The unintended consequences of a mild winter

Fleas!

Whenever we have a mild winter my wife, the veterinarian, laments, "the fleas are going to be bad this year." This is because we non-flea loving creatures, which include dogs, cats, and people, rely on a hard winter to kill off some of the fleas who are out there waiting for an unsuspecting warm blooded creature to saunter by so they can hop on. Hard winters are good at culling at least some the population. Every little bit helps.

So if you were considering maybe saving a little money on flea preventative, or if you're one of those people who tends to forget and misses a dose or two, this is not the year to do that.

And here is where I like to reiterate the kennel's policy on fleas, as stated on our website:

Regarding fleas: We don't like 'em. Please leave fleas at home. If you wish to board fleas, we will have to charge extra in the form of a flea treatment, for which you will be billed. We will not return your fleas to you.