Pet Group Meeting Minutes February 2025

Charlestown Pet Group Meeting Minutes February 25, 2025

David Elder opened the meeting at 11:10.   17 members were in attendance.
Minutes from the January Meeting were approved.

Old Business

• It is imperative that all pet owners read and follow the rules as stated in the Resident’s Handbook Appendix E. or we could lose the privilege of having a pet. The book clearly says, “Pets must be on a leash or in a cage at all times when outside your apartment and should never be allowed to run free.” Please remember that some residents have a fear of dogs or allergies to cats and be considerate.
• Items are collected for donation to the MDSPCA. If you have any items for donation, bring them to the meeting or contact Elsie Kemp or Otto Greul.  Contact information can be found in the Resident Directory, available online in MyErickson. If you need any items, let them know. We have a storage bin holding these items and we can look there.
• Cat Clinic information Date: March 21. Clinics are held In the Cross Creek Arts Room from 8 – 11 am. Please call Dr. Nesbitt directly (410-869-0800) for an appointment. If you are looking for a cat vet and can transport your cat, Dr. Nesbitt’s office is @ 1114 NORTH  Rolling Road near the Double T Diner on US 40 in Catonsville Md.
• The updated Resident Handbook is available online and hardcopies at the front desks. A change to Appendix E that will affect pet owners is “All dogs and cats must be registered with the appropriate jurisdiction.” Our jurisdiction is Baltimore County
• The latest Resource List is on the resident website at: Pet Group | Charlestown Retirement Community Residents. Select Pets at Charlestown, then select Local Pet Resources.

New Business

• David received an email from a resident about a visiting pet who was outside not on a leash. Please remind any visitors that all pet rules apply to visiting pets. If you see any violations of rules, you can call Security to handle it.
• A resident reported seeing bread left in various locations. Please do not leave bread and other food out for birds. It will attract rodents and other animals.
• David received an email from Resident Lois Hybl to compliment Karen Thomas for her loving care of her cat, Patches, while she was ill. Thank you Karen!
• Welcome new resident pet owners Carl Johnson and Louise Buoneristiano and Peggy Alexander. The Building Representatives will get them the Welcome Package. If you are a new resident and have not yet gotten a Welcome Package with the footprint and refrigerator magnets, contact your Building Rep. The Building Rep list is on the resident website at Pet Group | Charlestown Retirement Community Residents. If anyone knows of a new resident with a pet and no magnet, let your Building Rep know.
• On the refrigerator magnet, there is a space for an emergency contact. That should NOT be the Building Representative. It should be someone who can access your apartment and take care of your pet in the event of an emergency. David and Otto have gotten calls from the hospital asking, “Who will feed my pet.”  They do not have access to apartments.
• Hope Tillman will be asked to come to talk to us at a meeting to discuss the Pet Group account. This would be a general chat room for all things PET.
• Hope and Betty Elder are working on a Pet Yearbook on ccicharlestown.org. If you would like your pet included, send a picture of your pet with your name, your building, pet’s name and pet’s year of birth to Betty Elder by email. She has only received a few pictures. It was suggested that it could be publicized more. Betty will get the information on the daily scroll and post it on the bulletin boards. David will send a dedicated email to all Pet Group members.

The group has 229 residents in 166 apartments with 200 pets:111 cats, 86 dogs, 2 birds, 1 rabbit.

NEXT MEETING:   March 25, 2025 in the Cross Creek Card Room.  Meetings are always on the 4th Tuesday at 11AM. (no meeting in July, August, and December). February and March meetings will be in the Cross Creek Card Room. All others will be in Brookside Classroom 2.