Once Upon A Time ... Hidden in Hair

HIDDEN IN HAIR

The Plot

A tale of good vs. evil ... of mystery and intrigue. A story of dedication ... and triumph. Based on actual events, this story will amaze you!!

The Cast of Characters

The Innocent Victim ... played by The Earth

The Damsel in Distress ... played by Isabelle

The Bad Guy ... played by Flea

The Accomplice ... played by Feral Cat

Our Hero ... played by Art

Art's Flea Sword ... played by Flea Comb

Our Heroine ... played by Small







The Tale

Once upon a time, in a magical land called Asheville, there lived a very green family. They removed toxins from their home, shunned most chemicals and grew vegetables ... and life seemed perfect. Until ...

Isabelle, an indoor cat, wandered out to her patio. Being a pampered (aka Lazy) cat, she enjoyed sunning herself on the cozy rug which her owners provided for her and she never tried to jump the rail and enter the world beyond. She lounged while watching the birds and enjoyed her private little oasis.

One day, while Isabelle was sleeping inside, Feral Cat jumped over the rail. He wandered about, investigating everything, until Small noticed him and scared him off. For several days this went on ... Feral Cat coming in and Small chasing him out. Little did Small know that he had dark passengers.

Feral Cat eventually got the message and Isabelle again enjoyed lounging in the sun. But then ...

One evening, Art and Small noticed some strange behavior in Isabelle. She jumped from her bed and began scratching furiously. Clearly in distress, she meowed and begged for relief. That's when Art & Small noticed the dreaded ... Flea (the audience gasps).

Now Art and Small lived a green life, always trying to protect the earth ... so they weren't about to introduce toxic flea medicine into their home. They tried shampoo ... it didn't work. Poor Isabelle was suffering. Would they relent and buy her flea treatment ... or a flea collar? No ... they held firm.

Art consulted the experts (aka the Internet) and found a natural treatment ... one which would require dedication and attention to detail. He armed himself with the Flea Sword while Small heated boiling water and then, together, they began the process. Every day ... sometimes twice a day ... they combed Isabelle. In the beginning, the evil fleas would jump off her body. Small would immediately put a glass over them and then, very carefully, transport them to the bowl of boiling water where they would die instantly. After a thorough combing, Small would vacuum the entire house.

As time went on ... there were fewer and fewer evil fleas. Small and Art continued the process ... for weeks ... which turned into months ... 2 months to be exact. And finally, the fleas were beat. Isabelle went back to being a happy, pampered cat with our heroes watching closely for any sign that the evil fleas had infiltrated the border. Occasionally they breached the sanctuary walls ... but our heroes were on top of it ... launching into action at the slightest "scratch" from our damsel. And so it went ...

No pesticides were used and ...

The Earth smiled ...

The End!

Images courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti and chrisroll of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Art Ist of One A Day.

Green Living With Pets

"According to an August 6th 2007 issue of Business Week magazine, we spend 41 billion dollars on our pets annually." ... from WikiAnswers

I have an adorable cat! She's also, like many pets, finicky ... she likes one kind of canned food and one kind of dry food. When I shop for her, I find myself thinking that I should buy her other things ... give her a variety of tastes (purely a "human" thing to do). And she always turns her nose up at the new offerings. But just look at those shelves filled with every kind of flavor and texture ... cans of organic food, natural food, vitamin-enriched food ... food recommended by veterinarians, food your pet will thank you for and food rated #1 by cats everywhere (hm ... my cat was never asked to vote).

As I looked around the pet store, I realized that purchasing pet products is an emotional experience ... and big business knows that. It also tends to be an area of our lives where we don't think much about the environment or green living. We see pet toys and think how Fido will love them rather than about what they are made of. We buy flea collars, sprays and drops to protect our animals without reading and understanding the ingredient list. There are cute little outfits to keep our critters warm in the winter, comfy looking beds and collars of every color and style ... and in truth, how many of us consider the "greeness" of these products?

Living with pets can be done in an Eco-friendly way. Here are some tips:

• When buying pet food, consider packaging. Look for recyclable containers and forgo single-serving packages for bulk or large bags/cans.
  
  
• Consider buying organic pet food and treats.
  
  
• Choose Eco-friendly bowls and dishes for your pet's food ... glass, ceramic, stainless steel, etc.
  
  
• To control fleas, opt for Eco-friendly methods rather than buying pet store remedies. Most pet store remedies contain a whole list of toxins which are not only bad for the environment but bad for your pet as well. Click HERE for a good article on natural, earth-friendly flea control methods.
  
  
• Most pets enjoy toys. Choose items which are made from recycled products or ones made out of natural, sustainable materials like hemp. And don't forget that many of the items you have around the house can work as toys ... our cat's favorite toy is a shoe lace swinging from a hook under the counter.
  
  
• Clean up after your pet. Pet waste contains parasites which can spread to other animals and humans. It also contains bacteria and nitrogen. When it rains, these components are washed into storm drains and can find their way to streams, rivers, etc. Safely dispose of pet waste by either flushing it down the toilet (sewage treatment plants effectively remove all harmful components) or bagging it (use biodegradable bags).
  
  
• If you have a cat, choose plant-based litter. Clay litter is strip-mined ... a process which is bad for the planet. And as tempting as those self-cleaning litter boxes seem, consider the amount of energy used to run them and opt, instead, for doing it yourself ... a little more effort but much better for the earth.
  
  
• Does your pet travel? Choose parks, vets, etc. which are close to home to minimize driving distance. Or, better yet, walk (good for you and good for your pet).
  
  
• Choose a recycled pet ... adopt from a shelter.
  
  
• Have your pet spayed/neutered. How is this "green"? Consider what happens if a single cat has multiple liters of kittens. Typically they become too difficult for the owner to deal with ... and often unwanted animals are released and left to fend for themselves. Populations continue to grow creating problems. For example, bird populations decrease in areas with large feral cat populations. For animals not abandoned, there are shelters ... but with growing numbers of unwanted pets, animals are being destroyed.

Having a pet is one of the pleasures of life. With a little thought, we can pamper our four-legged family members in a safe, environmentally-friendly way.

As always, I would love to hear from you!