Spring is in full swing, and for pet owners, this is a mixed blessing.

If there's a dog or cat in your life, spring brings heavy shedding and muddy footprints into your home. A company called FURminator Inc. has some suggested spring cleaning tips, and I've added some of my own.

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• Regular grooming: Use a good brush, rake or comb once or twice a week to eliminate the amount of hair and fur left on floors, furniture and clothes. The key may be finding the right tool.

This company's FURminator deShedding Tool claims to reduce shedding better than any tool on the market. There are different styles for dogs, cats and horses, and it comes in small, medium or large sizes. The FURminator does get rave reviews on Web sites and e-mail lists, but it is a bit pricey. The tools sells for about $40, give or take a few dollars, depending on where you buy.

Go to www.FURminator.com for further information, including local stores that carry it.

Myself, I think rubber curry combs and metal "shedding blades" used on horses work well on many dogs, including that woolly undercoat that many of them have. Once found only in tack shops and farm supply stores, these blades can now be found on the Internet and in many pet stores.

I'd also suggest daily brushing during the spring shedding season.

• Pet hair removal: No one gets all of the hair and fur off pets before it gets onto the furniture. FURminator suggests using lint rollers regularly, before the hair or fur works its way into the fabric.

Here's my two cents: I couldn't live without lint rollers, and I've probably spent a small fortune on them. I buy "no name" brands, though I must admit the more expensive lint rollers sold in pet stores really do work better because they are stickier and pick up more hair and fur.

• A cleaner pet means a cleaner home: Regular baths will keep your pet and your home cleaner. FURminator, of course, wants you to use its products, which claim to "help promote healthier skin while reducing excessive shedding."

A number of companies claim their shampoo products reduce shedding, and I've never understood how that could be possible. I've always heard that warm bath water speeds up the shedding process, so maybe that's part of the solution regardless of what shampoo you use.

My tip: Stay away from heavily scented shampoos. The perfume may irritate dogs because of their super-acute sense of smell, and also people who are allergic or sensitive to scents.

• Lessen allergies and sneezing: Regular grooming and bathing will also cut down on the amount of pet dander and airborne allergens that accumulate on the pet and in the house. Create allergy-free areas for family members by keeping pets out of certain areas, especially the bedrooms of people with allergies. Use allergen-resistant covers on mattresses and pillows.

• Keep the outside from coming inside: Keep a washable rug near the door where your pet goes in and out. Wipe off pet paws so mud is not tracked onto floors.

The company doesn't offer any magic formula here, and good luck if you have one of those dogs that doesn't like to have his or her feet handled. I'd say start slow and easy, cleaning just one paw followed by profuse praise and a food treat.

I've seen ads in catalogs for special dog rugs that are "guaranteed" to clean dog paws without human intervention. They always sounded too good to be true, and at $40 per rug I wasn't tempted to buy one. If anyone has ever used something like that, please e-mail me and let me know if those rugs live up to their advertising.

Congratulations to the Washington Area Humane Society, which was the top point-getter in the zootoo.com "shelter makeover" contest. Supporters logged onto the Web site in huge numbers to win points for the North Strabane shelter.

More than 900 shelters across the country were entered.

One of the top 20 shelters will win a makeover of up to $1 million. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges after a personal inspection. An announcement is expected soon.

If the Washington Area shelter does not win the makeover, the shelter will win $10,000. The next 18 shelters will each get $5,000.

The Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, with shelters on the North Shore and in Elizabeth Township, finished just out of the money in 22nd place. Animal Protectors of Allegheny County, in New Kensington, was 29th. Fayette Friends of Animals in Uniontown was 31st.

The contest is expected to be repeated next year, according to a spokesman for the Web site that bills itself as the "Facebook" for pets and pet lovers.