Emma, a little white dog who lives in SaddleBrooke
Hi Progress friends! I’m Emma, a cheerful little bichon-poodle mix living here in SaddleBrooke with my human Bill. You may have seen us out walking the golf course paths or cruising in our golf cart. In this column I share a dog’s-eye view on your questions about life, pets, neighbors, and all the small things that make our community special—always with kindness, honesty, and a wagging tail!
By the way, I have my very own website and blog, Life With Emma in the Desert, at emmathewhitedog.com where I post new stories every couple of weeks. I’d love for you to visit and subscribe!
Here we are in 2026, a brand-new year! Humans start thinking about traditions: resolutions, fresh calendars, tidying up from the holidays, football games, and sparkling cider. Dogs like me think about cooler morning walks, new smells on the paths, and more time with the people we love.
The new year feels like a fresh start: a chance to be a little kinder and take better care of ourselves and our neighbors. I’m excited to begin another year of “Ask Emma” with you! I can already feel my tail wagging about the questions you’ll send and the stories we’ll share in 2026. Here’s hoping for a year filled with health, laughter, and safety for every two- and four-legged friend in SaddleBrooke.
I’d like to start 2026 with something that’s important to everybody. The idea came to me recently in the middle of the night when our quiet house was suddenly interrupted by a mysterious “chirp … chirp … .” My ears perked right up! Dad said, “Hmm, smoke detector battery must be low.” Luckily, it was one he could reach, so peace returned quickly.
But that little chirp reminded us—when one smoke detector battery goes, the others are probably not far behind. And most of ours are way up high. Between us, I don’t think Dad should be climbing ladders! (He may think he’s tall and strong, but a little white dog knows better.)
That’s when our wonderful Golder Ranch Fire Department came to the rescue. Did you know they’ll come to your home and change out smoke detector batteries if you provide the batteries? They sent a whole team of friendly firefighters. I supervised closely, just to make sure they did it right!
They were so kind and professional, and it made me feel safe. We are lucky to have dedicated people in our community who don’t just put out fires. They help prevent danger before anything happens.
So, as we step into 2026, here’s one simple New Year’s “resolution” from me: Replace your smoke detector batteries every year. Doing it at the same time—like the start of January—makes it easy to remember. And what better way to toast the new year than by making your home safer for you and the pets who love you? A few fresh batteries can prevent a lot of worry, and maybe even save a life.
A big, tail-wagging thank you to all firefighters for your courage, service, and the many ways you keep our neighborhoods safe.
Have a question for me? I’d love to hear from you! Email me at emmathewhitedog@gmail.com and I may answer it in a future column.