Spring Must be Right Around the Corner!

Mar 17th Spring Must be Right Around the Corner!

Yep, my Chow, Mystic, is starting to blow her massive coat. She knew it would be a cold winter and geared up for staying warm. Over the past three weeks, my husband and I have filled almost four grocery bags full of caramel colored fur from our weekly brushings. That’s enough to make at least one doggie playmate for her.

Alas, she will remain an only dog, because that’s all we can handle, not because she is a problem, quite the opposite, we hit the almost perfect canine companion lottery with her. Besides our parrot, Taco, can only keep up with one dog at a time.

Then there is our 40 year old box turtle, Sammie, who has placed our Chow at the top her s**t list since Mystic’s arrival nineteen months ago. As a puppy Mystic picked Sammie up, while the turtle was sunning herself in the sunroom and took her outside, apparently to play, not once but twice over a week’s time. The turtle did not appreciate this offer of playtime in any way shape or form. After we figured out how this was happening, we strengthened Sammie’s enclosure, so she couldn’t get out, thereby, thwarting the puppy’s efforts. Still, each time the dog passes by Sammie’s indoor enclosure, she hisses her displeasure loud and long.

But I digress, Spring is a time when green sprouts poke their heads out of the brown winter landscape with promise of a colorful transition. Mother Nature awakens not only plants, but other creatures too, pesky ones.

Each year blood-sucking mosquitoes kill thousands of humans and animals alike. They transmit West Nile virus, various types of Encephalitis, Malaria, Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever. They also threaten the lives of our canine companions with the insidious Heartworm disease. In the southern United States mosquito season has already begun and by May will be in full swing throughout the entire US. Take precautions to reduce the chances of mosquitoes hanging around your home.
• Make sure there is no stagnant or standing water around your home.
• Check your window screens for slits or holes in them and repair or replace them as necessary.
• Consider obtaining commercially available Mosquito traps.
Finally, protect your pets with readily available Heartworm preventatives.

One last thought, snakes, skunks, raccoons, foxes and various other creatures are active with the arrival of Spring. Check your yard before allowing your pets outside, especially early morning and after dusk to prevent unwanted encounters, such as the one we had last summer with a skunk in our back yard. That’s a tale for another day, until then have a magical Saint Patrick’s Day and a productive week.