CREATING

CREATING A Pet-Friendly BACKYARD

By Gail Mayhugh

OUR PETS LIKE TO BE OUTSIDE IN THE FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE AS MUCH AS WE DO, BUT OUR EXTREME SUMMER HEAT MAKES IT A CHALLENGE. THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER OUR PETS' SAFETY WHEN CREATING A PET-FRIENDLY BACKYARD. HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER.

SAFETY FIRST [ More important than décor is safety. There are many safety concerns in our yards, and plant selections need to be on the top of our list. Dogs especially love to investigate and can often find something interesting to snack on; they can be persistent when it comes to getting at something you don't want them to. There are many toxic plants you may not know about; I had no idea lantana was one of them. Before adding new plants or flowers to your yard, check out the ASPCA Poison Control website for those that can cause serious health problems if ingested.

www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

SPLISH SPLASHING AWAY

[ Have water-loving dogs? Keep them cool with a water feature; a small pond or pool is an option. Pick one that is shallow enough for your pet to get in and out of easily. Instead of placing a pup pool on top of the grass, you could put it in the ground. Also, by putting it in the ground it will keep them from chewing it up, dragging it around, or through the doggie door, as we've seen in the hilarious YouTube videos.

KEEP THE WATER FLOWING [ Fresh water,

and plenty of it, is crucial in any climate. If you don’t want to add a pool for Fido to play in perhaps a water fountain is perfect. The circulating water also keeps the water cooler. There are a variety of styles available if you want something more decorative than a standard plastic one.

COOL DOGGIE HANGOUTS [ It's essential

to provide proper shelter and shade when your pup is outside to cool down and protect from getting sunburned! Since not all homes here have large trees, a small gazebo would be ideal for you and your pet if you have the room. A free-standing patio umbrella or a retractable awning that can be stretched over an open area are good options. It is important to keep them closed when you are not at home since we have unpredictable winds in Vegas. If your pup likes to have a private place, add a doghouse. There are some amazing ones available now.

AND THESE LITTLE PIGGIES [ We all have

some landscape materials for our walkways and green spaces that unfortunately get hot to walk on. So, if it's hot for our feet, it's hot for their paws. They can burn as easily as ours. For hard surfaces light colors are always better than dark ones. Many landscapers feel travertine is the best option to keep the path as cool as possible.

For our green spaces, lawns are the best options, but being in a water-drought situation, artificial turf is becoming the ground cover of choice. Yes, it's a hot alternative, but there are now synthetic cooling systems that can help your artificial lawn stay cooler.

Have a Fun & Safe Summer!

Gail Mayhugh, the owner of GMJ Interior Design, has been designing in Las Vegas for over 20 years. She also supports animal rescues and shelters through her non-profit, www.SeniorsToTheRescue.org.