All my dyeing is done in a strictly non-smoking environment. I do have a cat, who shows no interest in yarn or fiber. I ship by First Class for US buyers whenever the weight is 13 ounces or less. Over 13 ounces goes Priority Mail. International shipping is fine and I use First Class International. Any customs fees are the buyers responsibility, and I list the actual cost of the items on the customs form (I cannot list your purchase as a "gift," please do not ask). All packages in the US are sent with Delivery Confirmation, which includes proof of mailing. If missing packages are a known problem at your address, please ask for insurance at extra cost. If an item is defective please let me know as soon as possible so that I can correct the situation. I share my home with a cat, and although she does not pay any attention to my yarn or fiber, you should know that there is a cat in the house if you have extreme allergies. I do my best to portray items accurately in my photographs, although all monitors show color a bit differently, as you are probably well aware. Finally I am sorry but I am not able to accept custom requests. Unfortunately, my dyeing business is not my day job and my time is limited.