DEAR ABBY: This is my first letter to you, but after reading about the woman's husband who urinates in their front yard, I just had to write. When I read your answer I laughed out loud even though I was alone in the house. I was reminded of a solution to a problem that we have here in the desert Southwest.
It isn't unusual for critters from the desert to cruise through town looking for food. The javelina (wild boar) especially can be a nuisance because it travels in family packs, and a group of at least six was checking out my porch every evening to see if my cats had left any food. I'd chase them away, but that deterred them only for a little while. I needed a more permanent solution.
Someone told my daughter about a group of beer drinkers who usually drank outside the house. Instead of going inside to urinate, they'd just do it in the yard -- and they had no problem with javelinas. Other people who were bothered by the pesky creatures tried it, and it worked. I finally talked my grandson into marking his territory in various spots around my yard.
It worked at my house, too. It has to be repeated every so often, but it's such an inoffensive way to be rid of the pests. I'm signing my letter, but do not use my name. It's a small town and I don't need that kind of notoriety. -- ARIZONA READER
DEAR ARIZONA READER: Thank you for an intriguing letter. Several readers wrote to tell me that urine is a pest repellent. Read on:
DEAR ABBY: I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but according to the master gardener, Jerry Baker, urine can be very beneficial in the garden to control pests. I can tell you from experience that urine seems to have eliminated the pack rats that were around our home for years. Since pack rats can be very damaging to one's house, my theory was, "If a little urine gets rid of them, whatta deal!" -- TOM IN TUCSON