SPECIAL EDITION: Pets

"Pets" Special Edition is moving Tuesday for use anytime on the Lifestyles wire. All stories are accompanied by photos. Slugs begin BC-US-SPE--Pets-. For story reruns, please call the Service Desk at (800) 838-4616.

HEADLINES:

Rodents of Unusual Size: Capybaras aren't for everyone

Volunteer pet-foster groups offer peace of mind to military personnel abroad

Want a pet in the city? Lots of good choices, but do your homework first

Social networking for the furry set

Matted coats and mohawks among the challenges faced by dog groomers

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GIANT RODENT

It's one thing to get a goldfish because your daughter begs for one. It's another to end up with a hundred-pound rodent who has more than 2,700 Twitter followers. Caplin Rous is a capybara. Related to the guinea pig, the capybara is the largest species of rodent. Though they're native to South America, Caplin was born in Texas and lives in the town of Buda with Melanie Typaldos, who never expected this animal to take over her life quite the way he has. By Linda Lombardi.

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MILITARY

When Maj. Randall Baucom got word that the Army was sending him to Iraq, he worried about what he would do with his two dogs. "I didn't want to put them in a kennel for 15 months," he said. He was relieved when he found Guardian Angels for Soldiers' Pet, a volunteer organization that helps military personnel find temporary homes for their pets. It's one of several pet foster programs offering free help to overseas troops. By Melissa Kossler Dutton.

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CITY OWNERS

When she moved from Kansas City to New York, Suzanne Cole didn't question sharing her 450-square-foot apartment with her Irish setter. But others did. "I got involved in so many conversations where people would ask, 'How can you live with a dog that big?'" Cole said. Turns out she loved sharing her urban life with Rudy. Having a good city pet experience, the experts say, requires an honest assessment of your lifestyle, some homework to find the right animal and a commitment to invest the necessary time. By Colleen Newvine.

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With:

PETS-CITY OWNERS-TIPS

SOCIAL NETWORKS

Cynthia Frank is one of a growing number of pet owners who use social networking sites to show off their animals and connect with other pet lovers. She has especially liked sharing news of her dog, Scout, on Dogbook, a third-party application of Facebook. Dogbook's recently launched iPhone application passed 80,000 downloads after just two weeks. Frank also keeps a profile of her cat, Cinnamon, at Catbook. By Amy Lorentzen.

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DOG GROOMER

WASHINGTON — Dog groomer Sharon Malachi moves easily from breed to breed on a busy day at the grooming salon at Happy Paws. "You learn from doing," she says, "from watching dog shows and reading about how they're supposed to look." Some groomers, like Malachi, work out of shops. Others come to the dog's home. And some work out of mobile vans. Dog owners who want a groomer should try to find a professional, experts say. By Carole Feldman.

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With:

PETS-DOG GROOMER-TIPS.

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For story reruns, please call the Service Desk at (800) 838-4616.

With other questions, contact Julia Rubin at jrubin(at)ap.org or (212) 621-1799. For photos, call Shoun Hill at (212) 621-1920.

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Special Editions move on the first or second Tuesday of each month. Others upcoming are:

March 2 - Homes- Spring Cleaning

April 13 - Outdoors

May 4 - Careers

June 1 - Weddings