October 2013 (Volume I - Issue 1)

4 Tips to Remember During Halloween

 (By Dr. Marty Becker)

Missing Pets: Halloween is the holiday more pets go missing than any other time during the year. Between the bizarre sights and smells and the constant flow of new people, even the tamest cats and dogs may take the opportunity to head for the hills. The solution: Make sure you know where your pets are, and make sure they're secured before twilight. For dogs with yard access, make sure your fence has no loose boards and that the gate is locked. Indoors, keep cats and dogs comfortable in a closed room or crate until the last trick-or-treater has come and gone. 

Candy: Make sure all candy is out of reach - no bags left around for scavenging. And be aware that the two biggest problems with Halloween treats are chocolate and the artificial sweetener Xylitol. Check not only candy bags but also purses and backpacks to make sure there aren't hidden dangers a creative pet can get into.

'Eye' on the Door: Pets are territorial and curious by nature, and with so much action at the front door, your pet may be inclined to protect you or themselves from strangely dressed invaders. Don't underestimate what a frightened cat can do: Keep your cat in another room to prevent his running away.

Stranger Danger: Even though pets have a much keener sense of smell than we do, that doesn't mean they're not going to try to protect you from the neighborhood children when they are dressed like Harry Potter, Jack Sparrow or a Smurf. In addition to keeping your pet away from the door, you might want to skip the evening walk on Halloween. If you do go out, make sure your pet is on a leash, so even if they do get alarmed, you can better control them. 

Daylight Savings Time (Fall back)

If you have plans on Sunday to wake up an hour later than normal you won’t be the only one.

On Sunday at 2:00AM we will gain an extra hour when daylight saving ends Nov. 3, and time falls back one hour, meaning you'll have an extra hour to do whatever you wish this weekend.

The change should take place automatically for most with smartphones, laptops and tablets. (Make sure you have the "set automatically" feature enabled in your date and time settings.)

But for those using analog watches and non-digital alarm clocks, the switch will take place at 2 a.m. Sunday. So expect your clock to be an hour ahead when you wake up in the morning. (Or you may want to consider preemptively turning the clock back by one hour before bed Sunday.)

Social Committee

The first meeting will be held at the 16315 Avenida Del Luna. There is no set time but Lizeth is planning on beginning around 6:15.

If you are unable to attend but have some wonderful ideas or want to sign up for any events contact her at the following email:

TierraSocialCommittee@gmail.com

More newsletters will be posted so keep an eye out. If you have any ideas on topics please email the address above so we can include them.

~Lizeth