Help with "other" Sigma flash

I accidently ordered the Sigma 500DG STC EF500 - not the Super. I can't seem to find much info on it, either. I let the order go as I have really not used flash much until I got a digital camera. I used existing light with my old film SLR. I have a couple of problems that I thought the 500 ST could handle, and if I wound up not using the flash much, I wouldn't have lost much.
I mainly want to direct the flash elsewhere, or bounce it. One of my cats is extremely white in parts and the white would get washed out using the flash on the Digital Rebel. The black and orange would be way off if I exposed for the white. The other cat is "Devil Eyes" . She is so bad with this that even room light will give you this effect! She is extremely blue-eyed.
The new 20D is much better on the whites.
Main questions with the Sigma:

What is the flash sync? Sigma says 60 or 30, Canon manual and other Canon books say 250.

Can you use the darn thing off the camera? Sigma doesn't mention it. It does fit on Canon's cord.

Sigma does say all EOS Cameras but their instructions sure read like they are for film. It does say EO-ETTL. B & H describes it as ETTL II.

I'm afraid to use it on the camera w/o a little more info.

Here's a pic of "Devil Eyes" . So far, have not been able to use a straight red-eye removal tool on her. Always have to paint it in PS. If you can find a faster way - have a go.

Thanks,
Carpetshark

PS - Irfanview makes these low res pictures look horrible. The original and the print are far sharper and better shaded

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The DG in the model number indicates it's for digital cameras.
Currently on Sigma's site they list only two - the EF500 DG ST and the EF500 DG Super.

If it says "ETTL" in the upper left part of the LCD on the back of the flash when you turn it on, you're probably ok in terms of compatibility.

Flash sync speed is a function of the camera, not the flash. On the Digital Rebel is 1/200. On the 20D it's 1/250.

Devil eyes are a real problem with animals, worse even than red eye with people. Try aiming it straight up at the ceiling to get rid of that problem.

One possible disadvantage of the ST vs. the super on the D Rebel - I don't know if it has FEC (flash exposure compensation). The Rebel doesn't have FEC either, so in E-TTL mode you're pretty much stuck with whatever exposure Canon thinks is correct.

The ST model doesn't have an LCD unfortunately. It's a lot like the 420EX in layout and feature set.

That said, you can safely use your flash on the camera and bounce it. You'll have to use your camera's built in flash exposure compensation feature since it cannot be controlled on-flash like a more feature-rich flash would allow.

Flash Sync for the 20D is 1/250th. That's a camera function, not a flash function.

I now have a 20D, so the flash extras should apply, no? It did sound like the 420EX, the box also said ETTL-II, and bouncing it or rotating it is the other reason I got it. It also seems to have 2 modes, full and half? power. The 220EX was a tad cheaper. but it was stationary. I've found plenty of info on how to set up and use a flash, but not so much on the mechanical end for compatibility. Even Sigma didn't have much on its site. And I don't think the Drebel has FEC unless you use the hack - I didn't.
I'd still appreciate any input and I'll go play with it. It should help with that cat.

Thanks,
Carpetshark