diff --git a/doc/fixes34.4 b/doc/fixes34.4
index 7421315d6..f0cea27da 100644
--- a/doc/fixes34.4
+++ b/doc/fixes34.4
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ avoid giving extra information about things that break out of sight
 avoid giving away wand type for near misses while blind
 avoid excessive repetition of "monsters are aware of your presence"
 monster's aggravation spell now affects meditating monsters
+busy pet won't miss out upon ascension
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes
diff --git a/src/dog.c b/src/dog.c
index f908fcf99..0a6294cf4 100644
--- a/src/dog.c
+++ b/src/dog.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	SCCS Id: @(#)dog.c	3.5	2005/01/29	*/
+/*	SCCS Id: @(#)dog.c	3.5	2005/03/17	*/
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -488,7 +488,18 @@ boolean pets_only;	/* true for ascension or final escape */
 	for (mtmp = fmon; mtmp; mtmp = mtmp2) {
 	    mtmp2 = mtmp->nmon;
 	    if (DEADMONSTER(mtmp)) continue;
-	    if (pets_only && !mtmp->mtame) continue;
+	    if (pets_only) {
+		if (!mtmp->mtame) continue;	/* reject non-pets */     
+		/* don't block pets from accompanying hero's dungeon
+		   escape or ascension simply due to mundane trifles;
+		   unlike level change for steed, don't bother trying
+		   to achieve a normal trap escape first */
+		mtmp->mtrapped = 0;
+		mtmp->meating = 0;
+		mtmp->msleeping = 0;
+		mtmp->mfrozen = 0;
+		mtmp->mcanmove = 1;
+	    }
 	    if (((monnear(mtmp, u.ux, u.uy) && levl_follower(mtmp)) ||
 #ifdef STEED
 			(mtmp == u.usteed) ||