Fur tree

The young family have departed the cottage to move into their own home and have left it as they found it (thanks to taking photos when they arrived.)

All that remains is this clump of hair from their lovely dog Jerome, presumably stuck in a fork in the plum tree as a help-yourself offering for nesting birds.
Unfortunately a just-published news item reveals that baby birds hatched in nests lined with pet fur have a poor survival rate owing to pesticide residue.

We already know that British rivers are polluted with toxic agricultural pesticides (cattle wormers mainly) that kill fish and other aquatic wildlife; that choughs and other birds that feed on invertebrates in decaying cowpats were almost wiped out because the bugs were absent; and that dung beetles which perform an essential role in soil fertility no longer exist on most agricultural land.

Parasites have been with us since life on earth began and it’s now believed that they perform an important role in the human microbiome. Intestinal worms are even introduced into the gut of people who suffer from some chronic conditions because it’s the only thing that helps.
(See here about that  https://theconversation.com/they-might-sound-gross-but-intestinal-worms-can-actually-be-good-for-you-49868 )

There are ways of dealing with parasites on pets other than the toxic medications so enthusiastically peddled by drug companies and vets who recommend applying them regularly, whether or not the animal infected. 
For example, flea combs and tick tweakers have no side effects, herbal preparations may be less effective but don’t harm wildlife, and if you must treat, only do so when you see evidence of infestation.
Over and above that,  perhaps we should just be more tolerant of parasites if we want to keep animals.
 
Sorry, I know I do go on about this subject.
And now I need to find out if Jerome has been treated with pesticides...