Dear Abby: Dear Abby: Make sure your dog's toys don't become objects of peril

Posted: September 02, 2012

DEAR ABBY: Our German shepherd, Leah, was playing with a hard rubber ball that was about the size of a tennis ball. Somehow, the ball slid down her throat. I tried to dislodge it by grabbing and pulling it out. When that didn't work, I tried the Heimlich maneuver. That didn't work either. By the time we got Leah to the veterinarian, she was dead.

Abby, please tell your readers to never let their dog play with any object that fits into its mouth. If it fits, it can lodge in the throat. I don't want anyone else to experience the pain of losing their dog like we lost ours.

- Karen in Center Valley, Pa.

DEAR KAREN: Please accept my sympathy for the loss of your beloved pet. However, take comfort in the knowledge that you have very likely saved another four-footed family member's life.

DEAR ABBY: My mother continues to give me "classics" from her wardrobe. I'm a size 6 to 8 in my 50s. Mom is in her 80s and wears 12 to 14. Our sense of style is also not the same. After insisting I take these items, she'll often ask for them back several years later. It becomes awkward when I must explain I gave her clothes away. How can I politely stop her from gifting me these items?

- No Longer has Them

DEAR NO LONGER HAS THEM: Say, "Mom, these things won't fit me. But I'll be glad to drop them off at a charity thrift shop for you." It's honest, it's practical, and someone can enjoy them.

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