How many of you have thought about a pet friendly ice solution?  If the answer to this question is no, your not alone.

Yesterday I was at the pet store and happened to see their pet friendly ice melt product.  The Dog on the package was very convincing, trying to make me buy it on impulse.  I did not,  when I got home I did some research of my own. I was absolutely shocked at what I learned.

The new pet friendly ice melt industry isn't even regulated by anyone. The pet friendly ice melt industry can put whatever they want on the ad without actually having to ensure the safety of the animals. While  Pet-Safe was the first product  I saw for pet friendly ice melts, I quickly realized that there were dozens of products claiming to be pet friendly.

How can you tell which pet friendly ice melt is actually pet friendly out of them all.

The best advice  I can give you is to read the ingredients. If the product doesn't list  the ingredients, put it down and go to the next.

Dangerous ingredients to look for.

Go to www.examiner.com for a full list of dangerous ingredients. "There are many types of de-icing products available but most common contain these hazardous ingredients: Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Magnesium Acetate, and Urea." ( Barbara Finch).

I went to my local pet store. The Petco  friendly brand, the very first ingredient had Sodium Chloride in it! This  is a product claiming to be pet friendly and the first ingredient on the package is a hazardous one.  Almost every product claiming to be pet friendly has one or more of these hazardous ingredients in it.

I found the best product to be was safe paw. Their product is 100% free from salts and uses no hazardous ingredients. However it does use the chemical urea to melt the ice. I  found a site that described more about the ingredient urea. This ingredient is bio-degradable and is usually seen in most fertilizer. However it does not effectively melt the ice but it will destroy your grass and bushes.  To Learn more information about it, visit his site at http://www.ossian.com/petsafe_doc.htm.

If you want to use pet friendly ice melt product, I would recommend using Safe-Paw. You should still wipe down your dogs paws after going outside, just to insure all the chemical is off your pet's.

If you do feel that your pet has been poisoned, contact your local vet immediately! 

 After learning about pet friendly ice melt products, they are not necessarily the best way to go for insuring my pets safety this winter season.

Some good alternatives that I would like to share with you;

 If you have salt, use rock salt. This wont typically dry your pets paws out and it is highly unlikely that your dog will ingest enough of this product to become sick. Stay away from calcium chloride salt, it will defiantly cause dry paws on your pet. It is a fast acting salt chemical.  I  recommend using rock salt and  wiping your pets paws with a damp cloth every time you bring your pet back into the house. This is  the best solution for your pet this winter season.

 If you  don't want  use salt at all, I would recommend using sand or kitty litter to add  traction on top of the ice. While these products wont get rid of the ice.

Already tired of being stuck inside? Tired of everything looking dead and brown? Add some color and holiday cheer to your landscape this holiday season! Simple ideas go along way in adding extra warmth to your home.

 1). Hang up  evergreen wreaths on your doors. This adds that  color to  your beautiful house and gives that fantastic pine smell! Take this one step farther by adding  ribbon to the wreath to give it that extra special touch.  Red ribbon really stands out and compliments the green wreath. If you want to get very creative you can add fake berries, pine cones, and even holiday ornaments. 

 2). Make your house stand out like the Griswold's this Christmas!  Adding a little lighting here and there can go a long way.  Doing  around the front door gives your house some holiday curb appeal. The key to being successful with holiday lights is to use photocell timers. These nifty little timers will turn on the lights for you when it gets dark and turns them off when it gets light. No more hassle of having to plug  your lights in every night to enjoy them this holiday. There worth the extra money.

 3) P.O.G.S = Pots Of Green!  These pots are full of colorful red twig dogwoods and evergreen clippings. They are perfect to replace in your annual pot.  Take out those dead annuals or mums that you planted in your pot and drop one of these already made assortments, or you can make your own. Not only will they dress up your front door area, they add that great pine aroma!

 4)  I want to hear your  great ideas! Post your ideas!

Snow shoveling techniques: wwlp.com

Found this great video on the web about snow shoveling techniques and though I should share this with you guys!

With winter now upon us, everyone is getting ready for the wonderful white snow to fall from the sky. If you have to shovel your own driveway, then this white substance can be miserable. In Chicago, a lot of people get excited for snow. They are just jumping with joy, until it actually snows and they remember how horrible it is. I remember how many times my mom and dad turned playing in the snow into hard manual child labor. So unless you can afford to have your driveway professionally cleared or have children that can get the deed done, follow these guidelines to help keep you and the people around you safe this snow season.

 Snow shoveling fun!

1) The first trick to shoveling snow is stay hydrated!  Having numerous layers on to combat the brutal Chicago wind, can make you become dehydrated. So drink plenty of water.

 2) Second tip for getting over this major chore is to take plenty of breaks. Especially if the snow is wet,  it can be extremely heavy. Shovel in 5 minute intervals and take a break. A water break would be highly recommend.

 3) If this all sounds like to much work for you or you just cant physically do this type of demanding labor, a great alternative would be a snow blower.

According to weather.com

"Snow Blowers
Everyone knows about snow shovels, of course, but an alternative worth considering if you live in a heavy snow area is a snow blower. There are three basic types, with differing uses and capacities.
Single-stage snow blowers are good for most urban and suburban uses. They are lightweight and maneuverable; have a rubber edge auger that gets very close to the pavement; handle wet, heavy snow very well. But they will not handle the hard, icy accumulation left behind at the end of your driveway by the snowplow, and are not suitable for gravel.
A two-stage snow blower is good for larger driveways or drifting snow. It has an auger that breaks up the snow and an impeller that throws it. Its skids adjust the height and therefore are good for gravel. Most are self-propelled.
If you have a lawn tractor, it may have a snow blower attachment. Check with the manufacturer."

4) If all else fails, call your local area service provider and sign up for a season contract.  www.shamrocklandscaping.com