Dogs and cats are carnivores (you knew that) and hunters, which means that, in the best case scenario, they will scare away wild animals, and in the worst case scenario, kill them.

Priority to wild animals

We want to have friendly relations with wild animals and let them live. Dogs and cats can easily disrupt the balance of an ecosystem that is already fragile (in general) due to agricultural chemicals, plowing, roads, etc.
At Flores de Vida, we support the ecosystem’s regeneration and try to avoid anything that could disrupt it.

• Cats are formidable predators for birds, lizards, snakes, etc.
• Dogs have an unfortunate tendency to scratch around in flower beds and leave their droppings everywhere, preferably near homes. Barking is also a nuisance that we want to avoid, as well as aggression (always a possibility) between dogs and also towards humans.
• Dogs and cats like to mark their territory by urinating on the doors of houses and tent canvases (yes, yes, it’s true).
• As they are carnivores, we have to:
  * either feed them meat… and we don’t want carcasses brought onto the premises,
  * or feed them kibble… which is no better in terms of energy,
  * or let them hunt… and we don’t want that.
  So… there’s no room here for dogs and cats… sorry.

The return of birds and wildlife

With the development of Flores de Vida, the planting of trees, the addition of mulch, and the absence of plowing, more and more wildlife has settled in and formed a new ecosystem.

Since we started mulching the trees and vegetable garden, the birds have returned and are now very present on the land. They peck at the fruit from time to time, but they contribute to the overall balance. In the spring, it feels like being in an aviary, with birds singing everywhere.

There are also lots of lizards, frogs, and toads (which hang out in the vegetable garden pond), and snakes (mostly grass snakes, which are beautiful and harmless).
In the evenings during summer, it’s a bat party…

Occasionally, wild boars, mountain goats, hares, foxes, and badgers come to visit us, and I even saw a genet one evening in the headlights of the car (Nat is writing these lines).

Most of these animals are shy and nervous and hide when we are around. The calmer and more attentive you are in the field, the more wonderful encounters you will have.

In this environment, there is no place for dogs and cats at Flores de Vida.