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16 www.DesertMessenger.com June 21, 2023 • Birth • Obituary • Anniversary Place it FREE in the: Desert Messenger! 928-916-4235 Got something to share? Keep your pets safe on 4th of July Desert Messenger offers FREE Classified Ads! Here's the small print: Items for sale under $500. Private Party Only. 1 per month. Yard/Garage/Craft Sales, Wanted, Give-a-ways, Free, Lost & Found, etc. (non-commercial) For more information, contact Rain at 928-916-4235 or Email: Editor@DesertMessenger.com -Arizona Animal Welfare League Fireworks may be a fun celebration for us, but they can cause severe anxiety for our pets and can cause them to flee in terror from their homes. Between July 4 and July 6, more pets are lost than any other time of year and local shelters are overwhelmed with the strays enter- ing their doors. Luckily, there are some precautions that you can take to keep your pets safe during the upcoming holiday weekend: PLAN AHEAD Exercising your pet is a great way to reduce their anxiety by the time fireworks start. Pet owners should research when their neighborhood will have fireworks events and plan to exercise them hours before. Walks or a game of fetch isn't the only way to exercise your pup, you can also plan some brain puzzles for them to help tire them out before night fall. UPDATE THEIR IDS Make sure to double check that your information on your pet's ID tag and microchip is up to date in case they get separated from you. A microchip is a permanent form of identification for your dog or cat that is embedded under your pet's skin. It stores a unique code that can be scanned by animal shelters or vet offices to pull up your contact info, which makes it easier for you to be reunited with your pet in case they become lost. You just want to make sure that you keep your con- tact information up to date! If your pet isn't microchipped, it's a very quick procedure that takes less than 30 seconds and will last the lifetime of the animal. The proce- dure is virtually painless for your pet and can be accomplished through a quick visit with your vet. CREATE A RELAXATION ZONE Help your pet destress during the fireworks by creating a dark and qui- et space for them to get away from the noise. You can also try to mini- mize the noise by running a fan, a white noise machine, a tv, or radio. If you know your pet tends to be anxious around loud noise, you might want to invest in a Thunder- Shirt for your dog or cat, which ap- plies gentle, constant pressure to help calm anxiety. Or talk to your vet about possible medications to help ease their anxiety during these stressful times. KEEP THEM SECURE Pets become lost when they try to es- cape the loud noise of the fireworks, so it's important to keep pets in- side as much as possible during the Fourth of July. You want to make sure that your gates are secured and there are no holes that your pet can get through in your backyard. It's also best to keep your dog on a leash when they need to go outside, even in a fenced yard, so they don't run and hide because of the loud noise. Cats who are allowed to wan- der outside should be kept inside to keep them safe and secure during the holiday weekend. If you are having guests come and go from your home, you should keep your pets secure in a another room or behind a gate, so they don't slide through the open door while trying to find a good place to hide. If you take these simple precau- tions, you are not only protecting your pet, but you are also helping limit the burden to local shelters who are already overwhelmed with animals in need. Learn more at aawl.org ADEQ Seeks Applicants for Appointment to the Recycling Advisory Committee to Expand Circular Economy Efforts Across Arizona PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) offi- cials announced today that funding for ADEQ's recycling grant program has been reinstated and they are seeking applications for appoint- ment to serve on the Arizona Recy- ADEQ seeks applicants for recycling committee cling Advisory Committee (ARAC) that will help distribute the funds. "This is a great opportunity for people with expertise in recycling to help make key decisions on how to implement circular economy efforts across the state as ADEQ re-estab- lishes support mechanisms for re- ducing, reusing and recycling," said ADEQ Director Karen Peters. Nine people will be appointed to the ARAC to assist ADEQ Director Kar- en Peters in administering recycling funds, awarding grant projects and promoting recycling throughout the state. Individuals from the following areas are encouraged to apply: -Private solid waste collection busi- nesses -Private solid waste recycling busi- nesses -Municipalities (political subdivi- sions) with recycling and source re- duction programs -Members of the general public who have an interest in and knowledge of recycling Appointees to the ARAC will serve for a three-year term and meet in Phoenix or virtually as needed in order to advise on uses of the re- cycling fund, review and comment on proposed waste reduction plans, and participate in ADEQ's recycling grant program. Members of the committee who must travel more than 50 miles round trip in the performance of their duties will be reimbursed for travel and lodging expenses. All those interested in being con- sidered for the ARAC must sub- mit a letter of interest and resume via email to: recycling@azdeq.gov. Nominations must be received by July 14, 2023. Quartzsite Events Online: www.QuartzsiteCalendar.com

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