Let’s face it: animals smell. Pets are one of the more common sources for household odors, whether it’s an open can of food, a litter box, a neglected aquarium, or something you inadvertently tracked in with your shoes from the dog’s yard. Sometimes the animal itself just has a particular odor that no amount of bathing or washing can remove. So what can you do? ********** Well, for starters, if you keep more than one pet in the house, especially dogs or cats, you may want to consider trying a carbon air filter. They come in a variety of sizes, and can be made to fit in most HVAC units and air...

As an avid animal-lover with a particular affinity for the reptilian beasties, I am always a little disheartened when someone I know informs me that they have recently killed a snake on their property. In many cases, the tale is accompanied by a photo, either via Facebook, email, or cellphone, with the intent that I (the unofficial “snake guy” that they know) can identify the species. Regrettably (especially for the snake), most of the time, it turns out to be a completely harmless species, such as a garter snake, rat snake, or the common Dekay’s brown snake, rather than a venomous, potentially...