Creating a Pet-friendly Backyard

By Jessica Taylor

Pets are considered family members by many people – in fact, on some days I would say my dog is my favorite family member. Just look at the number of dog parks popping up around the country, or the countless pet groomers in every city, or even the number of TikTok videos starring a person’s furry friend: people truly love their pets. According to the American Pet Products Association, 67% of U.S. households, or 84.9 million homes, owned a pet in 2019-2020.1 Of these, around 63.4 million homes owned a dog, and 42.7 million homes owned a cat. Since the pandemic hit, the demand for pet adoptions has gone up significantly.2

Since we treat our pets as family, we should provide them an environment that is safe from wild animals, toxic plants, and the dangers of the outside world. Our backyard should be a place where they can eat, sleep, and play safely. When moving into a new home, there may be dangers that you are not aware of that should be addressed before letting your pet run free in the yard. Spring also happens to be the perfect time to assess and update your yard as the winter months could have destroyed fences and gates, which may result in unexpected wildlife visitors to the property. Proper Yard Enclosure is Important Having the right yard enclosure is critical. Not only will it keep your pet in, but also help keep unwanted wildlife out. A standard 6-foot tall fence should contain most dogs. If you have the “Michael Jordan” jumper of dogs, you may need to consider using landscaping such as dense shrubs along the fence line to keep your dog away. For diggers, consider an L-Footer which is wire fencing laid down and bent to a 90 degree angle shaped as an “L.” If this is a bit of an eye sore, you can hide it under dirt or grass.

A simple, yet important recommendation is to add a more sophisticated lock to your gate. A typical latching system can easily be blown open by the wind or opened by a curious child. Adding an additional hook-and-eye latch or self-closing gate hinges are options to consider.

Grass: Natural and Artificial Over the winter months, grass can get long and unkempt. Make sure to mow your lawn and keep the surrounding shrubs trimmed. Short grass will let more sunlight reach the ground, which in turn makes

the lawn drier so fleas and ticks are less likely to thrive. Snakes, which pose a danger to pets, are also less likely to reside in short grass.

Additionally, consider altering your watering schedule so that your grass and garden are not constantly damp. Snails, slugs, and similar critters love damp environments. Snail or slug bait can be fatal for dogs and cats if ingested, so keeping the area dry will reduce the need for it entirely.

For those looking for an eco-friendly option, artificial grass is a great choice. Not only is artificial grass safer for your pets – no harmful pesticides or fertilizers – but it also reduces water consumption. Additionally, many dogs (and people) are allergic to natural grass. Installing artificial turf eliminates the problem and also reduces other allergens, such as pollens, mildew, and mold. See our article on Artificial Turf on page 26 of this newsletter.

If you decide to install artificial grass, make sure to choose a turf that does not use backing containing lead. You also want to use a permeable or perforated backing and base rock under the grass, as this will help to effectively drain urine and other moisture.

Use of Pesticides Dogs are low to the ground and therefore are even more susceptible to the dangers of pesticides. According to the National Canine Cancer Foundation, 1 in 3 dogs will be diagnosed with cancer and 50% of those dogs will die from it.3 If you must treat your lawns and gardens, keep your pets away from those areas for 48 hours after application.

There are also safer alternatives to using pesticides. Consider organic fertilizers or pesticides made with natural, non-toxic ingredients, such as diatomaceous earth. For natural pesticides, pest-eating insects such as ladybugs, mantises, and nematodes are great options. Choosing the Right Plants and Mulch There are hundreds of toxic plants prevalent in California, so knowing which ones to avoid planting in your garden is crucial. Avoid plants such as aloe vera, azaleas, oleander, daffodils, lily of the valley, sago palm, tulips, and marigolds. Opt for dog-friendly plants such as daisies, orchids, roses, hibiscus, sunflowers, and snapdragons. California’s weather makes growing grapes ideal, but grapes are highly toxic to dogs – even fatal.

Along the same lines, look at the algae in your yard and pond. While most algae is harmless, some species of algae are so toxic that it can kill a dog within minutes if ingested. A simple UV light installed in the pond or water feature can destroy deadly algae. Chlorine tablets are also an option, but overchlorinated water can also be a danger to man’s best friend, not to mention the poor koi fish.

While mulching is important for plants and to beautify the yard, some mulch is not pet-friendly, such as cocoa bean mulch. This sweet smelling mulch is very inviting to pets, but can be deadly for dogs. Consider using less-toxic mulch such as pine, cedar, or rubber. Cedar and pinewood also help to repel fleas, ticks, and other types of pests.

Finally, have a place where your pooch can relax with protection from the sun. During the warmer months, some breeds are prone to heat stroke and dehydration. Having trees to provide shade or a dog house is vital.

Your pets are part of your family. It may be costly to implement some of the changes, but your pet’s safety is priceless. If you believe your pet is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, contact your local veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) 24-hour emergency poison hotline at 1-888-426-4435.

1 https://www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp 2 https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/01/06/animal-shelters-coronavirus-pandemic/ 3 https://wearethecure.org/