Quvar: >> English people even refer to their pets as he or she, but only if they >> have personal contact. In German, the animal's gender is always used >> correctly, not matter how personal the contact is. DoyIchlan Hol jatlhlu'taHvIS, loD 'oH ngIq targh'e' (der Hund) 'ej be' 'oH ngIq vIghro''e' (die Katze), qarbe''a'? ;-) -- De'vID