Good morning! This week we wanted to share with you a special story about Catseye. This year we introduced the first annual Catseye Cares for Kids campaign, where we raised money to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast New York. Wed like to say thank you to our customers who made a donation on our behalf. It is with your support that we were able to deliver a strong message of community and family and to help make a childs wish come true. Please read the press release below covering the check presentation and watch us on YouTube!

Catseye Pest Control Presents Giant Check To Make-A-Wish Foundation Of Northeast New York

CASTLETON, NY, Jan. 28  The first annual Catseye Cares for Kids campaign has come to a close and Catseye Pest Control was pleased to present Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast New York with a giant check on Wednesday.

For the past two months, Catseye has been collecting donations from customers and tallying up new services in order to donate a portion of sales, all to benefit the local chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation. The campaign, which ran from November 1st to December 31st, raised over $2000 to help make a childs wish come true. On Wednesday, representatives from Catseye Pest Control joined the Make-A-Wish staff at their office in Cohoes to present the final donation, an oversized check.

Make-A-Wish is a wonderful organization and were happy to be able to donate to a local charity. Were excited that our efforts will help grant the wish of a local child, said Nick Brooks, VP of Operations. Wed also like to thank our loyal customers who supported this campaign.

Catseyes mascot, Caddie, was also present during the event.

How many times have you heard that? You don’t understand, it can’t be that bad, “it was only one”. It may not sound like much to you but in the pest management industry it’s the first clue that something else is going on. It starts out innocent enough, you ask your client a few questions; where is the problem, when did you see it last, (and the big one) how many? It’s at this point that they respond with “it was only one”. If they inform you that they have seen it running in the kitchen during different times of the day, you can rest assured that it’s not only one. This truism comes to mind, “they are never single, they are all married and have plenty of children”.

Take rodents for example. They reproduce quickly. The House Mouse may have up to 5 litters per year with as many as 5-10 young per litter. The Norway Rat may average 4-6 litters with 6-12 young per litter. You can see that if the environmental conditions are right, instant population explosion will occur as well as the health risk associated with it.

Interestingly, by creating an environment that is unwelcoming it will assist in the management of the population by natural means. The stress caused by increased competition for food and territory will result in mortality to many within the colony. This therefore reinforces the importance of applying the key elements of our rodent program.

1. Eviction by performing approximately 5 days of consecutive trapping.

2. Cleanup, sanitize and disinfect those areas contaminated by rodent activity.

3. Seal the entry points by using the CAT-GUARD EXCLUSION SYSTEM.

To assure their elimination regular monitoring is performed, making it the most extensive rodent program in the industry.

This fact remains true: the most effective program is the one that prevents the problem from developing. By taking a proactive approach rather than a reactive one, you’ll be assured that those married with children will not be visiting your home or business. So you can see when it comes to pest issues, it’s never “only one”.

There may be times when not knowing something is better than knowing. However, that’s not the case when it applies to what’s going on in your crawl space. The “out of sight, out of mind” philosophy is a dangerous one to have. Why? There are a number of things that may inhabit the space, such as radon gas, toxic mold, airborne allergens and unwanted pests (after all, they don’t call it a crawl space for nothing).

By nature, crawl spaces are damp with moisture levels exceeding 70% humidity during certain times of the year. This creates the perfect environment for toxic mold and wood rot as well as conditions conducive for wood destroying insects like termites and carpenter ants. The current standards of venting crawl spaces reveal a flaw in their approach. Studies have shown that ventilation systems contribute to the very condition they are supposed to address. Adding to the problem is the loss of heat and cool air, increasing your energy costs. So, what’s the solution?

Research data strongly recommends encapsulation of the crawl space. This process encompasses various stages that when applied correctly, will remove the environment that caused the unfavorable condition.

• Remove the moisture source
• Separate the home from the environment producing moisture, the earth itself
• Encapsulate the crawl space with 20 mil thick polyethylene
• Install a dehumidifier as well as a sump pump
• Seal all openings to create an air tight space

Research indicates the following advantages to using this method:

• Greatly improves the indoor air quality of your home
• Reduces radon gas, musty smells, moisture and mold
• Protects the home from rot, wood destroying insects and other pests
• Reduces allergens
• Reduces your energy costs by insulating your crawl space
• Provides you with additional storage space

Where does all of this leave us? It leaves us with the question, when was the last time I went into my crawl space? Remember, the worst thing you should allow yourself to develop is the “out of sight, out of mind” philosophy. It is better to address the problem now before it gets worse.

After a hard day at work or school, our home is the place of peace and security we long for. However, it may not be as safe as we think when we take into consideration the current methods of construction. As we focused on making our homes and businesses energy efficient (air tight), we trapped contaminates indoors, lowering the indoor air quality. We forgot the very simple fact that our homes need to breathe in order to maintain healthy indoor air. “Home sweet home” may not be as sweet as we thought.

Doctors, health agencies and scientific researchers have concluded that indoor air may be one of the worst causes of health related problems. Why? Indoor dust is more dangerous than outdoor dust because it contains bacteria, pollen, skin flakes, decaying organic matter, fungi, hair, dust mites and fibers as well as chemical residues. Added to the health risks associated with contaminated indoor air is the billions of dollars spent each year to treat the symptoms of polluted air. Contaminated air also soils wall coverings, carpets, upholstery and clothing.

The last thing you would have imagined was that your home would become harmful to your health. If every time you walk into your home or business you start to experience headaches, weariness, nausea, malaise, sneezing, wheezing and rashes, it may be an indicator that it is making you sick. At this point you may be wondering if anything can be done to address this matter. The solution lies in the following questions. When was the last time you had your air handling system decontaminated? When was the last time you changed the filters? If you are having some difficulty providing these answers, it’s time you hired Catseye.

Catseye Pest Control is excited to announce a new service: Indoor Air Control, including air duct cleaning, odor control and fresh air filtration systems. What would such a procedure encompass? The air handler unit is thoroughly cleaned, deodorized and sanitized. Every vent register/diffuser will be removed, cleaned and reinstalled. Your entire duct system will be thoroughly cleaned, duct sealant applied, deodorized and sanitized. Once you have had your system decontaminated, you will notice that it is running more efficiently (saving on your energy cost), your furnishings are staying cleaner longer and you’re breathing fresh, healthy indoor air. It’s at this point that you will be able to say with confidence, “home sweet home”.