot remember the password, a quick look at my registration to find the VIN is easy to do. Any number of various choices exist: forward, backward, adding my initials or including make or model. The choices are what works best for you. - Indiana Farmer, via email

Employers don’t deserve credit

Dear Readers: Today’s SOUND OFF is about employers having access to a potential employee’s credit score. “Dear Heloise: I applied for a job with a large company and was turned down for the position after three interviews. I have a solid track record, with plenty of experience and recommendations from former employers. I’m still in my mid-30s and have a master’s degree, and I’m in good health. In my last position, I won several company awards, and I have never been fired or asked to leave. So, what went wrong? “They checked my credit score and found out that I had filed for bankruptcy three years ago. This was due to medical bills from my son’s very difficult birth, which my insurance wouldn’t cover. When is Congress going to make it illegal for an employer to invade my private financial information?” - Todd L., Fayetteville, N.C.

Todd, yours is not the first letter we’ve received about this matter. People have missed out on a job because of slow payments, foreclosure on a home and more. -Heloise

LACK OF CARE

Dear Readers: We had several responses to a letter from Henry P. in Atlanta about patient care in hospitals. While we here at Heloise Headquarters love our nurses and thank heaven for medical advances, we received letters from all over America about patient care - or the lack of it, due in part to the high cost of care and, in some areas of the country, a shortage of nurses. The following are two different responses. - Heloise

“I agree with Henry P. of Atlanta about the lack of patient care in hospitals. We recently had a bad experience. The care was terrible. The bed was more of a cot! No washcloths, etc., in the room, and we didn’t get what we ordered on the menu. I can go on and on, but you get the drift.” - A Reader in Texas

“I was recently a patient in a hospital in Michigan and received excellent care. The nurses were so friendly, my doctor always kept me informed about cancer options, and my room was spotless. Sorry Henry P. had a bad experience, because mine was wonderful.” - Janice S., Royal Oak, Mich. 

PICK IT UP!

Dear Heloise: I love hiking the trails around my area of Oregon, but I hate seeing doggie poo on the trails of these beautiful places where hikers can step in it. By all means, bring your dog along, but also bring paper towels to gather the poo and place it in a plastic bag. At the first trash can, dump it in, or wait until you get out of the park to dispose of it. Please keep our lovely parks “poo free.” - Bella M., Salem, Ore.

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