For Pet's Sake Column

Albert Einstein once said, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.”

Silly me, I thought Homo sapiens would be wiped out by global warming.

Not so, according to our friend Albert and nature writer Pat Thomas. “Bees’ role in the natural order of our world is crucial and their importance as pollinators, both for agriculture and for wild plants, can’t be understated,” writes Thomas in a recent issue of ODE magazine. He goes on to explain that bees are known as “keystone species,” which are necessary for the survival of plants and other organisms. Once a keystone species disappears, other species begin disappearing too.

So just why are the winged ones making a beeline for that giant beehive in the sky? One theory suggests that mites, genetically modified crops, and habitat loss are to blame. Others contend that mobile phones are causing the demise of the insect (it was recently discovered that bees won’t fly near cell phones). I think it’s nature’s way of saying, “Can you hear me now?”

Beekeeping has become a multibillion-dollar business. (It’s all about the money, honey!) With the advent of “migratory pollination,” beekeepers can now transport billions of bees in huge transport trucks to far-flung locales. Not surprisingly, these crowded conditions are highly stressful to the bees, which depletes their immune systems and makes them more susceptible to illness. And a sick bee is not a pollinating bee.

This may be none of my beeswax, but can’t we all agree to leave the humble bumble bee alone? That way, bees get to do what they do best: pollinate seeds and crops, which, in turn, we get to eat to stay alive. Now that’s a sweet deal.

ON A WING AND A PRAYER. Bees aren’t the only winged creatures who are suffering; the wild bird population is declining dramatically as well. The Audubon Society released a report last summer showing that the numbers of 20 familiar American bird species have declined by 50 percent or more over the last 40 years. Most of these familiar backyard birds are under siege from suburban sprawl, global warming, and habitat loss.

April 20 is Earth Day, a perfect time to educate yourself about the birds and the bees. To learn more, visit www.audubon.org or www.bumble.org/helpbees.htm.

JUST SAY NO TO FUR ON FURNITURE, CLOTHING, AND UPHOLSTERY. Here’s my dilemma….I wear a lot of black clothing, but I have a silver and white cat, which means I always look like a walking fur ball. That is, until I ran across a nifty product called The Gonzo Pet Hair Lifter. It looks and feels like a regular sponge, but instantly removes pet hair (use dry, but wash with soap and water, then reuse). I gave the Gonzo a go on a pair of black slacks as well as my very furry green couch and, voilà, no more cat fur! The company promises easy removal of dog, cat, and horse hair, as well as lion hair. I’ll take their word on that last one. Pick up the Gonzo Pet Hair Lifter at Cost Plus World Market at 610 State Street in downtown Santa Barbara or order online at www.gonzocorp.com.

A TALE OF LOVE, LOSS, AND HEALING…. When we lose a pet, we take comfort in the fact that “time heals all wounds.” For Santa Barbara resident, Pam Davis, that reassurance came in the form of four deer who helped her heal from the recent death of her beloved yellow lab, Mavis. Pam writes, “We lost our dear, brave Mavis last month. She graced our life for 14-1/2 years and no other dog I have ever known has meant more to me. By chance (but not really, as I’ve come to believe), we added a 10-week-old yellow lab female (what else?) to our family at Christmas and Mavis had two months to pass her wisdom on to the puppy and to make sure we were all left in good paws.

So Fanny (our other yellow lab) has a new little sister, LouLou, who is almost 6 month old. Our house is full, but we feel Mavis’s absence in every corner of our life. For weeks, I thought I would never take another breath that didn’t have an ache in it. But one night, I was driving home in the pitch black and four stately deer crossed in front of my car and stopped at the side of the road. They turned their heads as one and gave me such a deep and empathetic look that I felt Mavis was communicating through them....that the natural world was in perfect order, as always, and that she runs free with the wild things now. That was the beginning of healing.”

I had the privilege of caring for Fanny and Mavis for two weeks last fall while Pam and her husband, Chris were vacationing in Paris . I will miss her smiling face and softly wagging tail. Repose en paix, Mavis Davis.

DESPERATELY SEEKING SALLY. Last Friday during Oprah’s show on puppy mills, the TV talk show host kept referring to her friend, Sally Jordan as “my friend in Santa Barbara who does animal rescue.” Which begs the question: who is Sally and why haven’t I heard of her? Sally, if you’re reading this, please contact me. I’d love to learn more about your work helping animals!

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Do you have a sweet story to tell? Let Karen know by sending an email message to her at karenleestevens@cox.net.