< Updated 2025-05-12 >
< The link to this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/woof-meow-pet-tip-for-may-12-2025-ticks-amp-tick-borne-disease/ >
MIKE DOW: – This is Woof Meow with Don Hanson on Star 977. When it comes to pets, how to best care for them, how to train them, and how to make that bond with your pet even stronger, do what so many people in Maine do: they go to Don Hanson at Green Acres Kennel Shop, at 1653 Union Street in Bangor.
DON HANSON: When we moved from Wisconsin to Maine in 1995, we left a Lyme disease hotspot. My wife and I were excited that ticks would not be a problem for us in Maine. Well, that ship has sailed, and we now know that ticks and seven tick-borne diseases can infect us and our dogs. The incidence of tick-borne diseases set a record in Maine in 2024 for the second year. My wife, me, and our dog Muppy have all been infected with tick-borne diseases. First, Muppy had Lyme disease and, a few years later, anaplasmosis. Both times, the only symptoms were changes in her behavior. In addition to behavior changes, tick-borne diseases can cause many symptoms, and even chronic debilitating disease and death. After the break, I’ll discuss steps you can take to help protect you and your pets from contracting a tick-borne disease.
MIKE DOW: – For 30 years, Don has been owner and operator of Green Acres Kennel Shop, 1653 Union Street in Bangor, offering pet supplies, boarding, grooming, and training. Learn more at greenacreskennel.com and the new website forcefreepets.com
DON HANSON: The best strategy for avoiding a tick-borne disease is to prevent ticks from getting on us or our pets. For the past several years, we have had our lawns sprayed with an organic tick repellent from April through October. Additionally, since mice and other small rodents play a role in tick-borne disease, we work with licensed pest control experts to keep rodents away. We also keep the lawn cut short and, in the fall, keep leaf litter to a minimum. We check ourselves and our pets when in an area known to harbor ticks. While Muppy has been vaccinated for Lyme disease, it does not protect her from the many other diseases transmitted by ticks. For more information, check out the article on the ForceFreePets blog that discusses ticks.
MIKE DOW: – Animal lovers listen for Woof Meow with Don Hanson each Monday at 4:20, and at various times during the week only on Star 977.
©2025, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
