In growing children into responsible adults who care about their communities, parents look to many different resources. Here in Laveen, there are several youth organizations geared toward helping our community’s young people achieve that goal.

Two prominent ones are: 4-H (for children ages 5-18) and the scouting programs for boys (ages 6 to their 18^th birthday) and for girls starting in kindergarten and continuing through young adulthood. Both 4-H and scouting are organizations that operate worldwide and have national headquarters to oversee the broader national presence. Local clubs, however, are overseen regionally.

Read the full story online at South Mountain District News

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With  temperatures setting records over the past week, we see an increased incidence of heat related injury.

One of the deadliest conditions a pet may encounter in this environment is heat stroke. The normal temperature for a dog is roughly 101.5 degrees (F), but this may vary about 1 degree in either direction. A dog suffering from heat stroke may have internal body temperatures up to 109 F, but any time the body temperature exceeds 105 F this constitutes a medical emergency!

The most common causes of heat stroke are pets being left in a hot vehicle, pets being left outside in excessive heat for extended periods of time and pets exercising in warm weather. (NEVER leave your pet in a hot vehicle.)

Also, keep in mind that some pets are not good at keeping cool. For example, breeds with a short muzzle and lots of skin – yes, the Pug is the poster child, and obese pets.

If you are concerned about the effect of heat on your pet please look for some of the signs

1. Anxiety and restlessness (initially)
2. Excessive panting and drooling
3. Weakness and stumbling
4. Grey/purple hue to normally pink gum color
5. Glazed over look to eyes, lack of response to interaction

Steps to take if you are concerned

1. Remove pet from hot environment, add a fan if possible
2. Gently with lubricant, obtain rectal temperature if this is possible
3. Slowly begin to cool – apply cool water to ear flaps and paws
4. Transport to nearest veterinary hospital as soon as possible DO NOT cool your pet too quickly. NEVER place them in cold water or in pool. Rapid cooling will increase the risk of fatal complications.

Guest blog by the wonderful folks at Laveen Veterinary Center, 3536 W Baseline Rd #128 Laveen, AZ 8533. Contact them at (602)559-9600 or office@laveenvetcenter.com

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Rider’s Ranch in Laveen is selling tickets in a Riding for Success fundraiser to benefit their Equine Assisted Life Skills Program, which helps at-risk and low-income youth in the community.

Owner Melissa Rider said that Equine Assisted Programs are nationally known for their success in helping youth develop into better, more productive citizens. By developing relationships with horses, youth can overcome mental, physical and social disadvantages.

Grand Prize for the fundraiser is $1,000 but multiple local businesses have been donating so there will many different prizes awarded, including Disneyland tickets, manicures, spa visits, restaurant gift cards, business gift cards and more.

Tickets can be purchased online at ridersranch.org. Call 602-320-6016 to purchase tickets over the phone or email ridersranchprograms@gmail.com to find out where you can purchase tickets in person.  All proceeds will go toward Rider’s Ranch being able to continue providing free programs for low income at risk youth.

Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. Keep checking Rider’s Ranch website and Facebook page for updates on the prizes. Winners will be drawn on Sept. 7.  Tickets are not eligible for tax deductions, per IRS, rules, officials said.

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What started as a frolic in the fields of her father’s home near Estrella and 51^st Avenue, turned in to three days of anguish for Dinahlee Ochoa, 21, a lifelong resident of Laveen, and Coco, her 4-year-old Shih Tzu.

But thanks to the power of social media and a community’s love for of animals, the two are together again.

Dinahlee lives in the Rogers Ranch neighborhood near 43^rd Avenue and Baseline Road, but she said that they decided in late May to visit her dad’s horse property off 51^st Avenue to give Coco some room to run around in the fields and play with the other dogs. Except on May 18, Coco didn’t come back from his rambles.

Two hours of searching and calling for the little white dog brought no luck. Dinahlee returned home, worried about coyotes and fearing for Coco, but decided to take a chance and asked her cousin if he would post on some of the Laveen Facebook pages about her missing dog. She doesn’t have a Facebook account herself. So Esteban posted:

Esteban Ochoa

May 18 at 7:41pm

My cuzins shih tzu Coco ran off from our ranch on 51st avenue and Estrella in Laveen. South of dobbins. He’s white and is very furry. He was wearing a gray collar with silver rhinestones. He was last seen between Estrella and Carver down 51st ave. If found please call 480 822 8367 or 602 476 9567.

Four days later:

Nick Smith

May 22 at 5:32am

As I was on my way to work this morning I find this little guy stuck in a tumbleweed on 51st av and carver! He has a collar so I’m hoping he has an owner. But judging by the condition of his fur it looks like he hasn’t been cared for in a while! If you recognize him please contact me!

A flurry of comments followed Nick Smith’s post, with dozens of offers to help from people who had remembered the first post about Coco from three days before. By midmorning, mutual friends had connected Nick to Dinahlee, who gave a positive ID for her missing dog. After he finished work on May 22, the founder drove Coco home to his joyful owner.

“Within three days he was home,” Dinahlee said, a few days after her reunion. “I couldn’t believe that the Facebook post worked and we got him back safe.”

TAGLINE: Writer Rose Tring is a long-time journalist and owner of AZ Media Maven, a Laveen-based marketing and public relations company. She is also the founder of FinditinLaveen.com, a local business directory and free community calendar. Email her at rose@azmediamaven.com

Read the Laveen Village Voice Blog in this month’s South Mountain District News.

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