St. Johns Magazine March 2013

St. Johns m a g a z i n e

March 2013

Bricks 4 Kidz NEW Creativity Center at Palencia

GO GREEN FOR

ST. PATTY’s DAY with GREEN PRODUCTS & SERVICES!

Travel Ireland!

Celebrating Local Treasures, People, Places & Events in St. Johns & Beyond St. Johns Magazine ~ Stjohnsmag.com ~904-687-8538

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MARCH 2013 ~ St. Johns Magazine Dear Readers, As a child I was a gymnast. It began as a fun activity I did after school but when our Russian coach invited me to be part of his competitive team it became serious. I was more focused, began perfecting my skills and enjoyed traveling near and far with my parents to compete in meets. It was an experience that shaped my character as much as going to public school.

As a parent, I am thrilled when one of my children shows a special interest or talent in something creative or athletic. Every one of us has a special talent that is unique and cultivating that talent is how we grow to become great.

This month we feature the Bricks 4 Kidz® Creativity Center in Palencia. Read inside about this unique place where children who have a talent for design, engineering or just enjoy building with LEGO bricks may take classes or attend summer camps that will help further develop their minds and imaginations.

For St. Patrick’s Day, we have a wonderful article about a recent trip to Ireland that may inspire you to plan your next vacation & another article about Going Green in your life.

As always, let our advertisers know you found them in St. Johns

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IRISH BLESSING May the road rise to meet you May the wind always be at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face the rains fall soft upon your fields And until we meet again may god hold you in the palm of his hands

Debbie Gaylord Publisher/ St. Johns Magazine

Publisher & Editor Debbie Gaylord

Contributing Writers

Angie Bell, Darren Rosenbaum, Dr. Rosanne Faull, Dr. Melinda Tolitsky, Kay Ferchow, Dr. Peter Veling

Contributing Photographers Cher Brown, Angie Bell

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ON THE COVER: Bricks 4 Kidz®

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©2013 St. Johns Magazine LLC Published monthly and distributed free of charge, in print and on the web.

SPECIAL FEATURES How Green Can You Go? 4 Ireland; Beauty, History & Culture 6 March Calendar 10-11

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A Message from the Vet 15

fine art & nature photography

Bricks 4 Kidz Creativity Center 12

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How Green Can You Go?

by Angie Bell

Green Cleaning

Eat, Drink, and Go Green

There are five inexpensive supplies that can be used for a myriad of cleaning jobs. These are baking soda, vinegar, lemons, salt, and hydrogen peroxide. Only white vinegar should be used for cleaning and can be used to deodorize, clean all kinds of surfaces around the house including windows, deter ants, remove many stains, and accomplish scores of other chores. Baking soda has countless uses for cooking and household cleaning and it does not harm the environment. Lemons are natural, cheap, antibacterial, and antiseptic. Although lemons are powerful, they are gentle on the body and skin. Not just a seasoning, salt has numerous uses, including pest prevention.

Most people think of hydrogen peroxide for first aid, but it can also clean away many stains. (One little known use is cold prevention: a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in the ears at the first sign of a sore throat can knock out a cold before it starts.)

There are several Farmers’ Markets where organic and locally grown products may be purchased. On Saturdays there are two weekly markets – the Old City Market at the Amphitheatre and the St. Johns River Farmers Market at Alpine Groves Park.

If you want to eat healthy organic food, but have someone else do the cooking, you have quite a few options. Some are The Present MoPhoto by Cher Brown ment Café on King Street, Casa Maya on Hypolita Street, The Manatee Café on SR 16, and Ripe Bistro on A1A, all in St. Augustine.

Reuse/ Recycle

Go Green and Go Gorgeous

Recycling is easy in St. Johns County. Cartons (milk, juice, soup) are now recyclable along with metal, glass, plastic, and paper. Publix also offers recycling of paper and plastic bags, as well as the plastic covers from dry cleaning and newspapers.

Reusable shopping bags eliminate the need for some recycling and reusing containers for storage or crafts is always fun!

Another way to reuse is to shop thrift stores. There are three on SR Road 13 in the Julington Creek area: First Coast Women’s Center, Betty Griffin, and Goodwill.

There are many natural products that work beauty wonders. Burt’s Bees and Kiss My Face are products that can be found in many local stores. But, there may be items in your kitchen right now that can be used to beautify: mayonnaise, avocado, lemon (not just for cleaning and eating!), cucumber, and more. Lina Woods makes her own line of bath products that smell amazing. She can be found on Saturdays at the St. Johns River Farmers’ Market.

The Grass is Greener on the Green Side

Buy Green There are a number of stores in the area that feature “green” items. Some of these are Native Sun, Good Earth, Fresh Market, Whole Foods, Diane’s Natural Market (with two St. Augustine locations), and the Greenwise section of Publix.

Kermit the Frog is known for saying, “It ain’t easy being green.” He was right – it takes effort. But, it is worth the effort. Organic foods are better for your health; reusing, recycling, and making your own cleaning products are all cheaper than buying new and artificial; and you will leave less waste behind for future generations.

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IRELAND

Beauty, history & culture

by Kay Ferchow Luck of the Irish.

Kiss the Blarney Stone and receive the gift of gab.

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!

Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

May the road rise up to meet you.

These are just a few familiar phrases. I just returned from Ireland and every day that I was there, I saw something that reminded me of how much we are and have been influenced by the Irish.

specific road name or number, you’ll probably get a shrug and a “Sorry, can’t help ya” as

Reflecting on the many perils the Irish have been through over the centuries, potato famine, the northern Protestants fighting with the southern Catholics, being invaded by the Vikings and the English; their history is colorful and they are amazing.

an answer. It’s best to ask how to get to your destination and they are more than happy to help.

There are too many things to name, but just a few must sees and dos are Dublin, Belfast, Dromoland Castle, Waterford factory, the Ring of Kerry, the cliffs of

I toured Ireland on an escorted trip via motorcoach and learned so much!

Our escort/driver, Patrick truly loves his country and his passion was evident in his many stories.

Moher, and Giants Causeway. Bed & Breakfasts, and farmhouse stays are popular and plentiful. It is fairly easy to tour Ireland independently, but I recommend you take an escorted tour and leaving the driving and story telling to the Irish.

He talked about their history, culture and all the important details. But he also talked about himself and his family of 12 brothers and sisters. Especially interesting is how alive “story telling” is in Ireland. Pat talked about how they would all be getting together for Thanksgiving and Christmas and how important stories would be in their gathering.

We had the privilege of listening to a couple of professional story tellers as well. I found myself on the edge of my seat, hanging on every word. The Irish are very

For more information and to book your Ireland Vacation, call Kay Ferchow, AAA Travel, 840 A1A North, Suite 180, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082, 904-280-8181 ext. 243.

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superstitious as ee know that by the many stories we have heard about Leprechans and kissing the Blarney Stone, etc. I was intrigued by the Fairy trees. These are Hawthorn trees that grow in the middle of a field by themselves. According to Pat, who has one on his family’s acreage, you don’t go near a Fairy tree. They are bad luck. The Irish don’t fertilize them, trim them or cut them down. And they have even been known to build

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The Irish are what makes Ireland so special and they love americans. They are so friendly and love a good time. Check out the pubs. You’ll find true Irish music, conversation, dancing and a good time. They want to hear about us and want to get to know us. Afternoon tea is also a tradition and a time to take a moment. Relax and enjoy company.

What a beautiful country! Picturesque landscape with its rolling hills, land separated by an ancient tradition of hedgerows, thatch-roofed cottages, medieval castles and countryside that varies dramatically from one side of the country to the other.

Forty shades of green? Yes, even in November. The trees were beautiful with their fall colors contrasting with Kelly green grass.

Ireland has so much to offer. I took over 200 pictures in four days. It is an easy country to visit. Just watch out, they drive on the “wrong” side of the road and have a zillion round-a-bouts. Asking for directions can be interesting too. If you ask for a

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Health, Beauty & Wellness

The Healing Š¥™

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How to Maximize your Health Care Dollars!

by Dr. Melinda S. Tolitsky, DC One place many of us would like to cut costs is with our health care. Did you know that in the United States, we spend an average of $8,233 per person on health care compared to the top 33 developed countries, which spend around $3,268 per person (Kane, 2012). State of the art technology, research and prescription drugs are just a few of the many reasons for the high cost of health care in the United States. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look at what you can do to help reduce those costs.

Insurance has become more complicated and it seems to cost more and cover less every time we use it. To maximize your insurance, you need to understand your policy. Empower yourself to be a better consumer for health care by understanding the following: What type of coverage do I have?

PPO â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Preferred Provider Organization HMO - Health Maintenance Organization POS- Point of Service Plan HSA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Health Savings Account What is my deductible and is it different if I go in or out of network? What is my responsibility (including deductible, co-pay, co-insurance and non-covered charges)? Does your physician participate in a national discount program?

Maximize your health care dollars: â&#x20AC;˘ Once you have a clear idea of your coverage. If you have an HMO or PPO, check you plan for providers in your area. â&#x20AC;˘ Call a couple of providers in your area and ask what they charge and what your

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responsibility will be. â&#x20AC;˘ Sometimes going outside of the network can save you money. Dentist, optometrists and chiropractors are often members of national discount programs that can save you money, so do not be afraid to ask. â&#x20AC;˘ If you have a high deductible or want to maximize your HSA dollars, look for discount plans that have a capped fee per visit.

If you do not have insurance coverage: â&#x20AC;˘ Shop around for providers and services. Look for quality of care, costs, and convenience and remember the least expensive is not always best so weigh your options. â&#x20AC;˘ Is the provider a member of a discount plan that you can sign up for? â&#x20AC;˘ Does the office offer payment plans to fit your budget? â&#x20AC;˘ If possible, avoid in house credit financing that you apply for through a third party vendor. These credit lines usually have high interest rates and report to your credit bureau just like a credit card.

How can chiropractic help lower your health care costs?

Chiropractors are holistic health care practitioners that focus on the entire body. They focus on improving and maintaining health. Chiropractic can help you understand more about healthy lifestyles, reducing stress, exercising, stretching and posture, and healthy diets.

Dr. Melinda Tolitsky is the Owner of St. Johns Family Chiropractic. To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call 547-2345 or visit www.stjohnsfamilychiro.com References:: Kane, J. (2012, October 22). Health costs: How the U.S. compares with other countries. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/10/health-costs-how-the-us-compares-with-othercountries.html

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Community ~ Family ~ Fun

The Scene - March 2013 Friday, March 1st -March 27th Eight Annual All-County High School Art Show, Opening First Friday Art Walk on March 1 from 5-9 St. Augustine Art Association; 22 Marine Street, St. Augustine Phone: 904-547-7565 ; free, The St. Johns County School District and the St. Augustine Art Association announce the eight annual All-County High School Art Show. The high school art show features some of the best visual art from six public high school art programs.

Over one-hundred forty pieces of 2- and 3-D artwork cover a range of media, styles, and form, from painting and drawing to digital art to pottery, sculpture, and mixed media.

Tuesday, March 5 Dr. Seuss's birthday with a Dr. Seuss-themed Family Storytime Tuesday, March 5 @ 11 am Join us for a special Family Storytime, celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday, as we share books by Dr. Seuss! Each child who attends will receive a special sticker and we will be making a special Dr. Seuss-themed craft.

Thursday, March 7th Women’s Wellness Mixer, Bring a friend, enjoy complimentary drinks & hors d'oeuvres, meet area physicians, win door prizes, shop local vendors and much more! 5:00-8:00 pm, Palencia Club House, Kindly R.S.V.P. to Emily at 904.819.4669 or via email emily.stimler@flaglerhospital.org March 1 - 30, 2013 Art Exhibit: Global Latitudes: Travels Near & Far St. Augustine Art Association, 22 Marine St. | St. Augustine, FL 32084 local 904-824-2310; The St. Augustine Art Association hosts a visual travelogue of the places and diverse cultures lost and found.

Saturday March 9th & Sunday March 10th 2013 Celtic Music and Heritage Festival. Francis Field,, St. Augustine, FL 32084 http:// www.celticstaugustine.com. traditional Irish music, Scottish pipes and drums, contemporary Celtic Rock, literature, and all things Celtic will converge in celebration of St. Augustine's remarkable Celtic history and heritage dating back to its founding in 1565!

The Celtic Festival features music by international headliners and regional stars, Clans, Celtic vendors, plenty of fun for kids and a comic Irish play are included. Admission to the festival is $5 per day and VIP admission is $40 for the weekend and includes t-shirts and more. Info: http://www.celticstaugustine.com Saturday, March 9th Inspired Floor & Bath Solutions GRAND OPENING EVENT! Special vendor prices, food, raffle prizes. 530 State Road 13N, Julington. Inspiredfloorandbath.com 230-0102 Saturday, March 9th Minorcan Heritage Celebration; St. Augustine; 31 St. Francis Street, St. Augustine. The Minorcan Heritage Society holds their annual celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the historic Llambias House, located at 31 St. Francis St. in St. Augustine. There will be demonstrations of mullet net making, Spanish dance performances, Minorcan foods, and story telling by Minorcan descendants. There will be t-shirts books and food for sale.

Admission is free. Info: 904-826-3388.

http://www.celticstaugustine.com. This colorful celebration of everything Irish marches through the streets of the Oldest City’s Historic District. The circular route is from Francis Field to Cordova, to Orange to Castillo Dr/Avenida Menendez, to Cathedral, to Cordova to Francis Field. The parade is from 10 a.m - 11 a.m. The parade is free family fun! Info: www.celticstaugustine.com Sunday, March 10th Outstanding Women in the Arts Ceremony - St. Augustine; Limelight Theatre's Black Box, St. Augustine, FL 32084; 904-808-7330; stjohnscultural@bellsouth.net 11 Old Mission Ave. in St. Augustine. Five women will receive Dr. Gail Pflaster Awards in recognition of their contributions to the artistic environment in St. Johns County. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

Tuesday, March 12th Hotel Ponce de Leon Anniversary Lecture; 74 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 903-823-3378; http://www.ponce125.com/ Dr. Alan Woolfolk presents a lecture titled “The Rise of the Wasp Establishment.” The presentation is part of the commemorative events celebrating The 125TH Anniversary of the opening of Henry Flagler’s Ponce de Leon Hotel and takes place at 10 a.m. in the Flagler Room of the former Hotel Ponce De Leon, 74 King St., St. Augustine. Tickets are $5 per person for a single lecture, or $15 for four lectures. Active military personnel may attend at no charge. The lecture will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a coffee and pastry reception. Reservations call 904-819-6282 www.ponce125.com Thursday, March 14th Discover First America! Program Adventure. 7pm, Flagler College Auditorium; This program in the series is titled Revolt in Revolutionary War St. Augustine. It is sponsored by the Colonial Quarter. Paseo Pastel - St. Augustine March 22-24, 2013 CHALK WALK: The St. Augustine Regional Council (StAR Council) has created a first time event and one of the most unique ideas to support the city’s 450th commemoration: The FIRST ANNUAL Paseo Pastel - St. Augustine Chalk Walk is scheduled for March 22, 23 & 24, 2013. visitwww.staugustinechalkwalk. com.

Photos from the First Florida Credit Union Safety Event featuring McGruff the Crime Dog, and the St. Johns County Fire Department/ held on February 23 at the CR 210 Location.

Saturday, March 9, 2013 St. Patrick’s Day Parade - St. Augustine. Francis Field, St. Augustine, FL 32084

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Flagler Hospital’s Health Care Foundation hosted the Go Red for Women luncheon and fashion show on Feb. 23 in the Casa Monica Hotel.

Here are the models in their day wear look.

Photo by Cher Brown

STRAWBERRIES: Although central Florida is known as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, St. Johns County residents can pick and enjoy hydroponically grown Florida strawberries from December through May locally at U-Pick Farm located at St. Augustine Marketplace at I-95 and CR 207.

Saturday, March 23th Artbreakers 2013 Music & Art Festival Fountain of Youth Archeological Park, 11 Magnolia Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 904-599-2551; http://www.artbreakers.org “Back to the 70’s” themed event will feature a 90-minute performance by Derek St. Holmes, the original lead vocalist for the Ted Nugent Band. The event also features a silent auction, prizes for the best 70’s attire and the Cancer Support Services and Info Tent. The event is a fund raiser for Artbreakers -- a non-profit organization supporting St. Johns County cancer patients. The event takes place 5:30 p.m. at Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth, 11 Magnolia Ave. in St. Augustine. For more information and to purchase tickets ($10 each), go to www.artbreakers.org or call 904-599-2551.

Sunday, March 24, 2013 Blessing of the Fleet, 111 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL 32084; 904-824-9725; http://www.sayc2000.com In an annual event dating back to St. Augustine’s earliest history, watercraft from trawlers and yachts to sailboats and motor craft - all decorated with flags and bunting --receive this special blessing from the Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine. The ceremony begins at noon with a procession from the Cathedral Basilica along the Plaza de La Constitucion to the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. Info: 904.824.9725 orwww.sayc2000.com.

Wednesday, March 27th “La Florida” Art Exhibition at Flagler College; 74 King St.,, St. Augustine, FL 32084 http://www.christopherstill.com; Renowned Florida artist Christopher Still will share his most recent work, La Florida, at the historic Hotel Ponce de Leon, now Flagler College, in St. Augustine. A member of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, Still is particularly well known for his series of murals created for the Florida House of Representatives depicting Florida’s historic and natural beauty. La Florida focuses on Florida’s 500th Anniversary and the arrival of Ponce de Leon on Florida’s east coast. The event takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Flagler Room of the college located at 74 King Street. www.christopherstill.com Thursday, March 28th St. Johns Family Chiropractic Open House, 5-7pm. Come meet Dr. Melinda Tolitsky and see her new office at 309 Kingsley Lake Drive, Suite 904 (Behind Duncan Donuts on CR 210. Call 547-2435 for details.

Thursday, March 28th Reptile Show at the Bartram Trail Library at 10 am ; Looking for something both fun and educational to do while on Spring Break? Gather the family, friends, and neighbors and come to the reptile show at the library! LB Reptiles will bring lizards, snakes,

turtles and more to our library! This program helps educate children about the needs, conservation, and care of these wonderful reptiles. To learn more about the LB Reptile Experience, visit their website at www.lbreptileexperience.com Thursday, March 28th The Healing Farm presents a concert: John Wubbernhorst & Facing East, 7-9pm. $12 per person. Contact Gita at 540-0365 or visit www.gitayoga.com March 30, 2013 Uptown Saturday Night; San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084 From 5 – 9 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month, experience live music, refreshments, new exhibits, book signings and much more at the galleries, antique stores and unique shop on St. Augustine’s San Marco Avenue between Ripley’s Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios. The Mission Nombre de Dios provides FREE PARKING. 904-823-9263

HAPPY EASTER! EASTER March 31 Bricks 4 Kidz S U M M E R C A M P S A Bricks 4 Kidz® camp is a fresh and fun way for kids to spend their summer break.

Robotics • Space Adventures • Movie Making • Make and Take, these are just some of the fun camp themes we offer. With specially-designed Bricks 4 Kidz® models, LEGO® games and challenges, and plenty of time for open play allowing campers to expand their imaginations, kids are always having fun. Campers ages 5-12 are welcome. All of our camps are staffed by trained and screened Bricks 4 Kidz® teachers. Check out our Camps page for more details at www.bricks4kidz.com 342-3392

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Calling All Inventors, Builders & Creative Geniuses Bricks 4 Kidz® Creativity Center Now in Palencia

by Debbie Gaylord Who will become the next great builder or inventor, the next Frank Lloyd Wright or Thomas Edison? The seeds of brilliance may begin with something as simple as creative play with one of the most beloved toys of the past century - LEGO®. At Bricks 4 Kidz® Palencia Creativity Center children of all ages use their imaginations to build models with LEGO® bricks. As they build they are introduced to architectural and engineering ideas, and math and science concepts that tie into their natural curiosity to understand how things work. As any kid (or adult) who has ever built a LEGO® rocket ship or skyscraper knows, the satisfying sound of two bricks snapping together is almost irresistible, which may explain why Bricks 4 Kidz® is a success.

The concept of Bricks 4 Kidz® was developed by Engineer and Mom Michele Cote of St. Augustine. Michele recognized how much her own son loved to build with LEGOS® and came up with an after-school enrichment program where kids could engage, play and learn valuable skills like problem solving in a non-competitive environment. The idea took off immediately and today Bricks 4 Kidz® offers classes in and out of the school for children ages 2 – 13+ and is one of the fastest growing franchises in the United States.

Bricks 4 Kidz® Corporate Office and Palencia Creativity Center is where they develop curriculum and provide training for franchises throughout the world! The center is bright & cheery, clutter free and filled with LEGOS® of every shape size and color. Teachers Mary Gillespie and Vanesa Beattie buzz with excitement about working together, researching ideas and creating a curriculum that will be used at the Palencia Creativity Center and other franchises.

On a recent visit I had the chance to see the magic of a Bricks 4 Kidz® Parent/Child class in action. The Wednesday morning offering is designed to develop fine motor skills, gross motor skills, language, problem solving and creativity in children ages, eighteen months to three years olds.

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Miss Mary asked the toddlers to gather around as she began the class with music play and singing and then transitioned to walking on a beam made of giant LEGO® bricks. The project of the day was to build a large yellow duck and everyone was given instructions on how to build the model with their parent. The theme of animals is incorporated into activities seamlessly. The children listened attentively to directions, concentrating on the placement of each yellow or green brick. Mary assured the kids and parents that there was no right or wrong way to build the duck and each final product had its own unique twist. Once the children completed their task they move on to the next activity. Throughout the one-hour class, the toddlers jump, laugh and play while learning valuable skills that will help them as they transition to preschool and school later in life.

Monday – Thursday from 4:30-5:30pm its Open Play time when anyone ages 5-12 can come in to express their creativity. I brought my nine-year-old triplets and I was a little nervous because my son Jake has Autism and is sensitive to new places. But the environment is serene, free of flashing lights, loud noises and other distracting stimuli, and this immediately made Jake feel at ease.

He enjoyed the large bricks, and also had fun collecting and lining up as many horses as he could find, and with Miss Mary’s gentle guidance he was able to feel a part of the group. Shainna and Lexi each discovered their own activities. Shainna engaged with other children of all ages and together they built a life-sized fortress out of the large bricks. Lexi created an imaginary medieval castle complete with horse-drawn cart full of LEGO® flowers.

Bricks 4 Kidz® is unlike any other enrichment program. It offers a much-needed detour from the insanity of our hectic modern world of computers games, television, constant noise and stimulation combined with the ability to encourage children to engage their creativity and feed their ever-developing brains.

You never know, it may be the training ground for the next Leonardo Da Vinci, Picasso or Alexander Graham Bell! But if not, at least your child will have a lot of fun learning!

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St. Johns Magazine ~ Stjohnsmag.com ~904-687-8538

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Pet Pages A Message from the Vet The Mistakes We Make With Our Pets

by Dr. Peter Veling, DVM Veterinarians get to see the best of people and pets. We also get to see things that just make us scratch our heads in amazement at the obvious mistakes that pet owners make. Here are some examples.

1.

Every veterinarian’s nightmare – I was driving across State Road 16 coming home from a friend’s house on a Saturday evening. A white pickup truck was traveling in front of me. When it stops at a traffic light a German Shepherd stands up from where it was sitting in the back of the truck. Attached to its collar was a rope that allows the dog to pace from side to side, which it did when the truck starts to move again. I followed for a while. The truck was doing 60 plus mph. Suddenly another dog rushed out from behind a bush and gave chase to the truck. The German Shepherd lunged out over the side of the truck, still roped to the truck. It began to cartwheel over and over as the truck continued to drive.

The driver slowed. The rope broke. The dog actually got up before anyone could get to it and ran off miraculously into the woods next to the road never to be seen again. Dogs should be in the car or truck with the owner or crated in the back of the truck for safety.

2.

Similar nightmare – a wonderful, sweet Cocker Spaniel I had the pleasure of serving was in the passenger seat of a sedan with the window fully open, ears flying back. The owner knew how much the dog enjoyed sniffing the wind so he purposefully allowed the dog to stand with its paws on the edge of the door at the bottom of the window. A squirrel ran in front of the car. The dog leaned and fell out of the window.

It hit its head on the pavement when it fell, leading to its death. Dogs should not be allowed to put their heads out the window of a moving car.

3.

Hidden risk – a routine walk in the neighborhood with your dog on a leash. Nature calls. The walk continues with the load left behind in then empty lot or on your neighbor’s grass. Unbeknownst to you, your pet may have roundworms. The eggs of the worms are in the feces. Those eggs can infect a child causing blindness years later because the eggs last 5 to 7 years on the ground. It is every pet owner’s responsibility to pick up after their pet on a walk. Bad relationships in a neighborhood have been started over less than an ignored pile of dog feces.

4.

Cats should be kept indoors. No exceptions. It’s the law unless the cat is on a leash, just like dogs. Cats that go outdoors are decimating the wild songbird population in the US. All of the above are easily prevented with common sense and routine veterinary care. Every year a fecal sample should be checked ion your dog or cat. Please keep your cats inside.

Dr. Peter Veling, DVM is the owner of Palencia Pet Clinic.

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