WE LOVE OUT PETS • NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 2, 2015
WE LOVE OUR PETS
Avoid Spending Thanksgiving In A Pet ER BY CARRIE O’BRION
create major problems for pets. Make sure friends and family aren’t sneaking treats to your pets. It is best to keep your Veterinarians are urging people to pets on their normal diets. practice caution over the Thanksgiving • Doors that are left unintentionally holiday as many of the items prepared open can result in your pet being hit by for humans to feast on may pose serious a car. As guests and deliveries come and problems to their furry friends. go, make sure pets remain safely inside. During the holidays, there is a signifi• Poinsettias are also toxic to pets. cant uptick in pet-related emergencies, Make sure these plants are out of reach many of which are avoidable. from pets. Some of these problems include • Traveling can be stressful for pets. gastrointestinal irritations with vomiting If traveling with pets, make sure they and diarrhea, pancreatitis from eating are comfortable. Get them acclimated foods high in fat, and an increase in when they are young by taking them animals being struck by vehicles. on trips. If needed, herbal remedies or By practicing these safety precaumedications can be provided by your tions and tips, you may just save your veterinarian to assist with calming a pet. furry friend’s life: “If your pet is exhibiting signs that • Turkey bones, chicken bones and they are not feeling well, get them to ham bones can splinter and cause the your veterinarian or closest emergency intestinal track to become perforated. veterinarian as soon as possible,” said Foods high in fat content can cause Dr. Jennifer Welser, chief medical officer pancreatitis in companion animals. of BluePearl Veterinary Partners. Make sure to seal garbage bags and Carrie O’Brion is the public relations place them in a tightly covered conmanager for BluePearl. tainer to prevent your pets from getting into something that could injure them. • Many spices and foods that are safe for humans are not safe for animals. Onions, garlic, chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, the sugar substitute xylitol, and raw or undercooked food can SPECIALSECTIONS@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM
Retail Therapy For You And Rover
Chain stores you probably didn’t know allowed pets BY KIM SALERNO
SPECIALSECTIONS@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM
For many pet lovers, bringing a furry friend along on a shopping trip would be the perfect way to spend a day. While many big-name chain stores do have a “service dogs only” policy, you may be surprised to know that a number of them will in fact allow you to shop with your Shih-Tzu or browse with your bulldog. Keep in mind that many of these stores only welcome pets on a limited basis. In some cases, the decision to allow pets is left to individual store managers. This means that while one chain location may welcome your pooch, another may have a no-pets policy. In other cases, a stand-alone chain location may allow pets, while a mall location may have to comply with that mall’s no-pets policy. Rules and policies change all the time from store to store and from location to location. It’s important to contact any store you plan to visit with your pet to ensure that they will in fact allow him in—even if you have brought him into that store before. Out of respect to the establishment and its patrons, any time your pet visits a store he should be leashed and under your control at all times. Some stores ask that pets ride in shopping carts and be kept securely and tightly leashed, and some ask that they be contained in a carrier. Make sure you are aware of the store’s specific policies before visiting.
Department Stores
Several department store chains around the country have been known to welcome pets. Banana Republic is notably dog-friendly, with some locations offering treats to canine visitors. The Gap and Old Navy, which are owned by the same company as Banana Republic, have also been known to allow dogs. Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s allow dogs in at least some of their locations, and Nordstrom has welcomed pooches through its doors for over 20 years. Bed Bath and Beyond goes above and beyond at some of its locations by not only allowing pets, but providing specialty dog carts for them to ride in.
Pet Stores
Perhaps not surprisingly, both Petco and PetSmart celebrate their doggie clientele, and leashed, well-behaved
see PET STORE on page 15A
NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA will be opening early on BLACK FRIDAY - to help you get a jump start on our BLACK FRIDAY ADOPTION SPECIAL!
FREE ADOPTIONS! Friday, November 27 9am – 12noon * For approved adopters
North Shore Animal League America has HUNDREDS of Mutt-i-grees® to choose from Puppies, Kittens, Dogs and Cats! MIXED-BREEDS, PUREBREDS, SMALL BREEDS TOO!
25 Davis Avenue • Port Washington, NY • 516.883.7575 • animalleague.org
FOLLOW US:
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WE LOVE OUT PETS • NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 2, 2015
Fall Weather Pet Tips The season has officially changed, and as the mercury starts dropping we have to make some changes—longer shirts, pants, light jackets. It is also time to go over some tips for pets, from the common sense to a few things you may never think of.
sharing our lives. Here are some tips for the rest of our pet family friends:
Cats
Outdoor cats will often climb into the motors of cars to stay warm. If cats
Dogs
No pet should stay outside indefinitely. For dogs that spend time outside, provide plenty of water and a shelter where they can get out of the wind. It’s getting darker earlier, so don’t forget to wear something reflective when taking your dog for a walk. Since autumn is the time when many people make home repairs and preparations for winter, it’s a good time to go over your dog’s equipment. Check their leashes, collars, and harnesses for wear and tear, replacing anything worn or broken. Check all fences and runs for loose spots or holes, before Wrigley gets out in really bad weather.
Fleas and ticks can be most active in the fall months, as they look for hosts to get them through the winter. Be sure to keep up your spot treatment, check for ticks after long walks, and wash bedding and vacuum pet areas frequently to stop them from wintering inside your house. One of the biggest changes for your dog, and a big challenge for you, is their new winter coat (and not a mink one). This is a time for shedding, as their summer coat falls out. They also tend to shed some of the winter coat, since their bodies don’t need the insulation inside. Keep up the fiber and enzyme supplements to help prevent hair impaction, and brush frequently with a de-grooming brush to remove loose hair. The new season can be harsh on their skin and coats; Salmon oil, like Grizzly Salmon Oil is your best friend, as it helps sooth dry, irritated skin, and those. Omega-3 fatty acids make their new coat beautiful. Let their short summer coat grow out, and, if they have really short hair to begin with, when it gets colder get them a great sweater to stay warm. Dogs are not the only animal friend
PET STORE from page 14A
seed-only diets. It’s especially important to be sure their cage is out of any cold drafts.
Rabbits
If you keep your rabbit in a hutch outside, be ready to being them into a sheltered space, like a garage, when the weather turns bitterly cold. Provide plenty of hay and bedding for them to burrow into to stay warm.
(Photo by Christy Hinko) tend to roam your neighborhood, bang on the hood or honk the horn before starting your car. Remember it is best to keep your cat indoors.
Bettas
While your little betta buddy has been doing great all summer, you may start to notice him slowing down and
dogs are welcome throughout each store at every location. Some locations even offer doggie day care for shoppers. (Photo by Christy Hinko) If you have a rabbit or guinea pig, be eco-friendly by using their soiled bedding as mulch and compost. Wood beddings such as shredded aspen can be used as mulch, protecting plant’s roots. Paper beddings can be used as mulch or composted; rototilling it into the ground next year gives you great soil. You can soak soiled bedding in water overnight, strain, and then use to give plants their fall feeding of fertilizer, loaded with nitrates and ammonia. It’s great for indoor plants, too.
Reptiles getting lazy. Adding a small, shatter-proof heater to his bowl will help keep him warm and active.
This time of year many reptiles may slow down, eat very little, and sleep all the time. Reptiles can respond
Birds and parrots
For a lot of parrots, fall can trigger a molt, where new feathers grow and push out old ones. This is the time of year we hear how surprised Polly’s
Home Improvement Stores
Lowe’s Home Improvement and Home Depot are both well-known for allowing pets—however, the degree to which pets are welcome varies widely from location to location. It’s important to check with each individual store before bringing your dog with you to help you select your lumber or bathroom fixtures.
Outdoor Stores
Tractor Supply Company, a wellknown agricultural and farming supply store, welcomes leashed, friendly dogs at most of its locations—but that’s what you might expect from a store that supports pet adoptions and holds an annual Pet Appreciation Week. Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s—both of which are hunting, fishing and all-around outdoor authorities—also allow pets at many of their locations; a fact that’s not wellknown, but also not surprising.
Craft Stores
Michael’s has a reputation for being dog-friendly. While not every location may welcome your pooch, some of them will allow him to ride in the cart as you browse.
Local Stores
(Photo by Christy Hinko) parents were when she flew right off their shoulders! Bring them in for a wing (and nail) trim before you get a surprise, too. Help reduce the irritation the pin feathers cause by misting your bird, and add some vitamins to
to the decrease in the amount and intensity of light by bromating, a form of hibernation. Make sure that they have been eating well and defecating normally. You can perk them up and keep them active by increasing the wattage of their heat bulbs. With a few special considerations, you and your pets can safely enjoy the transition to winter. Visit www. nassaucountyspca.org (Nassau County’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) for information.
Many local chains or mom-andpop stores work to develop personal relationships with their clientele. They also tend to have a lot of discretion and autonomy when it comes to whether or not they will allow pets in their establishments. Call ahead to your favorite local retailer. They may surprise you by saying your pet is welcome, especially if he’s small enough to fit in a carrier or shopping cart. Kim Salerno is the president and founder of www.tripswithpets.com.