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22 | THE COLONY NEWS | MAY 2023 | After living in the same house for 33 years, my husband and I moved to The Colony a little over a year ago. We were a bit nervous leaving a community we had lived in for so long, but it was the best decision ever. We feel so fortunate living in such a friendly and beautiful neighborhood. One way we got to know so many in The Colony was from walking our dogs; there are so many animal lovers here! When I heard there was going to be a Petpossium put together by the Kennel Club, I couldn't wait to go. The panel consisted of five people (including the mayor of Murrieta) with a variety of backgrounds in animal care. Did you know that cities across the United States can be certified as Pet Friendly Cities? Valerie Holt works at the Mars Pet Care Division and explained that cities can be evaluated in four areas (shelters, homes, parks, and businesses) to see if they qualify for certification as a Pet Friendly City. She also had important information about best ways to travel with pets, including which airlines are the best and certified with Mars Pet Care. Next, Brian Grasberger spoke about training dogs. He graduated from Bergin University with a degree in Canine Studies and explained different strategies in training dogs, with an emphasis on positive reinforcement. The mayor of Murrieta, Lisa DeForest, informed us that nearby Glen Arbor Park will become a dog park. It sounds like it will be well equipped and a wonderful place for dogs to run and play. Laura Warfield, the fourth panelist to speak, has worked at Pet Stop in Murrieta for 33 years as a groomer. She specializes in tender-loving grooming for even the most difficult pets. You can drop by Pet Stop and have your pet's nails trimmed or anal gland expressed for only $10! Last to speak was veterinarian, Dr. James Wetzel. He has been the Medical Director at California Oaks Animal Hospital for the last 18 years. He spoke about pet insurance and pet club programs that many clinics offer. All panelists took questions from the audience and stayed afterwards to talk to individuals. It was such an informative Petpossium, and we were all reminded how pets make us feel safe, help relieve stress, lower blood pressure, and reduce the feeling of isolation and loneliness. A huge thank you to the Kennel Club for hosting the event. We are looking forward to the Pet Expo on Saturday, May 13, which will be also hosted by the Club. TERRIFIC PANEL AT PETPOSSIUM By Marilyn Schefski