Nan’s terrific GDBW of The Month for this February on pets in the garden has received alot of interesting responses. As a long time dog owner, I want to add my two cents to the mix.
Although I’ve gardened my entire adult life, I didn’t become a dog lover until my daughter was 12, at which time she was so persuasive that I agreed to let her have a dog as long as it was small, didn’t shed and a promise that she would tend to it (wasn’t I an optimistic soul?) So began our love affair with Australian terriers. Milo, our first dog, was perfect for a first time dog: sweet, loving, a great hang out dog with teenagers and trustworthy in the garden MOST OF THE TIME. I never had to worry about him cavorting with or chomping on the plants. But there was one incident that really shook me up. One day, I came to check on him in my daughter’s bedroom where he was resting. I found him lying on his back in a splayed, frozen position. I was sure he was dead and couldn’t bring myself to go over and check his breathing. Terrified, I brought a gardening friend over and he reassured me that Milo was just fine, that perhaps he had eaten something from the garden. We went outside to check and sure enough, in the front yard were quite a few mushrooms. We quickly concluded that this was the cause of his stupor: within a half hour, he came out of his drugged state and was back to his old self. Continue Reading →
What an enthusiastic response to this month’s topic! It’s not a surprise, though, considering how passionate most pet people are about their furry and feathered friends. From cats and dogs to chickens and camelids, our companions often have a great influence on our design and plant choices, and we don’t mind making allowances for their comfort and safety in our outdoor spaces.
