We don’t usually have a general meeting and program in June, but we couldn’t resist this opportunity which was suggested by Laura Bruni of local business The Rock Shop on Dixie Highway, Paws in the Preserve will be a nature-based, animal-centric, community event that will bring together local rescues, shelters, veterinarians, animal behaviorists, pet-oriented businesses, and organizations to share accessible, holistic practices supporting the well-being, both physical and emotional, of our furry friends. Committed participants bringing pet oriented items so far include The Rock Shop, Blue Pearl Candles, Gaia’s Market and Refillery and Serendipity Yoga. We expect many more.

Set within the beautiful outdoor environment of Izaak Walton, this event invites guests to explore the preserve itself while fostering community connections through interactive experiences, educational offerings, and animal engagement.

Sonia Fetherling is the proud owner of Best of Behavior in Homewood. A great majority of her work in the greater Chicago area focuses on dogs with a wide range of difficult behavioral challenges. A professional trainer since 2000, Sonia works with both dogs and cats and is a sought-after speaker at professional training conferences and seminars, presenting both locally and internationally. Sonia believes in the power of connection, trust and play when working with dogs. Sonia’s own dog Kismet started her on a ’severe resource guarding’ journey, leading to Sonia developing helpful techniques and approaches to cases where standard modification techniques were either dangerous to apply or had already failed.

So, we encourage all dog owners to come out on this Sunday afternoon to enjoy the Preserve and no doubt learn something new about man’s best friend. Membership in the Preserve is required to bring your dog but we will relax that requirement for this event.