Pets in the City

This is going to sound so very trite, but I think that having a dog makes me a better person. I certainly learned a thing or two about having to think about something (or someone) else's welfare.
And, I met some really great people working at our run in Morningside Park; ours is also completely community driven.

Doesn't my darling "niece" look so wonderful in her smashing red sweater/leash ensemble. You are all invited to her coming out party this coming June at the shore. She is a true beauty. Tens across the board!

I live in Hells Kitchen and the dog run closest to my home is in a park on 11th ave and 52nd street. My little boy (Jasper) was unfortunately attacked by a 7 year old pit bull towards the end of last summer and has never bounced back from the incident, and is absolutely terrified of other dogs. I would love to socialize him more with other puppies. The trauma he experienced however leaves him still trembling after nearly 8 months each time I take him to the park. He sufferd punctures in his neck as well as one of his toenails were jammed up into his beautiful little foot. I can honestly say I have never felt such a tremendous amount of love for something other than a person in my whole life. Jasper is so hysterical. He has no sense of time at all. If I run to the store and am gone no more than 10 minutes, he is just as excited to see me as when I have been gone for a few days. He is soooo affectionate. I live in a home with 2 other people and the love and spoiling this dog gets is insane. This has also left him very needy of constant attention. I will be going to Fire Island full time this summer and taking my boy with me. I am working on him not jumping on people to say hello. He is a terrier mutt and is easily excited. If anyone has any good advice on how to ease him back into the realm of other dogs I would be most eager in hearing your views.

Maybe he could play with my little fella, Butch. I know they could be very good friends, that is if you don't "86" him too you bitch!!!!

An' Betty, I know what you mean. Bein' a dog owner has made me a much more better person too. Just having to take him out every week or two has made me have to think of someone besides me.

Butch

Oh dear.
Someone call Animal Cops.

I love the dog run too.
It's an amazingly strong community.
(In other words... these people are nuts!!!)

quote:

I live in Hells Kitchen and the dog run closest to my home is in a park on 11th ave and 52nd street. My little boy (Jasper) was unfortunately attacked by a 7 year old pit bull towards the end of last summer and has never bounced back from the incident, and is absolutely terrified of other dogs. I would love to socialize him more with other puppies. The trauma he experienced however leaves him still trembling after nearly 8 months each time I take him to the park. He sufferd punctures in his neck as well as one of his toenails were jammed up into his beautiful little foot. I can honestly say I have never felt such a tremendous amount of love for something other than a person in my whole life. Jasper is so hysterical. He has no sense of time at all. If I run to the store and am gone no more than 10 minutes, he is just as excited to see me as when I have been gone for a few days. He is soooo affectionate. I live in a home with 2 other people and the love and spoiling this dog gets is insane. This has also left him very needy of constant attention. ... If anyone has any good advice on how to ease him back into the realm of other dogs I would be most eager in hearing your views.

Sweetie, firstly I am so sorry that your beautiful boy had to go through that, and was curious - what was the owner's reaction and is that dog still allowed in the run?

Im not a genius at dog behavior, but would suggest the following. Dogs are very place-conscious, and perhaps if you took him to another nearby run for short visits he might not have the same reaction. I would of course suggest weekdays as weekends are stressful due to overcrowding.

To avoid interaction with another vicious large dog, you might also try one of the small dog runs, they are usually much emptier and might not be so intimidating.

And finally, if Jasper is a treat-monger, try feeding him treats inside the run so he has a good association with it.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes..

Here is a list of all the dog runs within city parks in Manhattan.


Manhattan Dog Runs
Dog Run Address
Carl Schurz Park (2 runs) East End Ave. To East River from Gracie Square (East 84th St.) To 89th St.
DeWitt Clinton Park (2 runs) West 52nd St. & West 54th St., between 10th & 11th Aves.
Fish Bridge Park Dover St., between Pearl & Water St.
Fort Tryon Park Margaret Corbin Drive, Washington Heights
Inwood Hill Park Dyckman St and Payson Ave.
J. Hood Wright Fort Washington & Haven Aves., West 173rd St.
Madison Square Park Madison Ave. To 5th Ave. between East 23rd St. & East 26th St.
Morningside Park Morningside Avenue between 114th and 119th Streets
Riverside Park (3 runs) Riverside Dr. at West 72nd, West 87th, West 105th.
Robert Moses Park 41st & 42nd Sts. At 1st Ave.
Peter Detmold Park West of FDR Dr., between East 49th & East 51st Sts.
Theodore Roosevelt Park Central Park West at West 81st St.
Thomas Smith Park 11th Ave., West 22nd to West 23rd Sts.
Tompkins Square Park 1st Ave. To Ave. B, from East 7th to East 10th Sts.
Washington Square Park 5th Ave., Waverly Place, West 4th St., between McDougal & Thompson Sts., south side of the park (behind building)
Union Square Dog Run 15th St. & Union Sq. West

Wow,

First, it is grand that Sweetie and us are in the same 'hood. As for dog runs, Our puppy isn't quite that friendly as most puppies.

However, he is a kind human soul. When he departs he will no doubt join nirvana (without courtney love)

I think that once you reach the stage before you are released from the cosmic cycle you are allowed to remain for a short time as a dog. This is to teach the lessons to people who will not listen to anyone else but a pure soul.

T

If you are a dog owner who uses ANY of the city's dog runs or off-leash parks, please read on.

Though offleash laws were upheld in the recent grumpster assault on them, they need to be made official - signed into law, instead of the unofficial status they've had for twenty years!

Just wanted to send you this link to an online petition on Petition Spot. It's a petition for the NYC Parks Dept to Amend its Regulations to Codify and Strengthen Off-leash Policy.

For Casanova and all the dogs who run free, thanks in advance for your time.

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/amendparksregs

From NYC DOG

quote:

Tomorrow, 3/4/7 @ 12:30pm the Sunnyside United Dog Society will be marching
for the 6th straight year in the St. Patrick's For All Parade.

We would like to extend the invitation to ALL NYCDOG groups and their pets
to march with us.

It is an ALL INCLUSIVE parade, thus the polar opposite of the one in
Manhattan, which for various reasons does not allow some organizations to
participate.

A film crew, from what I am being told, will be making a documentary feature
about the parade as it was the first St. Patrick's Day Parade to allow ALL
GROUPS to march.

Please invite your members and their mutts to march alongside us in this
wonderful event. Mayor Bloomberg will be there, Queens Borough President
Helen Marshall and various other local politicians.

The parade starts @ 43rd Street and Skillman Avenue (adjacent to Torsney
Park) and we walk up Skillman to Roosevelt Avenue, make a left and march to
Woodside @ 61st Street.

We'd love the company and what better way to celebrate all of NYCDOG's
recent victories than a DOG PARADE?!

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Regards,

Rick Duro
President, SUDS

email: sudsmutts@hotmail.com

______________________________________

Ok I couldnt resist this is Perky Angel, my little beast,, we are by the Flatiron dog run

Why resist? She is absolutely adorable!

A dog run buddy of mine has just launched this site for all things dog nyc..

http://www.nycsniff.com/

Casanova cools off, Union Square Park yesterday.

Happy dog days everyone - they have certainly been pleasant so far!

colt says, "hi casanova!
the weather's great here in s.f.!
come visit sometime!!"

What a beauty!!!

I smell a match made in doggie heaven.

They would LOVE each other and I'm sure rastle for hours and hours.

Goblin, I Love your dog!!! WTF he has eyebrows like half moons for Goddess sakes...How sweet is that...woof and Milkbones all around!!!

Awwww is this Yours & Daddys pooch??? What a beauty, snow white & that name its perfect!!! Is this dog a fire sign or what??? Somehow it dont look like Kibbles is good enough for him, he looks like Sheba but for doggies would be more his style...What a precious looking little man Wee hee..

quote:

Originally posted by Chi Chi:
Casanova cools off, Union Square Park yesterday.

Happy dog days everyone - they have certainly been pleasant so far!

Two weeks ago Casanova let out a yelp while walking through the construction side of Union Square - he was okay, but I think he hit some stray voltage.

Anyone who walks a dog in town, please read this update - it appears that scaffolding also can be a conduit for this dangerous current-

http://gothamist.com/2009/01/2...d_scaffoldi.php#mail

Thanks for the heads up Chi Chi!

Here's our guy, Scooter. He's not sure what to think of Brooklyn yet. He's never been through a move so is pretty confused. He thinks everything smells GREAT, but wonders wear the grass went.



So far, Scooter's been a great way to meet the neighbors.

OMG!
He really looks like both of you!
Does he dress?

His looks? Of Course, some kind of mongrel Celtic stock, just like us.

But no, unlike us, he thinks he looks better naked.

Oh he is SUCH a cutie - vitals please - how old, does he like dog parks, other dogs, etc.? And have you found anywhere fun to take him in your new nabes?

He is soo damn cute! What a handsome pooch, Zazoo & Satori - you made a dog lover outta me.I'm one of those evil cat people.

Chi Chi,

We think he's going on 6 years old, we've had him for 5. We got him from a great, private no-kill shelter in Trenton, Ohio. We think he's got either Cairn or Norwich terrier in him.

He does like to play with other dogs, especially ones larger than himself. (He thinks he's much larger than he is.) He plays well, but sometimes gets a little possessive of toys.

We're in Park Slope, and we've got a VERY recent dog run that was put up near Old Stone House.

We haven't gone yet, since it has been so cold, and it's been a ghost town, but it looks o.k.

It is broken up into "All Dogs" and "Small Dogs" so that right away impressed us. The woman who had our apartment before us had a rescue Greyhound. She said that she had nothing but good experiences there.

We were leaving him @ the "Northside Pet Hotel" in our home town (it was really just a young couple a few block from us who used a good portion of their home for up to 6 dog guests on top of their own) They told us that Scooter was a bit "different" from almost all of the dogs they had visit. They pointed out to us that he's really independent and not 100% interested in what the other dogs or the people were doing. He was "always out looking for the next adventure, more like a cat."

Speaking of cats Poison Eve, we are ALSO cat people. We have one right now:



His name is Ludwig, we've had him for 12 years. Unfortunately we just lost his brother to cancer.

Ludwig has adjusted to the move better than any of us, mostly because of this FANTASTIC spray our vet gave us called "Feliway." It is basically synthetic feline facial pheromones. We spray it on a blanket, or in the air, and he's totally zen in 10 minutes.

He LOVES the new apartment, well mostly the big window ledges.

So it took 3 months, but I finally had my first run-in with an "impassioned" neighbor regarding Scooter.

So every morning we take our quick walk up and down 5th street... and I usually RUN by the house that has a very official yellow sign with a dog pooping and a big (/) "No" slash over it. Because believe me, I've heard stories.

But this morning, I zoned out for a slit second. Big mistake.

Scooter decided he wanted to lift his leg on the corner of the railroad ties around the tree next to the street, near the sign. These ties create a box around the tree close to 2.5 feet tall. Scooter can pee no more than maybe 6 inches off the ground... Right then one of the residents of the row house came out and started on me right away:

"I guess that sign means nothing"
(pull Scooter harder)
"I GUESS THAT SIGN MEANS NOTHING"

Me trying to make light: "I'm sorry, I'm still teaching him how to read."

"Typical smart answer! Don't you think I hear that all the time."

Me: "No, really, I'm sorry, I thought your sign was asking people to clean up their dog's poop, which I always do. I'll make sure he doesn't pee on the ties."

Up until this point I was REALLY trying to be neighborly figuring we only live like 5 buildings apart...

"Look, it's all about the flowers not your dog."

Now I'm just confused, and not sure if she hates me or not.

It's been bothering me a lot of the day...and now I'm thinking it has a lot more to do with passive aggressiveness and not the flowers.

It is not your problem.

Scooter's already over it, and apparently dressing now:

Scooter is a big city dog now.

Oh, honey..

The tiny, tiny battles over dog poop and pee as well as even sidewalk inches are (an unwelcome) part of the dog-owning experience here in Gotham. Like most crazy New Yawk things, it does have two sides.

My own theory about people who lord it over a tiny corner or tree with their no-poop, no-pee signs and the like are that they are trying to exert control over this diminutive kingdom as so much else is out of their control. A few (and I respect them more) are plant/tree activists who consider the foliage every bit as alive as our animals.

People have said the wildest things to me when out with our various dogs, especially Nova as he's so interactive. My favorite was my first meeting with Bernie Goetz, the ex-subway vigilante turned squirrel rescue poop-bah. On a snowy day in Union Square, he scolded me for my dog's "frightening the squirrels", which was kind of funny cause my dog doesnt even chase them, but sits regarding them like a TV show.

You must understand the other side though - some dog owners are so flagrantly selfish and have such disastrous relationships with their dogs that its a wonder there arent more of these zealots.

I cant count the number of times Ive see people come into a park, let their dogs off leash to tromp all over flowers or new lawn, then leave poop everywhere. Ive seen people with dogs the size of cattle pretend they didnt see their dog poop. And then there are the ones who take their dogs offleash and proceed to ignore them, whether they be attacking another dog, jumping up to grab food out of a hapless bystanders mouth, etc.

It DOES take both of these things, self-appointed neighborhood dog wardens AND clueless, entitled or just plain irresponsible owners, to feed behavior like you experienced on your recent walk.

I know those kind of run-ins can be upsetting, and you tend to take them with you for a while. At those times I choose to remember how many committed, extraordinary dog owners there are in this city, and how many wonderful dog fans we meet every single day on our rounds.

Sorry you had the run-in. Like the Empress said, it is something that stays with you a while. Just feels weird. It sounds a little like that lady might be just waiting and watching and that might be her way of interacting with the world. I used to live in a co-op with an inner garden space and occasionally a resident's dog could not resist the fountain (who could blame them?)and it would be mere seconds before someone called the front desk to say "there is a rule about this." Credit to you for being nice and not engaging. PS Scooter looks really good in his gele.

Thanks guys,

You're right, I try to be a good neighbor, so it did stick with me for a while.

And I too have witnessed some of the things Chi Chi mentioned, another reason I didn't like getting accused of being one of "those people."

I was also an avid gardener before our move so I'm very sensitive to all the effort that goes into the smallest bed...

I've most certainly have steered clear of this particular neighbor, and am beginning to suspect you are right about this being her way of interacting, because all signs point to the fact that it is actually her upstairs neighbors who maintain the tree box and have placed the sign there.

Funny enough on Saturday the exact OPPOSITE thing happened to me, where I had a park manager come up behind me and thank me(?)for picking up Scooter's poop... that I really didn't expect.

Now, if anyone tries to scold me for Scooter chasing squirrels, I'm going to laugh in their face, and tell them to get a life. There are real issues in the world.

S

Any doubts that this is the most pet-loving city in the world should be dispelled here

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06...etty%20boy%22&st=cse

Well, we had a really scary day yesterday and wanted to pass of warnings/learnings to other pet owners (esp renters)
It all started when they were doing renovations to the store below us about a month ago and apparently it displaced a bunch of mice who were living in the storeroom.
We only noticed because our cat Ludwig killed 3 mice in 2 days. We saw no signs of chewing anywhere, and found no droppings. So we didn't even complain to the landlord.
About a week and a half later we had the shady pseudo-super maintenance guy ask us if we had noticed a mouse problem. We said that our cat had killed three more than a week prior but we had no other issues since then.
He told us our downstairs neighbors were freaking out (they have two apparently less skilled cats) and wanted something done ASAP. They had tried to make multiple appointments with them but they weren't answering their phone or door.
We told them we ONLY wanted treatment if it was safe for our dog and cat. We asked several times what "treatment" involved.
So one afternoon when I just HAPPENED to be working from home (i.e. they made no appointment)the shady maintenance guy came up with the manager of the store who would have keyed in if I wasn't home (an entirely other issue we're dealing with)
He said "What kind of pets do you have?" I told him, and he proceeded to put bait throughout the entire apartment. The only room he didn't do was the bathroom...
They gave no instructions about what to do next and made no appointments to come to remove the poison. This was about 2 weeks ago.
Yesterday our dog Scooter pulled out a pack of what we know now was "Soft Bait" and started eating it. I washed out his mouth and rushed him to the vet clinic who referred us to an emergency clinic.

They had to induce vomiting and then give him activated charcoal... He then had to be monitored and released about 6 hours later. We now need to give him Vitamin K for a full month. It's costing hundreds of dollars. (that we're planning to get reimbursed by someone responsible for this.)

So here's the learning part...

NO POISON is safe for your pets. If they can reach it, it has a chance of killing them too.

Don't trust your landlord to choose an exterminator that cares about your pets. And don't trust the exterminator to tell you what to do after an incident. We got his number through our landlord and he had NO IDEA how to handle the situation. He had to call the poison control center on the packet of poison just as we would have. He also tried to tell us that the amount of poison our dog ate PROBABLY would be just fine. (????) So we should wait 2-3 days and see if our dog starts bleeding from his eyes/mouth/anus first?

Now that we've pulled it all out, how could they possibly have thought this was safe for pets:


Slightly excessive for a two bedroom apartment? by Satori (Zazoo & Satori), on Flickr


Slightly excessive for a two bedroom apartment? by Satori (Zazoo & Satori), on Flickr

Oh my goodness a couple of weeks ago, we awoke in the middle of the night to screeching meows and kitty screams; Basil's cat Boots, the shaman kitty of Leroy Street, had apparently eaten a poisoned mouse. Gave us all quite a scare for a couple of days, and nearly required a Hazmat suit to clean up. She is okay now, but was very weak for a couple of days. Good advice, Z&S. Do NOT allow exterminators or anyone to put rodent poison anywhere near your feline friends. Thanks for the warning.

Thank Goddess she's OK!

Oh my sweet Boots. Thank God she is ok too.