@story MARLA CANTRELL

Eleven years ago, my husband bought me a miniature schnauzer for my birthday. Since then, we’ve added three more schnauzers and one rescue dog to the mix. I can’t imagine my life without them, although my furniture has suffered a good bit, along with my bank account. Especially when I dole out more than $50 a month for flea and tick repellent.

So in March, I tried something new. EcoEXEMPT IC2 is a blend of plant oils that is designed to kill insects. Like ticks and fleas. The ingredients listed are: ten percent rosemary oil, two percent peppermint oil, and eighty-eight percent oil of wintergreen, mineral oil USP, and vanillin. It comes in a one gallon jug, with a measuring cup attached, and smells like an acre of spearmint gum.

I paid $80 for this product, $30 more than a month’s worth of the standard flea and tick protection for my little four-footed tribe. But here’s where the green side of EcoEXEMPT turns golden. I estimate the container will last me at least two years, using a hefty gallon a month.

Here’s why. You only use one ounce of EcoEXEMPT in a thirty-two ounce spray bottle.

You’ll need:
• A 32 ounce spray bottle
• 1 ounce of EcoEXEMPT, added to the bottle
• 1 drop of a mild dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn, as a binder for the mixture

Fill the remaining space with water. That’s it. Now, corral your pups, and spray away, making sure you evenly distribute the mixture. (You can also dip them.) Take care to avoid getting any of this in their eyes. I used a cloth to wipe the mixture on their heads.

My (unscientific) experiment has played out this way. I’ve only found one tick on one dog, and that was on the underside of his floppy ear, where I had not sprayed. So far, so good. I’ve been told by another enthusiast that he used EcoEXEMPT last summer on his dogs, who play in the woods all day, and it worked superbly, so I’m hopeful I’ll have the same result.

What I can tell you is this. My dogs have never smelled better.

The stuff can also be used to control mosquitoes, aphids on roses, flies, and as I’ve recently learned, ants. My husband is even using it on his fruit trees, so we’re getting our money’s worth.

I bought EcoEXEMPT CI2 at GrowFresh in Fort Smith, but a Google search will also turn up a field full of sources.

I’ll keep you posted this summer and let you know how my trial goes. I think it’s worth a try. A very minty try!

Always check with your vet before introducing new treatments for your pets.