Image Up Advertising & Design

The days are longer, the nights are warmer, and people just seem to be happier, because in the summer we spend more time outside and, as more restrictions are lifted, we can socialize more. A favorite outdoor activity is spending time with our dogs, especially when you have a fenced open space for them to run with other dogs! Before taking your dog outside in the summer, always check the temperature of the ground with your hand to be sure they do not burn their bare paw pads! Early mornings or early evenings are usually the safest times to take our dogs out to enjoy the summertime. The Canine Corral opened on April 7 for our Pioneer Members. Our first 13 dogs and 17 humans had the place pretty much to themselves. Luckily, once people saw the park actually open, we received several more membership applications. As the word gets out, we will be expecting many more; and, let's face it, a dog park is MUCH more fun when there are other dogs to play with. We offer a membership roster so members can contact each other and schedule play dates. This has been a long time in the making, and there is still a lot of work to do. As a self-funded amenity, we depend on your donations to complete our goals and to maintain the facility. Our next goal is to install a shade structure on each side. Once we have sufficient funds to cover the cost of the cement pads and the shade structures, we will mount the benches and the structures permanently in the small dog side and in the large dog side. The estimate for the concrete pads alone is over $2,000. An HOA approved shade structure that will be able to withstand the winds along Breckenridge will cost upwards of $7,000 each. We currently have raised about $8,000 towards this goal. Stop by and admire the beautiful Honor Plaques that have been mounted on the fence. The Honor Plaque program is one of the most important fundraising campaigns as it offers our residents an opportunity to memorialize the pet, event, program, or person of their choice. Each one is totally unique and special. There is plenty of room on the fence for more, so download an order form from the "Canine Corral News" Yellow Button link at the top of the Daily Report. We are also available to assist you with your design and to answer questions on Fridays in The Lodge lobby from 3 to 5 pm. As most of our residents remember, this area had been wild unusable land until it was recently reclassified and the HOA was required to landscape it. The entire lot was covered with weeds, stickers, thorny tumbleweeds, gophers, and a wide variety of ants. We are still battling the ant colonies and numerous weeds breaking through the DG trying to reclaim the area. If you see white powder on the ground, that is food-grade diatomaceous earth used to safely treat the stubborn ant colonies. We are now resorting to enlisting professional pest control treatments and weed control. We will need to continue to raise funds to cover these ongoing costs. The current HOA vendors would charge $55 per ant treatment and $32 per weeding. We also may need to pay $45 a week to empty the dog waste stations and refill the bags. The Corral may need to be closed periodically to allow for these services. Besides our fundraising campaigns and Honor Plaque program, each membership applicant contributes $100 per dog. The fee will be only $30 per dog for membership renewals. All members receive a gate fob, a Canine Corral identifying dog tag, and the first members receive a logo travel water bottle/dish. The Corral is a BYOW facility (bring your own water) and it is essential that each dog have their own water dish to use inside the park. If you are interested in more information about how you and your dog can become a member of this new facility, come to The Lodge on Fridays from 3 to 5 pm. We will also have information on how you can sponsor your own Honor Plaque to be placed on the fence. Check out the yellow Canine Corral button on the Daily Report to download an order form, and to keep up with published information. The CCC meets on the first Thursday of the month at 10 am. We process Membership Applications on the third Thursday of the month at 10 am. If you are interested in joining the CCC, attend three meetings, and complete an application. Please bring your donations of any amount to The Lodge with your checks payable to "Four Seasons HOA / Canine Corral." Thank you all again for your positive and encouraging comments and your ongoing support. ~ Sandra Butler-Roberts, sandirae@ icloud.com FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JUNE 2021 23 Canine Corral Council We had a visit from the Rock Fairy… Thank you! Find out how you and your dogs can apply for membership to the Canine Corral

• Cover