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34 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2023 Tails & Trails - All Pets As the warm weather kicks it up a notch, the natural tendency can be to get everyone up and out of the house, pets included. While spending more time outdoors can be a great source of fun, remember that hot weather is not always easy on our pets. To help your pet get the most out of their summer, you'll want to be prepared on how to keep your pet safe in the summer heat. Pets are smarter than we give them credit for and prefer staying at home and lying on cool surfaces (like your tiled kitchen floor) in the heat of the day. Save your outdoor time with your pet for early in the morning or in the evening once the sun has set. By taking your daily walk, run, or visit to the park before, or after, the sun is at its hottest, your pet will be less likely to overheat and the ground will be cooler on the pads of their paws. One big mistake owners make is leaving a pet in a closed car on a sunny warm day when the temperature in your car can rapidly climb to over 140 degrees. The best solution, do not leave your pet in the car. As much as your pet may love riding in the car or spending time with you, avoid any potential issues by keeping them safe and cool at home. Panting is effective in allowing animals to cool down because it helps evaporate fluids from the respiratory tract. You can help replace these fluids and prevent dehydration by leaving out water throughout the day. You should always make sure that you have a cool, shady spot with clean water for your pet when hanging outdoors during the summer. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include excessive panting, labored breathing, increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate and drooling. Finally, many pet owners incorrectly think that shaving their animals will help cool them down. In reality, your pet's coat helps insulate them from high environmental temperatures and protects them from sunburn. Trimming long hair is perfectly fine, but leave at least an inch or so of fur behind. Pets with thick, double coats generally shed their inner layer of insulating fur for the summer. Brushing your cat or dog more often to help remove loose fur can also help prevent overheating. ~ Vivian Walker, vivr@sbcglobal.net July's Cars and Coffee gathering was great! About 30 cars, trucks, and hot rods showed up. The warm weather seems to bring the beautiful rides out of hibernation in their owners' garages. There were two car shows held in June: The Summer Field of Redlands Car Show and the The Lakes Assisted Living Car Show. Our club made a strong showing in both shows. Yours truly won third place with my 1977 Corvette at the Redlands Car Show and Gilbert Morales won first place with his 1946 black Chevy at The Lakes Assisted Living Car Show. The Fourth of July Golf Cart and Classic Car Parade went off without a hitch. Judging by the response and cheering from the residents along the parade route, I can say that this parade was a huge success. With more than 45 golf carts and 20 plus cars, all decorated in red, white and blue, it was a sight to behold. A huge thanks to the FirstService staff for coordinating traffic. This made the parade procession move at a steady and safe pace. We meet the first Saturday of each month at 9 am at The Lodge parking lot. Our next meeting will be Saturday, Aug. 5. Please join us for coffee and donuts. For more info, please contact Frank Morales at (951) 203-4578 or fmoralesjrinc@aol.com or Rick Morales at (951) 255-4710 or onemth53@yahoo.com. ~ Frank Morales Cars & Coffee Cars and Coffee members Gilbert Morales won first place with his 1946 black Chevy Fourth of July car parade

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