Pet food donation, Trebek and Bowie, baseball glove, pets with Santa, 'Keep Austin Weird' for infants

Q: We had to put our 20-year-old cat to sleep a few weeks ago. We still have a dozen cans of cat food. Is there an organization that could use these?

Perhaps an animal shelter, humane society, pet store, etc.? I don't want to just throw them out.

A: Canned dog and cat food is accepted at the Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St. Donations of dry food are passed on to the Austin Pet Food Bank.

The center also needs towels and small blankets (no quilts or electric blankets) as well as tennis balls, newspapers, natural rawhide chews and washable ball-shaped cat toys. Looking for a great gift? Pick up the center's 2007 calendar (Purr-fect Poses, $10) at friendsoftlac.

com. Q: I am disgusted again as I watch "Jeopardy" that Alex Trebek has for the third time recently mispronounced the name "Bowie" (James Bowie). How do I get in touch with the show to let them know that he is pronouncing it like David Bowie with a long "o"?

He is picky about his pronunciations and would like to say it correctly! A: Send your pronunciation correction to Jeopardy!, 10202 W.

Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. "I've never heard it pronounced Bowie (as in David Bowie).

I'm not sure about the derivation of the name, but everybody in Texas pronounces it Bowie (Boo-ee)," says Mike Cox, Texana specialist. James Bowie was born in Kentucky and died at the Alamo in 1836. Let me know if Trebek responds.

Q: My grandson has an expensive baseball glove, and I would like to have someone permanently put his name on the glove. His friend's glove has his name monogrammed with thread. I'm hoping you can find someone to do this.

If this is impossible, perhaps it can be done with a branding iron. A: Glove makers such as Rawlings stitch names on gloves before they are assembled. I did not find a craftsman to stitch a name on a completed glove.

However, Don Hurst, craftsman at Custom Bookbinders, 3208 E. Martin Luther King Blvd., can brand a name or initials on the leather glove if he can find a large enough flat surface.

Hurst can also imprint a leather album, scrapbook or family Bible with a name and, in the case of divorce, remove (as best as possible) an imprinted name from these surfaces. Q: Do you know anyone who will do a photo of my dogs (miniature dachshunds) with Santa? I know a pet store that does a photo shoot, but the Santa doesn't look real (fake beard) and you only get Polaroid photos.

I would like photos that I can reproduce to send to friends and family. I want a Santa with a real beard. A: The folks at Highland Mall host Pet Photo Night (6 to 9 p.

m. Wednesday, fun zone wing) with Santa. Yes, his beard is real.

Prices for professional photo packages begin at $15.99, and you may also bring your own camera. Q: I have not been able to locate an infant-size T-shirt sporting our city's favorite motto: "Keep Austin Weird.

" It would be a great Christmas gift for a friend in Tennessee whose 6-month-old son is named Austin. A: Pick up one (in 6-, 12- or 18-month size for $12.95) from Outhouse Designs, 448-2336 or outhousedesigns.

com. Contact Jane Greig at P.O.

Box 670, Austin 78767; (512) 445-3697; e-mail jgreig@statesman.com or fax (512) 445-3968. For more Jane Greig, visit www.

statesman.com/life/greig.