The Pet-friendly Garden: How to Create the Perfect Environment for You and Your Pet Book

You might think that your garden is a paradise for your pet. But no: poisonous plants, awkward steps or drops, ponds and pools that an animal can jump into but not climb out of, pesticides such as slug-pellets, even intrusive predators such as foxes--these are just a few of the death-traps that lurk in the suburban undergrowth. Moreover, pets have their own requirements in terms of space for rest and play, and these are not often taken into account. Richard Barrett's Pet-Friendly Garden is a charmingly relaxed and informative guide to creating gardens that fulfil the needs of both pets and their owners. It is, surprisingly, the first book of its kind. The pets in question are cats, dogs, rabbits and tortoises, with the occasional sidelong glance at guinea pigs. Richard Barrett gives an explanation of the physical and psychological characteristics of the animals (yes, even tortoises have a psychology) and shows clearly how these can be built into a garden without compromising its attractiveness to people. The centrepiece of the book is a set of three detailed garden designs, including the high-security Al-Cat-Traz, that is full of good ideas. A charming epilogue sketches the history of the domestic pet. --Robin DavidsonRead More