We're in the dog days of summer so while you're listless, lying prostrate in the haze that is the end of summer, lift your head and squint at your computer screen for a minute and check out a great new website called GreenPaws.

Summer heat means more bugs and that can mean an increased risk of flea and ticks for your pet. There's a ridiculous amount of choice when it comes to treating both fleas and ticks, but what's not widely known is that there are dangerous toxins in some over the counter flea and tick medications. These toxic chemicals can not only poison your pet, they can be harmful to people as well. With a lack of adequate oversight regarding products for pets, owners are more often taking matters into their own hands and look to nongovernmental agencies, including nonprofits, bloggers, and websites, for information about making safe pet purchases. In the last eight years, the Natural Resources Defense Council has done a ton of work to get dangerous chemicals banned from flea and tick products, but sadly, there are still some out there. Check out their report or this handy fact sheet to learn more about how to keep your pet safe and healthy. And visit GreenPaws!

To get your pet photos on the page, send them to greenpaws@nrdc.org and include your pet's name.