Pet Health

Last week, you talked about the dangers of cocoa bark mulch. But, what about other garden products? I am an avid gardener, but also a pet lover and I worry all the time that the “stuff” I use in my garden, even though I try to use mostly organic products and controls, might harm them. But they are always outside with me and roaming around and investigating every new smell and I just worry.

Simba was rescued from the mean streets of Oswego but she doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. Instead she is a friendly and pretty young lady who loves belly rubs and lounging around nice and safe in her foster home. She is getting used to the other cats and dogs in her foster home, but she wants a nice safe home of her own.

Someone just told me that the cocoa bark mulch, that I love in my garden, can be poisonous to dogs? Is that true? And even if it’s true, why would a dog eat it?

Peaches is a super friendly (and we really aren’t exaggerating) young lady, all ready to go to her forever home. She’s fine with other cats, dogs, and even little kids, even bratty ones.

I am about ready to put a flower garden in for the first time and I’m wondering whether you have any suggestions about how to dog and cat proof it. Not so much using chemicals or fertilizers, I know about that, but I am hoping that they will not ruin it.

We’ve featured Ally before, but she still needs a home and she just keeps getting prettier and more mellow while she waits. When Ally was found under a porch she was so thin that her rescuers thought she was a kitten. She was at least a year old but only weighed 4 pounds. She was also scared and had no idea how to play.

Aren’t there safe and effective ways to control those little buggers without resorting to deadly chemicals? If I sound like one of those tree-huggers, well that would be me, but I would also like to be able to hug my flea and tick free pets without exposing myself (let alone what it does to my pets) to a bunch of chemicals that I have no idea whether they are safe.

Merle is a big lovey handsome young fella whose current job is “office cat.” He is totally in charge of all business operations, goes from lap to lap and computer to computer making sure that his directions are followed and that he gets the respect and attention (and kisses) he deserves. In spite of his huge responsibilities, he is laid back and totally easy-going.

I know we are getting close to flea season again, even though it doesn’t look it outside my window. Sigh. But I was wondering what you think about the importance of flea control for pets. I have been using various treatments for years and honestly, it has been a long time since I actually saw a flea anywhere near any of my pets.