DR. WALLACE: I really, really need your help. My best friend moved to Florida. She had the cutest little dog in the world. Every time I visited her house, I would play with FiFi. I loved her, and she loved me. The day before my friend and her family moved, my friend called me and asked me to come over to her house because she had a big surprise for me. While walking over to my friend's house, I couldn't imagine what the surprise might be. When I arrived, I couldn't believe my eyes! She had FiFi all dressed in pink and she said she was giving her to me because she knew that I loved her and would be good to her.

I've had FiFi for a week, and now my mother is telling me that I've got to find another home for her, and if I can't, then FiFi will have to go to a local animal shelter. My mom says that owning a dog is expensive and that our family is not rich. I'm 13 and I have no way of earning money. Next year, I'll be able to earn money by babysitting.

Dr. Wallace, please help me convince my mom to let me keep FiFi. I love my mother, but I also love FiFi very much. FiFi is only one year old and a very healthy and well-behaved dog. I can't bear to part with her. Please help! — Very Sad Daughter, Minneapolis, Minn.

MOM: Please allow your very sad daughter to become an extremely happy young lady by saying two little, but compassionate, words: "FiFi stays." This wonderful puppy will soon win her way into your heart and will bring the entire family much joy! FiFi will become a faithful, loyal family member for many wonderful years to come, and trust me, in a short time, you will love FiFi as much as your daughter does.

DAUGHTER: Promise your mother that you will be willing to forego all Christmas and birthday gifts this year so the funds can be used to support FiFi. You and your family can earn extra money by recycling cans, newspapers, etc. and this will help the environment as well. You are a wonderful young teenager, and soon you will also be an excellent babysitter! Please stay in contact with me and tell me about the love and happiness FiFi and your family are enjoying together.

TEENS MUST FEEL THEY ARE LOVED AND WANTED

DR. WALLACE: My daughter has asked me to write to you for your opinion on our rules for her. She thinks we're much too strict, but my husband and I feel she is being influenced by her friends much too much and, at times, she is even rebellious. This is a difficult time for my daughter, my husband and me. Any advice will be appreciated. — Mom, Columbus, Ohio.

MOM: "The biggest problem in managing teens is a lack of knowledge on the part of the parents — knowing what's important and what is trivial, when to stand firm and when to be more flexible." So says Dr. Robert Masland, chief of adolescent medicine at Children's Hospital in Boston and one of the leading authorities on this subject.

He says the key to parent-teen harmony is communication. Teens need to understand the reason for the rules they are to follow, and if at all possible, should be part of the decision-making process. When teens help set their own curfew, they are more likely to honor it. Most successful parents are superb listeners to their teen's comments, and are in total harmony giving praise when warranted and discipline when warranted. Teens must feel that they are loved and wanted 100 percent of the time.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.