With the school year starting up, people's and pets' schedules change dramatically. For parents, it means the kids will be occupied all day; for kids, it might mean seeing friends they've missed all summer but saying "boo" to homework.

For pets, it will probably mean more lonely time spent by themselves.

Many pet owners purchased their puppies in late spring or early summer so they can have more time to train them and to have more bonding time with the kids. Now that kids are off to school and have after-school
activities, your pets are going to have lots of home-alone time.

Young puppies can become destructive due to their boredom. Cats might find Grandma's antique china cup a fun piece to shatter all over the floor. They are just looking for activities to chase away the doldrums.

You need to plan active time for your pets. I know: It's one more thing to schedule in your busy day. Sorry.

For latch-key dogs, you need to provide lots of exercise in the morning, or in the evening when everyone comes home. When I was in vet school, I'd do short running exercises with my dog. She chased a light
beam from a flashlight that I would shine around the yard at night. A quick game of "fetch" is another way to get maximum energy expenditure in minimum time.

Another way to keep your furry family members from being bored is to leave stimulating toys for them to play with while you are gone. Kong toys are virtually indestructible and can be stuffed with canned food,
peanut butter or treats. Buster Cubes and other hollow toys can be filled with kibble, which then falls out in small amounts as your pet bats it around.

The idea is to channel your dog's energy into appropriate outlets, rather then letting him or her decide what and where to chew.

Cats are less responsive to stuffed toys, but they might enjoy catnip- scented toys, fuzzy mice, and treats left in unusual places. They like those laser lights to chase, too. Rather than leaving a single bowl of food, try splitting your cat's ration into four or five smaller containers and leaving them in different places each day.

Doing this takes only a few minutes, and it will keep your cat entertained as he "hunts" for his meal. When you are home, try to engage your cat in some playtime. Those dangly toys on a stick work great — and keep sharp teeth and claws away from your fingers.

Scratching posts and hiding spots are also a definite must when it comes to designing a stimulating environment. And if you have just one cat, don't overlook the value of a feline friend. Sometimes, all a
bored kitty needs is a playmate to keep him busy. So this school year, please remember to schedule after-school activities for all your family members, including the furry ones.