AFTER seeing untold number of new sitcoms seek laughs by being loud, extreme and coarse, HBO’s new “Family Tree” is a relief.

Though it’s not an instant giggle-fest, its humor is the same type found in writer–creator–director Christopher Guest’s other projects. Think “Best in Show” and “Waiting for Guffman.” That makes it pretty good in my book.

The back story doesn’t matter all that much.

It’s about a 30-year-old loser of sorts named Tom Chadwick (Chris O’Dowd) who’s coming to grips with his own identity.

Then he suddenly inherits a mysterious box of belongings from a great-aunt that piques his interest and sets him on a journey to find himself.

Made by lesser hands, this would become an endless journey through sexual misadventures and encounters with odd sorts.

There’s oddness here, but it’s the funny kind—starting with the lead character. O’Dowd makes him broodingly, bitingly funny.

Like when he goes on a date with a real airhead who believes that dinosaurs still exist. Or when he talks to his dad (Michael McKean) who’s a hoot as he shares details of his new “hot and cold” shoe-keepers.

It’s refreshing to find humor that’s slow and smartly funny after seeing so many other shows go for the quick, easy laughs.

Little bits (the opening episode was titled “Bits and Bobs”) add up to create big laughs.

There’s the Indian version of “All in the Family” that Chadwick’s dad is watching when he comes over for a visit.

There’s also the short clip making fun of the historical epics in an ad for a coming series.

While the first episode was funny in itself, mainly because of the low-key but humorous moments sprinkled throughout, I think this will be a series where the laughs will accumulate as the viewer gets more and more familiar with the cast.

Is the sister with the monkey puppet funny? I thought not at first, but as the first episode continued and she let the puppet say insulting stuff she couldn’t bring herself to utter, it picked up steam.

I hope the show will do the same. Fresh off his striking performance in the smash hit film “Bridesmaids,” O’Dowd is a comic on the rise.

He has a flair for subtle humor that has found the perfect mentor in Guest.

Rob Hedelt: 540/374-5415

rhedelt@freelancestar.com

WANT TO WATCH?

What: “Family Tree”

When: Sunday nights at 10:30

Where: HBO

IN A MATTER of hours, I heard the phrase “yes, ma’am,” more than I probably hear in a year.

I was watching King George High School’s drill team practice its moves, and the group’s association with the military came through loud and clear. Whenever I asked a question, a student ended his or her response with the appropriate form of respect.

When we moved from one part of the school to the other, the students held the door open and beckoned for me to go first.

I was telling an editor how nice it was to be privy to such politeness, and he said something that stuck in my brain.

He mentioned that it used to be the rule for kids to say “ma’am” and “sir.” Now, it’s the exception.

It’s so unusual that it stands out. When you do witness pleasant behavior—from a person of any age—you feel like the occasion should be celebrated with a brass band.

When we bought a new TV last winter, the salesman was so courteous, he told us everything we needed and more, including what kind of upgrade we needed from the cable company. He made it clear that he welcomed any trivial questions we might have.

After our credit card was swiped, he walked us up to the front of the store and handed our ticket to the person who retrieved our model from storage.

Before we left, I found the manager and told him what a great job the salesman did.

Had that taken place some years ago, we probably would have considered the customer service part of the deal. You know, something everybody did.

But we all know that’s not the case anymore.

Just as we know that sending an email won’t necessarily generate a response—even from those who supposedly are in the business of providing answers to pesky reporters.

A few weeks ago, I was looking into a story about urgent-care centers, and I’ll bet I looked up more than half a dozen media relations officials on various Web pages, including those who work for state agencies.

I introduced myself, explained what kind of information I was looking for and asked them to contact me by email or phone.

The state workers did respond, I have to give them that. But as I asked which agency handled complaints about urgent-care facilities, the media officials sent me on a wild-goose chase. Four or five inquiries later, I ended up back at the same agency where I started—with no more information than I knew before.

Private companies and associations yielded even less. Most public-relations officers didn’t even bother to return an email. In this age of instant communication, I can’t believe people can’t devote 10 seconds to the courtesy of a response—but that’s another story.

When I did get a detailed answer, including definitions of medical terms, from Kim Harden, marketing director of the Urgent Care Association of America in Illinois, I almost launched into cartwheels.

I thanked Kim profusely for the thorough response. I also told her how unusual—and refreshing—it was to get complete answers in a timely fashion.

I did everything short of saying, “Yes, ma’am, you sure made my day.”

Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425

cdyson@freelancestar.com

NONE OF THESE is a stop-the-press kind of moment.

But put them together and they make up what I call my recent collection of good, bad and odd incidents. (I couldn’t find an ugly one.)

First, the good.

The Spotsylvania County Little League deserves three cheers for not gouging customers.

Hundreds of people attended the league’s annual opening day at Patriot Park on April 13, and like me, a lot of them got hungry after being in the sun for a couple of hours. Thankfully, the league set up a concession stand with refreshments that were just the ticket.

They didn’t put a major-league dent in anybody’s pocket. Cheeseburgers were $2.25 and bun-length hot dogs—the brand-name expensive kind—were $1.50. Sodas were 50 cents.

The league operates a concession stand throughout the season and is able to make money for its programs with profits from candy bars and hot dogs. But they keep in mind that Little League is a family event and don’t sock it to anyone in terms of pricing.

I wish zoos, circuses and amusement parks would do the same.

Next, the bad.

The turnout for a funeral of a friend’s son was so incredible, not everyone got a seat inside the community center where the service was held. I was one of about 50 or 60 people who didn’t.

Funeral-home officials put a speaker outside, but it didn’t carry much of what was being said.

Most of the people who stood outside spoke in hushed, respectful tones or said nothing at all. They greeted people they hadn’t seen in a long time, but recognized this wasn’t the time to socialize—not while the service was going on.

But wouldn’t you know, there was one guy who didn’t get it. He stood on the outer rim of the crowd but was loud enough that I could hear almost every word he said about deer and turkeys.

Now, I’m not opposed to hunting conversations. I’m certain we have more animal heads, tails and feet on our walls than most people.

But there’s a time to talk about the grand pursuits of gobblers and bucks, and there’s a time to muzzle it.

Now, the odd.

Members of the King George Board of Supervisors were discussing a local subdivision. The property owners association had asked for the county’s help in getting people to maintain their lots.

Seems there was a fire last spring that made one home uninhabitable, and the property looks bad—and apparently smells that way, too.

The letter noted that the “charred remains, at times, emit a noxious odor.”

Supervisor Cedell Brooks Jr. was concerned. He wondered why the remains of the people who died in the fire hadn’t been removed.

I could tell that a few in the audience weren’t following his logic. Then, I think it dawned on them that Mr. Brooks runs a funeral home and sees things through a different set of glasses.

When we heard “charred remains,” we thought of blackened beams and collapsed walls. To a mortician, it meant something else altogether.

Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425

cdyson@freelancestar.com

GOD BLESS the Sky Mall catalog. 

If, like me, you fly coach, by the time you reach your seat, you’ve been herded like cattle through the passenger check-in queue, poked, prodded and probed by rubber-gloved security screeners and then crammed—with your knees conveniently folded under your ear lobes—into a seat the size of a preschooler’s cubbyhole (and if you’re extra lucky, said preschooler is wailing in the seat behind you).

At that point, the only thing that really separates your flying experience from that of the luggage in the hold beneath you is the presence of Sky Mall in the seat-back pocket in front of you.

It represents a fantasy land, where every product is dishwasher-safe, antimicrobial, bio-electronic and sheathed in a durable laminate finish.

It’s like the Lake Wobegon of merchandise, where all the aluminum-framed, weather-proof wicker patio furniture is strong; all the ergonomically designed, moisture-wicking head rests are good-looking; and all the nonslip, stain-resistant kitchen mats are above-average—and filled with a 100-percent soft-gel core.

(Coincidentally, my own core is also 100 percent soft-gel.)

It’s a place where brown is actually espresso, red is pomegranate and gold is coquina.

It’s the kind of publication that makes you ask the tough questions of yourself, such as, “Do I have enough ‘lightweight, impervious composite’ in my life?” and “Why has no one ever explained to me the importance of ‘closed-cell foam technology’?”

The best part about the catalog is its 6-to-1 adjective-to-noun ratio, which gives it a non-skid, ice-tempered, carbon-reinforced polycarbonate entertainment value high enough to take your mind off the fact that you’ve lost all feeling in your lower extremities even before the plane has left the gate.

During a recent flight to Florida, I perused the latest issue of Sky Mall and found quite a few bargains.

One of my favorites was the Ultraplush Comfy Couch Dog Bed, designed with “furniture-grade craftsmanship and materials” and starting at $79.95. It comes with spun polyester fill, touted as “40 percent loftier than other fill.” I have no idea how one measures pillow loft, but I’m certain it’s very important to my dogs, as is the fact that this bed comes in caramel, hazelnut, flocked animal print and a host of other hues.

I also like the fact that this product comes with a removable tufted cushion. We had a couch with removable tufted cushions once. The border collie ate it for lunch one afternoon, and it’s since been removed—tufts and all—to the landfill.

To protect your finest tufted furniture-grade assets from cushion-marauding dogs, the catalog also offers mesh pet gates ranging from $80 to $150. “Intricate filigree accents and a warm, oil-rubbed bronze finish complement your décor,” the description boasts.

Au contraire, Sky Mall. Thanks to my beloved pets, my décor leans more toward intricate teeth-mark accents and a warm, slobber-rubbed finish. But I appreciate the thought.

A few pages later, the catalog touts an audio-enhancement device, saying, “We like the Personal Audio Enhancer because it makes life sound better.”

So life says, “This is the IRS and we’ve noted some irregularities in your tax filings for the last nine years.”

But for $389.99 plus shipping, what you hear is, “This is the IRS and we’ve noted some irregularities in your tax filings for the last nine years, which have resulted in a $40,000 tax refund for you. Your check is the mail.”

If you ask me, this device is under-priced.

I’m a little less excited about a $230 handheld heart monitor that lets you check for cardiac arrhythmias on the golf course, during shopping trips or “for those uncertain times when you’re not quite sure what’s going on.”

I don’t know about you, but for those uncertain times when I’m not quite sure what’s going on with my heart, I like to dial 911.

I love that nothing gets into Sky Mall without first making the “grade.” The dog beds are “furniture-grade.” The sleep-improving pillow wedge is made of “medical-grade” polyurethane foam. And the tangle-free earphones are designed of “military-grade and aramid tinsel technology,” which I’m pretty sure protects you from the kind of evildoing, insurgent nonsense your kids load onto your MP3 player without your permission.

Sky Mall truly is a magical place, full of breathable fabric that promotes moves-with-you comfort; borosilicate glass capsules with phosphor-lined interiors; and two-toned, hi-def, precision-cut, air frying technology.

I don’t know what any of that is. But if it will allow me to return once again to my full, upright position, I’ll pay whatever you want.

Edie Gross: 540/374-5428

egross@freelancestar.com

Just as people are willing to drive a few extra miles for a good restaurant, the great blue herons that nest in Stafford County don’t mind flying—five or six miles one way, several times a day—for their favorite foods.

The birds are “enjoying the feast” of the Rappahannock River, the annual migration of four types of herring that travel this way to spawn.

“Anyone who watches nature shows has seen grizzly bears lining up along the river to get salmon,” said Mike Lott, a steward with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. “The great blue heron are doing exactly the same thing.”

Lott also manages Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve, 2,872 acres along Potomac Creek in Stafford. Crow’s Nest boasts a heron nest site, or rookery, that’s at least 30 years old.

On Sunday, Lott gave an hour-long talk about the lifestyles of the birds that are the largest type of heron—and have the widest range—in all of North America.

The lecture was held at Belmont at the request of Michelle Crow–Dolby, the education and communications manager there.

She had spotted what Lott described as “the highway” for herons, the regular flight patterns of big birds heading to the falls around Falmouth in the springtime.

“They’re constantly flying overhead, and they’re just gorgeous to watch,” she said.

The 60-plus people in the audience were fans as well.

“I marvel at them,” said Joyce Childress of Stafford, “not only for their wing span, but for their whole aerodynamics.”

When Lott described the average heron as 5-foot tall and 4-foot long, with a weight of 4 or 5 pounds, several women gasped at how lightweight the birds are.

They can thank their hollow bones for that, he said.

Then Lott pointed out their long, tapered bill, designed for grabbing or spearing the migratory fish that arrive this time of year. They are hickory and American shad, alewife and blueback herring.

When he worked in the Everglades, he was riding in an airboat when a heron got tossed from the water—onto a person in the back seat.

“That bill is pretty formidable if that bird is sitting in your lap,” he said.

Bird and passenger got through the nature tour, unharmed.

Herons eat mostly fish, but will also consume amphibians, small mammals and other birds. Expensive koi in backyard ponds are just as appealing as migratory shad, Lott said.

To keep the territorial birds away from decorative ponds, Lott suggested getting a plastic heron and moving it around.

Lott and others who have studied the herons at Crow’s Nest don’t really know how many birds call Potomac Creek home. They don’t have the staff to keep track of each nest and see how many fledglings are raised each year.

Their only estimate comes in January, when officials count the number of nests at the rookery.

The 2013 number—of 153 nests—was the lowest in 20 years. The count had averaged about 300 nests, compared to a peak of 640 nests in 1993.

Lott didn’t think the low count was cause for concerns. Herons tend to favor American sycamores for their nests, and the trees aren’t a good refuge in a storm.

The July 2012 derecho, with its fast-moving winds, thunder and lightning, knocked out a number of nests, causing the low count in January.

“It’ll be interesting to see what happens next year,” Lott said.

Those who attended Sunday’s lecture certainly had spotted plenty of herons, along the river as well as other waterways. Bill and Betty Swift, who live in Stratford Harbour in Westmoreland County, said they were curious about the birds’ backgrounds.

Even though the herons are regular visitors at a nearby pond, the Swifts never tire of seeing them.

“I think there’s a great interest in wildlife in general in this area,” he said. “People come here to live because they’re interested in Mother Nature.”

Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425

cdyson@freelancestar.com

The hunt for good images was part of the Introduction to Basic Photography class they took under an after-school enrichment program sponsored by the PTA at the Stafford County school. The month-long program, which wrapped up last week, focused on expanding the education experience outside the classroom.

The offerings included such topics as healthy eating, artistic expression and cultural experiences. Many of the classes were led by parents of children in the school.

Swipe for the photographs the three students shot.

Next time you’re driving and feel the urge to make a phone call or text someone, remember that April is distracted driver awareness month.

We shouldn’t have to be reminded of the dangers of smartphone-

induced distracted driving. But let’s face it, how many of us haven’t talked on the phone or sent a text while driving?

In a recent AT&T survey of adult commuters, almost 50 percent admitted to texting while driving. I’ll bet the actual percentage is higher than that.

An argument can be made that talking on the phone while driving is doable, but it’s really not a good idea.

Texting while driving, though, is a fool’s game.

Not only is it dangerous, but now it’s a primary offense in Virginia.

Dear Scott: When you drive east on State Route 3 just over the Chatham Bridge and arrive at the light at the intersection of Kings Highway and Chatham Heights Road, there are four overhead traffic lights and only three lanes.

Only the right lane is for through traffic but the lights, which don’t line up with the lanes, would suggest that both the right and center lanes can go straight.

It would seem logical to have three lights only that align with the lanes to reduce confusion.

—Mel Wright, Stafford

Apparently, this is not a new question.

The Virginia Department of Transportation’s Kelly Hannon said they get the question from time to time.

Still, there’s an interesting answer to the setup of this weird intersection.

“It’s definitely a vexing issue,” said Hannon.

VDOT has made changes before by adding lane markings and overhead signs next to the signals.

How about getting rid of one of those signals, though?

VDOT engineers, citing the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, say that two signal heads are standard for through lanes. That holds true even if there is only one lane. So it’s not only the Chatham intersection that has such a setup, but others do, too, locally and nationwide.

Right now, you might be thinking that such an explanation is a load of malarkey.

But it’s true. Look around and you will see many area intersections with one through lane and two signals.

One example can be found on Routes 2 and 17 at the Lansdowne Road intersection. One through lane, two signal heads.

It’s funny the things we don’t notice until they’re pointed out to us.

There’s another question that has come up before with the intersection. It involves the two turn lanes and the idea that the outside one could be a combination turn/through lane.

VDOT says it wouldn’t be a good idea because it could create dangerous situations and would cause timing problems.

The primary timing issue would be that the eastbound traffic signals would have to stay red while westbound traffic has the green.

Hannon said VDOT understands that the signal setup can be confusing as currently configured.

It’s not an uncommon thing to see drivers go straight through that turn lane despite all of the signage.

Either way, it looks like the intersection will stay as configured.

But if you have an idea for improving the intersection, Hannon said, VDOT is open to hearing it.

Scott Shenk: 540/374-5436

sshenk@freelancestar.com

This morning, when Sarah-Grace Blaine enters the world, her father will be there to hear her first cries.

Richard Blaine always wanted to be present in the delivery room, but when doctors found a tumor in the brain of Blaine’s 2-year-old daughter in February, nearly everything in the family’s life became uncertain.

In early March, Richard and Carly Blaine decided 2-year-old Ellie should go to Memphis to receive chemotherapy at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Carly knew that St. Jude’s was Ellie’s best hope at fighting the cancer that was spreading from Ellie’s brain and into her spine. But the decision meant Richard would almost certainly be in Memphis when Carly gave birth in Virginia.

“It was hard,” Carly said. “But you have to do what’s best for your child.”

Friends chipped in and bought the family iPads so that Carly and 4-year-old Noah could use the FaceTime app to keep in touch with Richard and Ellie. Carly hoped that Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center would have a strong Internet connection in the operating room, so Richard could be virtually present for the birth of his daughter.

But a few days ago, Ellie’s compassionate pediatric oncologist agreed to change her chemotherapy schedule so she and her dad could make it back home for the baby’s birth. And a dedicated Baptist preacher made a 24-hour round-trip drive to get them home in time for the C-section.

Richard, Ellie and the Rev. Darryl Harbin made it to the Blaine’s Orange County home in the wee hours of March 22, just three days before the family expected to meet Sarah-Grace for the first time. Carly was shocked—and delighted—to see her husband and daughter in person for the first time in three weeks.

‘SOMETHING’S WRONG’

Ellie’s cancer journey began on her second birthday, Jan. 26. That day, the typically energetic chatterbox lay in a relative’s arms and barely spoke. Her parents assumed it was a stomach bug.

When she didn’t get better, they saw a doctor, who assumed the same thing.

Carly, an elementary school guidance counselor, suspected something more was going on.

“As a mom, you just know when something’s wrong,” she said.

Soon Ellie’s head began to droop. And then half of her face stopped moving.

Carly was at an appointment with the obstetrician, monitoring her gestational diabetes, while Richard called Ellie’s doctor, who told him to go to the emergency room.

That day, as Carly was driving home from her appointment, Richard called with the news: They found a spot on Ellie’s brain.

During the two-hour drive to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, where Ellie had undergone an MRI, Carly tried not think about what the spot could mean.

“Every time you start to freak out, you have to say, ‘No, no, no, just stay in today,’” Carly said.

Doctors took Ellie straight from the MRI and into the operating room, where they drilled a hole in her brain to relieve the pressure the tumor was causing.

Days later, doctors operated a second time to remove about 80 percent of the tumor.

A biopsy confirmed the doctors’ suspicions—the tumor was malignant. Ellie was diagnosed with pineoblastoma, a rare, aggressive brain cancer.

‘A WEIRD DREAM’

Ellie spent another week in the hospital, where she became a pro at checking up on all of her stuffed animals, taking their temperatures and looking in their eyes with a light.

Her parents tried to absorb their new reality—and to explain it to 4-year-old Noah, who wondered why his little sister was in the hospital.

“I don’t want to call it a nightmare, but it’s a weird dream,” Carly said. “And you read about it happening to other people and then you realize that now you’re the people that other people read about.”

Richard researched Ellie’s cancer and found a study taking place at St. Jude’s in Memphis. Ellie fit the study requirements, and the aggressive treatment offered at St. Jude’s seemed like a good way to fight the aggressive tumor.

The chemotherapy would take at least four months. Carly’s due date was fast approaching. The couple made the difficult decision to split the family—Carly and Noah would stay in Orange, and Richard and Ellie would travel to Memphis.

Carly couldn’t stand the idea of not seeing Ellie’s face, and worried she wouldn’t know how the toddler was handling chemo.

“All you want to do is see her face, see if she’s laughing or if she’s smiling,” Carly said.

But she wanted the top-notch care Ellie would receive at St. Jude’s.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

As Richard and Carly were preparing for the separation, a group of Carly’s friends from high school were plotting a surprise.

Carly hadn’t seen most of these women since they graduated from Stafford High School in 1999, but they kept in touch through Facebook. And when Carly’s old friends read about the family’s situation, they set up a fundraising account, and immediately collected enough money to buy two iPads for the family.

Another family friend surprised the family with a third iPad, which has helped Noah stay busy during his mom’s obstetrician visits.

The iPads keep the family connected. Carly and Noah chat with Richard and Ellie nearly every day—except for those frustrating times when they can’t get an Internet connection.

Noah reads his little sister stories through the tablet, and Carly gets updates from the doctors, who kindly lean down so she can see their faces during the discussion.

The help didn’t stop with iPads, though. The friends continued their fundraising efforts—especially helpful since Richard has blown through his paid leave from his job as a manager of an Old Navy in Charlottesville.

Carly’s coworkers at Sycamore Park Elementary School in Culpeper donated vacation hours, so she can take time off after Sarah-Grace’s birth, and to travel to Memphis.

While the Blaines have medical expenses from Ellie’s care at the U.Va. hospital, St. Jude’s will cover any expenses there that the family’s insurance won’t cover. The research hospital also paid for Richard and Ellie to travel to Memphis. They stay in a Target House apartment—for patients whose treatment lasts more than a few months—for free.

“You always hear about St. Jude’s,” Carly said. “But you don’t realize how much they do until you live it.”

In about six weeks, Carly, Noah and Sarah-Grace will join Richard and Ellie in Memphis. Then, Carly will stay with Ellie while Richard, Noah and Sarah-Grace try to build a normal life in Virginia.

Ellie will receive treatment at St. Jude’s for at least four months—then doctors will check her to see if the chemo is working. The Blaines and their families are hoping the tests will bring good news.

“We’re expecting a miracle,” said Carly’s mother, Tina Renninger.

She said that the family is already seeing miracles, as friends near and far have come together to hold fundraisers for the family.

And Ellie’s diagnosis has reconnected both Carly and her mother to friends they haven’t seen in years.

“When it comes to something like this, people really rise to the occasion,” Renninger said.

“My mind is blown every single day,” Carly said.

http://lifeontheblaineark.blogspot.com/

Amy Umble: 540/735-1973

aumble@freelancestar.com

LOS ANGELES—Dogs and cats can’t brush, spit, gargle or floss on their own. So owners who want to avoid bad pet breath will need to lend a hand.

“Brushing is the gold standard for good oral hygiene at home. It is very effective, but some dogs and more cats don’t appreciate having something in their mouth,” said Dr. Colin Harvey, a professor of surgery and dentistry in the Department of Clinical Studies for the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

The bulk of bad breath odor—the trademark rotten egg smell—comes from hydrogen sulfide, which is waste from anaerobic bacteria that thrive without oxygen in places like gaps between teeth and gums. Plaque buildup also invites the bacteria and as the accumulation grows, so does the smell.

Animal shelters and rescues know bad breath and filthy teeth can be a deal breaker. Some shelters, such as the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County in Florida, shuffle their charges through a dental health program before the animals are adopted out.

“We usually do dental cleanings and extractions when animals are spayed or neutered so the animal doesn’t have to be put under anesthesia again after adoption and the adopter has one less thing to worry about,” said Janet Winikoff, the shelter’s director of education.

If a pet is already spayed or neutered, it will still get dental care before adoption, she said. Harvey added that bad breath could also be a symptom of an underlying medical problem.

Stacy Silva, Santa Barbara County Animal Services’ community outreach coordinator, noted that wear on teeth could give the wrong impression of an animal’s age. “[The animals] may look a lot older than their teeth, and it may just be a matter of cleaning the tartar off that gets them back looking their age and that helps them to be adopted,” said Silva.

The animals that need a cleaning get chew toys or ropes, hard treats or cookies and a prescription diet if the vet orders it, she said.

Harvey, who has been director of the Veterinary Oral Health Council since it was founded in 1970, said such products are good substitutes for a teeth-brushing. Pet owners can try a combination or use other products such as water additives, chew toys, plaque and tartar cleaners, and dental diets, Harvey said.

Puppies and kittens are born toothless. They get their baby teeth before they’re a month old, lose them three to five months later and get their permanent teeth by age 1. Dogs have 42 teeth and cats have 30.

Toy dogs tend to have more dental problems because breeding for their smaller size hasn’t caught up with evolution, Harvey said. “Primitive dogs had a standard size and shape because they were evolved from wolves” but for toy breeds, their jaw size was reduced and tooth size was not, “so their teeth are too large for their mouths,” he added.

Christie Keith, a communications consultant to animal welfare and veterinarian groups, said she spends about two minutes each night brushing the teeth of her three dogs after dinner. The Davisburg, Mich., resident believes most dog owners needlessly fear brushing their dogs’ teeth.

“But cats are another story,” she added.

Harvey said that’s because cats’ mouths are smaller, their teeth sharper and they could care less about bonding with a human during designated tooth time.

Keith said she took it slow when she began brushing the teeth of her 8-year-old greyhound Val. She started with one tooth at a time and used a foamless flavored gel that dogs can swallow.

“She started to nibble [on the toothbrush] and I rubbed it on her front teeth. I didn’t make a big deal out of it. I didn’t worry about brushing the first half dozen times. It was just a little bonding thing. Eventually, I brushed one tooth. Now she stands there and lets me brush all her teeth,” she said.

The gel doesn’t require water to rinse, lessening the likelihood of a mess. A year later, “[Val’s] gums look healthy to me, and it doesn’t seem she has any more tartar,” Keith said.

Oral care products for animals are generally not regulated by any federal agency, although the Food and Drug Administration monitors all products that claim to prevent or slow disease. The agency does not test products that claim cleaner teeth, fresher breath or the reduction of plaque and tartar, Harvey said.

The VOHC is not a regulatory agency but it uses American Dental Association guidelines to test pet plaque and tartar products. Test requests are voluntary but companies pay nonrefundable submission and annual maintenance fees. Products are given a VOHC seal if they pass.

The council has approved a human, ADA-compliant, flathead toothbrush with soft bristles and rounded tips for pet use. A child’s brush can be used for small pets and an adult size for big dogs, but don’t use human toothpaste on pets, Harvey warned.

Such toothpastes contain detergents that foam and pets will swallow it instead of spitting it out, he said.

Harvey said he can’t comment on any product VOHC hasn’t tested, but as a rule, any wipe, tongue cleaner or additive should be beneficial—although nothing beats brushing.

vet.upenn.edu

vohc.org

hsvb.org

countyofsb.org/phd/animal.aspx

NEW YORK—Nearing 1 billion views on YouTube, “Sesame Street” is headed for Justin Bieber territory.

The children’s program is closing in on the kind of rarified digital milestone usually reserved for the likes of pop stars and cat videos. “Sesame Street” will soon pass 1 billion views on YouTube and it’s celebrating the mark with a campaign to put itself over the hump.

“Sesame Street” on Thursday will post a video featuring the character Telly Monster, urging viewers to click the show past the final 20 million views and unlock a “top secret video.” Naturally, for the nonprofit children’s series, it’s a teaching moment, too. Don’t be surprised if Count von Count shows up to ponder such a big number.

For “Sesame Street,” the milestone—a first on YouTube for a nonprofit or U.S. children’s media outlet—reflects the increasingly multimedia nature of kid entertainment. Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch are now about as likely to be watched on an iPad, phone or laptop as they are on PBS.

“We have this theory that if we get content on multiple platforms and devices, it gives kids and families a chance to reinforce and experience the curriculum multiple times,” says Terry Fitzpatrick, executive vice president of content and distribution for Sesame Workshop, who emphasizes videos are best co-viewed with child and parent. “It blows me away to think about how popular and strong a platform [YouTube] has become for us.”

“Sesame Street,” a mainstay on PBS since 1970, launched its YouTube channel in 2006, but has continually expanded its mindfulness of online and mobile viewers.

Sesame Workshop last year integrated its digital media group into its TV production, so that digital and interactive elements are considered from the start of an idea. Its most popular video is “Elmo’s Song,” which has been watched nearly 86 million times since being uploaded in 2009. More recently, another PBS hit, “Downton Abbey,” was parodied in “Upside Downton Abbey,” a video where British muppets have trouble drinking tea and eating crumpets because, well, they’re upside down.

Caitlin Hendrickson, strategic partner manager for YouTube’s educational realm, YouTube EDU, says that education is one of the fastest-growing content categories on the Google Inc.-owned site. “‘Sesame Street’ reaching 1 billion views,” she said in a statement, “is proof of their outstanding leadership in this space and their creative use of YouTube.”

youtube.com/user/SesameStreet