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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | SEPTEMBER 2018 53 Grain free dog foods have become extremely popular over the last few years as a result of many low quality dog foods using a high volume of low quality grain fillers to the exclusion of more expensive proteins. Recently the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) submitted a report investigating the potential connection between diet and canine heart disease. Notice the emphasis on "potential connection." The FDA has not arrived at any conclusions yet. The FDA did caution that diets containing ingredients such as potatoes, peas, lentils, or other seeds of legumes (such as chickpeas/garbanzo beans, soybeans, other types of beans, and alfalfa seeds) should be located lower on the ingredients list on the side of the package (meaning they are minimized in the formulation). Whether the owner chooses a dog food that is grain free or with grain is not as important as the ingredients in that dog food. Always look at the ingredients listed on the package, particularly the top five. The ingredients should be high in protein and relatively low in fat. Fortunately there is a website that analyzes dog food ingredients for you and gives a rating for most. The site is DogFoodAdviser.com. Use this as a guide to find a good quality pet food, wet or dry, for your dog. Remember to be cautious about what you read or hear on the Internet. Always be skeptical until you have researched the issues on your own. Always consult with your dog's veterinarian if you have questions about dog food or any other issues before you take someone's anonymous suggestion on the Internet. The Dog Owners Group would like to remind all dog owners to share the bags at the dog waste stations. There have been some reports that residents (dog owners and non-owners) have been taking the waste bags for use inside the home (freezer bags, trash bags, garden bags, etc.). I personally observed one dog station which was emptied of 200 bags in a 24 hour period! We are working with HOA Board and administration to add more dog waste stations, schedule more frequent bag replacement and trash disposal. As more homes are built at Four Seasons and more dogs are added to our population, please be patient while we expand our services to meet the growing need. At our Pack Walks all dogs are welcome, and we practice techniques to calm barking dogs. Join us Saturdays at 8 am in front of The Lodge building and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm at The Summit parking lot (note our expanded schedule!). Please, no retractable leashes. Dog Owners Group, Patrick and his dog, Ricky Ricardo: dog_owners@yahoo.com. ~ Patrick Gerety D.O.G. Tails & Trails - All Pets We are WORKING for YOU! Entering the autumn months seems like a good time to take stock of our activities and let you know more about how we serve Four Seasons residents and their pets. Since our inception, which really occurred prior to our becoming a recognized group, an inventory of our service work indicates that we have been a busy bunch. Here are some "vitals" for your consideration: We currently have over 200 members – and growing. We have documented nearly 40 cases worked by our members, mostly involving cats or dogs. Cases range from simple to complex. For each, we provided one or more of the following: search and/or recovery of lost pet; return of found pets to owners; safe rehoming of pets; transportation services; long- and short-term fostering; assist with pets during recovery from illness or surgery; networking of pets in need of new homes; coordination with neighbors in Sun Lakes and Seneca Springs; referrals to local resources; consultations and referrals on behavioral issues. We also have co-sponsored two well-attended programs with our colleagues in Neighborhood Watch, which served to educate our residents on points of concern. We also sponsored two Annual Blessings of the Pets and will host our third on Oct. 6 from 4 to 6 pm. Thanks to the generosity of our residents, we have raised funds to meet equipment needs, such as the purchase of a humane trap, scanner, and other equipment required for safe recovery. Every so often, we also take time to have fun. We have hosted two special film screenings in The Lodge Theater with another planned soon. What does the future hold? We are working on documentation regarding pet recovery scenarios so that we can have outstanding coordination with First Service Residential, other Four Seasons groups, local agencies, and educators. Our next fundraiser will be hosting a table at the Harvest Craft Fair. We will build on the work done to date to further enhance our networking and outreach to local agencies, including Ramona Humane Society and Beaumont Animal Control, and we plan to sponsor a pet first aid/CPR class in 2019. We hope that you will join us to learn more about what we do and how you can help in a way that fits your time, talents, and interest level. Our next Tails & Trails meeting will be Wednesday, Sept. 26 in RCN3. Contact us at (951) 295-7209. ~ Martha Baumgarten

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