I tout adoptions statistics for the four major animal rescue operations in Summit County as proof that here, at least, we seem to be doing something right for homeless animals.

Q: Our Zoie, a 12-year-old mixed-breed female, has lost her bladder functions at night. For the last two months, I have had to change her bedding each morning. Diapers do not stay on her.

Like many people, I have always loved animals. That sentiment didn’t prevent me from getting bitten in the face by a dog when I was about 4 years old.

Q: I am 92 years old and live in a retirement village with a 9-year-old Boston terrier that will not get into his cage when I leave the house.

For more than 30 years, Ken McCort has been considered an elite animal trainer — the trainer of last resort. He’s the man people turn to when other trainers have thrown in the towel and given up on an animal with problem behaviors.

Q: We have a 6-year-old Pyrenees mix who is very well behaved. About a year ago, she started to pick up mouthfuls of her dry dog food and spread it around the kitchen. She started out with just a few pieces and has gradually increased the amount. Of late, when we are gone, she will spread half of her one cup allotment everywhere in the kitchen, including trying to bury it under a rug by the back door, which makes it difficult to open. We have tried leaving it and not giving her more food until she eats what she has spread. She ended up losing about 10 pounds. We tried putting it back in her bowl. She puts it back on the floor. We tried throwing that food away, to let her know that she loses it if she spreads it, but this has not stopped it. Why after five years is she starting it now and how can we stop it?

Several years ago, one of my dearest friends and co-workers was about to mark the passage of another year. I wanted to make her birthday special and dispense with the usual office ho-hum birthday that offers wishes to the celebrant over a cake.