It’s the fall season. And with the season comes the inevitable changing of the colors of the leaves. Long drives with the top down is the preferable way to go. Mile after mile of driving along in your fuel efficient/bio-fuel car which makes nary a sound just enhances the beauty of the experience. And once you and your loved ones arrive back home and after smelling that fresh air all day, everyone is relaxed…until you spy the front yard, and the back yard, and don’t forget the two side yards. “I just cleaned them yesterday!” says the frustrated home owner. And, while the kids quietly disappear you open the garage door and see them. Yes, a rake still warm from yesterday’s uses, and the dog, a spry creature just waiting to rustle around the leaves as you try to tame the yard back into order.
But be wary, as Dagget the pooch rustles around he runs the risk of picking up ticks and fleas which can bring misery to everyone in the house. At the first sign of scratching it’s already probably too late. The parasites have been biting already and laying untold numbers of eggs which in a short period of time will help the situation grow exponentially. So put down the rake and search around for that tick and flea power, spray, and drops that can cost a good amount, but have proven effective in the past.
But wait, The National Resources Defense Council, the self styled “Earth’s Best Defense” against pollution, global warming, and depletion of natural resources, has put out a new warning against many of the chemicals found in anti-tick and flea treatments in a web site called Green Paws. Before Dagget is allowed to run free in decaying leaves and a near-perfect breeding ground for parasites like ticks and fleas, please read on.
The NRDC recently conducted a study of anti-tick and flea treatments and discovered an alarming array of chemicals which can cause allergies, asthma, skin diseases, and various cancers in humans. Each product tested for potential risk to humans is categorized by different colored paw prints printed on the sides of the packages in which the treatments come. Products that contain the least of all chemicals that cause humans to put themselves at risk are paw-printed in the color yellow. Use caution even with yellow. Children and pregnant women should always avoid those products with the orange paw print. And really no one should be using a red paw-printed package for the chemicals it contains.
And let’s not forget the potential harm to ‘ol Dagget. A chemical is a chemical and as an extra-bonus feature Green Paws has an extensive list, color coded, of course, listing the brand of tick and flea killer, the chemicals found in each, and the link to what those chemicals have, can, or will cause in humans and/or pets. This is good reading for those of us with pets and is something one should print off and take down to the pet store the next time Dagget even looks like he wants to scratch. “Good Boy, Dagget” sounds so much better than, “Stop that scratching, Dagget!”
As for the leaves, they can wait and quite frankly, more are coming your way anyway. Green Paws also offers suggestions for a tick/flea free environment using non-toxic remedies both inside and outside the house so it might not be a bad idea to review that material as well.
Enjoy those long rides, adhere to the color-coded paw print system, and let’s let our four-legged friends live tick, flea, and cancer free.
Great post Joe. I need to put my Frontline on my pup this week and will for sure check out this site first! Thanks!