Managing pets in the spring garden

“If you,

Like me

Were made of fur

And sun warmed you,

Like me

You’d purr.”

— Karla Kuskin

Time spent in the garden with your favorite cat(s) and/or dog(s) can be one of the greatest pleasures a gardener enjoys. With spring upon us, their presence is a calming influence, which insulates us from the pressure of attempting to become thinner, tanner and richer prior to summer.

However, not every furry friend has a home nor does every home have a furry friend, which is quite the shame.

That’s where Gina Kantzabedian and her Animal Crackers comes in.

She and her volunteers find care for unwanted and/or sick dogs and cats, educate humans about pet responsibility, and work as a matchmaker for homeless pets and pet-less homes.

Catharine, Buster and I spend as much time as we can on visits to Gina’s wonderful store.

Animal Crackers provides every possible necessity any pet or owner would require, and Gina offers the best service, grooming and assortment of treats anywhere.

The sight of cats and dogs cavorting in a backyard gladdens my heart, even though we all know that pets will modify the way we garden (if you don’t know you will soon find out). The sight of my dogs chasing birds (that they’ll never catch) may give me as much pleasure as their rediscovery of a bone in a newly planted flower bed.

Trying to completely control pets in a garden is difficult and unfair. The obvious reason is that cats and dogs are intelligent and able to figure things out pretty quickly.

A loudspeaker or motion sensor illumination may startle a cat for a period, but eventually she will realize that these devices are harmless and should be ignored.

Cats can be discouraged from digging in newly planted areas by spraying the soil with a repellent that is available at Animal Crackers.

Dogs can transform a garden, from good to battered, especially when allowed to run freely in a small yard; hence the need for our Bark Park and the beach.

The damage is obvious — crushed or trampled plants, holes in the lawn and dug up soil. As a bonus, there is the possibility of ubiquitous droppings in all the wrong places.

Discourage dogs from unwanted digging or making deposits by spraying the affected area with a repellent or constructing a temporary fence. Over time, your dog will respect the new boundary, and will be less likely to stray once the fence is removed.

It is important to provide both a desirable location to play and firm discipline.

For more information about Animal Crackers, give Gina a call at (949) 499-1988.

STEVE KAWARATANI is married to writer Catharine Cooper, and has three dogs. He can be reached at (949) 497-8168, or e-mail to plantman2@mac.com .