Furry Friends

Mark your calendar for a repeat of one of our most popular events: Community Paws on the Green, an 18-hole golf tournament at the Verrado Golf Club. This charitable event will be held on October 1, with all proceeds going to establish The Community Paws Education and Resource Center.

The four-man scramble will begin with a continental breakfast followed by an awards luncheon, which is available for guests and nongolfers who would like to support their furry friends. Raffle prizes and an online auction are open to everyone, too. Register for the event, donate or become a sponsor at cponthegreen. com, where information about the event will be updated as the date gets closer. Register at cp.onthegreen@gmail.com before June 15 to get special early-bird pricing. If you are not a golfer but would like to contribute to Community Paws, please consider donating in honor or memory of your pet. You will receive recognition on the tournament website and a certificate of appreciation.

As we climb out of winter, here are a few activities to enjoy with your furry companion before the heat of summer sets in:

• Visit a pet-friendly retailer and shop together for some new activities you can enjoy with one another. Buy a new collar and leash for Fido.

• Plan a play date with other pooch parents at the Verrado dog park or host a Paw Party at your home if you have a fenced-in yard.

• At last count, there are more than 21 miles of paths and trails in Verrado. Find maps on the Verrado residents’ page under Resources, and walk!

• Go camping. Arizona has many pet-friends campsites and trails. Find details at azstateparks. com/arizona-dog-friendly-parks. Be sure to pack your pet’s essentials, including pick-up bags, and that your pet is properly identified in case you are separated.

• Use lawn chairs, cardboard boxes or anything you have on hand to create an agility course and teach your four-legged friend to go through it. Whatever you do this spring, get outside with your furry companion before it gets too hot.

Submitted for Community Paws by Lyndie Mason Warner, Verrado resident.