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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MARCH 2025 39 Garden Club Mark your calendars for May 17 when we will present the next Four Seasons Home Garden Tour. If you're interested in having your home featured on the tour, please contact Mona Swinehart at monaswinehart@gmail.com. The Club provides you with everything you need including docents so you can relax during the tour! We are also looking for volunteers to help at each home for a two-hour shift or to help with check-in of guests at The Lodge before the tour starts. If interested, please contact Margie Spies at margi4152b@hotmail.com. ~ Pat Wayne A Walk in the Garden Tails & Trails - All Pets We are all aware of the recent devastating fires in our state. Sadly, many pets were lost, and some families are still searching for them. Being prepared for any emergency is critical and may help save the life of your family and your pets. Window Clings and Identification – Installing a window cling on the front window of your home is a simple way to help to notify first responders how many pets are inside. You should also keep ample identification aids (including images of you with your pet and microchip ID), medical records in an easy-to- access off-site location, like a neighbor's house. While you're at it, think about keeping a copy in your vehicle glove box too. Make sure trusted neighbors have a key to your home. Also, exchange cell phone numbers with your neighbors, so you can reach each other in the event of an emergency. Practice, Practice, Practice – Practicing the emergency escape route with your pets frequently will help them to understand where they need to go in the event of a fire. Put them on a leash and calmly walk them through the route. Repeat this drill frequently. Pets Panic – Firefighters recommend that you keep pets near front entrances of your home when you leave. That would entail confining them to a front room or crating them while you're gone. This practice helps keep pets close to an exit and makes it much easier for first responders to get your pets out safely when you're not home. Remember, there is simply no substitute for supervision when you have a young pet in the house. They need to be monitored and corrected to stay out of trouble. Smoke and CO2 Detectors – You probably have them in your home, but you'll want to change the batteries and test them once a year. Having several working fire and CO2 detectors in the home will alert you in case of an emergency and is an effective way for neighbors to know if something is wrong when you are away. And while we're talking about household disasters, it's always good to be prepared for anything that comes your way. Center for Pet Safety's PAWS UP for Safety® program has published this handy guide to help the entire family prepare for emergencies https://www. centerforpetsafety.org/pet-parents/paws-up- for-safety/be-prepared/. ~ Vivian Walker, vivr@sbcglobal.net

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