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ATLANTA – As fire ant swarm season heats up in Atlanta, one local pest control company wants to ensure that the animals housed at PAWS Atlanta are safe from the threat of fire ant-related injury. TopTurf, a local lawn care and pest control company, is donating four acres of TopChoice fire ant control to the outdoor facility where animals run and play.
“Not only are fire ants a threat to humans, but our pets are at risk as well,” said Michael Owen, Bayer Environmental Science. “Outdoor kennel facilities, both public and private, should take extra precaution when leaving cats and dogs outdoors. When disturbed, mounds produce thousands of stinging fire ants, creating a potentially dangerous situation for pets while playing, running or digging near an ant mound.”
Founded in 1966 by six local citizens concerned about the inhumane treatment of animals, PAWS Atlanta is the oldest and largest no-kill animal shelter in the area. For almost 40 years, PAWS has served the residents of Atlanta, Marietta, Roswell, Alpharetta, Lawrenceville and Lithonia. Currently, the facility hosts more than 200 cats, dogs, puppies and kittens that are ready for adoption. The TopChoice application will focus on the most utilized acres of the facility.
“I have seen first-hand how problematic fire ants can be to animals,” said Trey Burley, PAWS Atlanta. “Due to the risk of fire ant-related injuries, we are often unable to keep the animals outdoors during swarm season.”
“Small animals and pets are treated more frequently than any other type of animal for fire ant-related health injuries,” says Doug Douglas, TopTurf. “To combat the problems caused by these pests, pet owners and homeowners should consider a professionally-applied preventative insecticide like TopChoice. The added benefit of this product is that it also protects animals from fleas and ticks.”
Manufactured and donated by Bayer Environmental Science, TopChoice, is approved by the State of Georgia’s Department of Agriculture, is a professionally applied granular insecticide spread on grass and plant beds like fertilizer, and provides control of fire ants for a full year with a single application. TopChoice controls mole crickets for four months, nuisance ants for three months and fleas and ticks for one month. TopChoice is non-harmful to humans, pets and the environment and contains the same active ingredient used to control fleas and ticks on millions of pets.