I heard it on one of the news or related items on TV within this 2 weeks that slug, snail & tick populations will increase significantly this year due to the mild winter, slugs are one species which make heart worm an increased risk to dogs, especially dogs which start eating soil.

Slug habitat's & info

http://www.slugoff.co.uk/slug-facts/facts
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Certainly seems to be more ticks in a particular area we sometimes walk at home, however here in Suffolk where it is a lot drier, there seems to be less ticks this year.
I suspect a lot of my plants at home will be hit by the slug increase, mind you that's par for the course really. The only thing I can do is have plants slugs hate.