Buying pets can be a web of deceit

LOOKING online for a pet? Be wary of sellers who ask you to wire money in advance to pay for vaccinations, shipping costs, insurance and taxes. After the money is received, the pet may never arrive. Sellers may claim to be from your area, with a local phone number. If that's truly the case, ask to meet the pet in person before handing over any money. Reputable breeders or legitimate sellers won't balk at a request to visit their home or kennel. It's always best to see a potential pet's environment first or to buy a pet from someone referred to you by a trusted individual.

*  The world's oldest known cat, Tiffany Two, turned 27 on March 13. The San Diego kitty loves to be petted and still has good hearing and vision, although she does suffer from one old-age complaint: high blood pressure. She's also capable of going up and down the stairs in the home of owner Sharon Voorhees, who says: "She's not afraid of anything or anyone. She walks right past the dogs; she's very feisty." Voorhees feeds her orange and black tortoiseshell cat a blend of wet and dry food and lets her go outside when she wants.