Pet Press - March 2011 by Long Island Press

www.longislandpress.com/pets

Table of Contents

The long Island Pet Expo Schedule of Events ��4 LI Dogs at Westminster ��6 Human Food in a Dog’s Diet �� 10 Face to Face with Nature �� 12 Long island’s Feral Cats �� 14

Advertiser Directory

Barks-n-Bubbles Boutique, LLC ��2 Fetch Pet Care ��2 Selmer’s Pet Land ��2 B.T.J.’s Jungle ��3 Shelter Link ��5 League For Animal Protection ��5 East End Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center ��5 North Shore Animal League ��7 Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center ��7 VCA Animal Hospitals �� 8-9 Pet Safe Coalition �� 11 Pet Portraits By Beth Lipson �� 11 Doc Doo Little �� 11 Love My Puppies �� 11 PURRsonals.com �� 13 PetRugs.com �� 13 Long Island Pet Professionals �� 13 Brioschi �� 15 CanineFence �� 16 To Advertise in Future Editions of the Long Island Pet Press or to Learn how the Long Island Press Multi-Media Platforms can get your advertising message in front of over 410,000 Consumers per week, please contact Steven McKenna at 516-284-3319 or SMcKenna@LongIslandPress.com

Long Island Press presents Pet

Press march 2011

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Of Events THE LONG ISLAND Schedule Saturday, March 5

PET EXPO

10am-8pm

Dog Ring

10:30 AM Agility and Frisbee Demonstration by Doggie U and LI Road Rage 11:15 AM Dog Pals Dog Trick Show NOON Classic K-9’s Performance Dogs 12:45 PM Dancing with Your Dog 1:15 PM Agility and Flyball Demonstrations by Doggie U and LI Road Rage 2:00 PM Classic K-9’s Performance Dogs 2:30 PM Rick Caran and Team Jilli Dog 3:00 PM Dog Pals Dog Trick Show 3:30 PM Parade of Breeds 4:30 PM Dancing With Your Dog 5:00 PM Agility, Frisbee and Flyball Demonstrations by Doggie U and LI Road Rage 6:00 PM Classic K-9’s Performance Dogs 7:00 PM Dog Pals Dog Trick Show

Stage

11:00 AM Rainforest Reptile Show NOON Petland Discounts Traveling Pet Show 1:00 PM Birds of Prey Program 1:30 PM Dog Pals - How to Use Feeding Time to Train your Dog 2:15 PM Rainforest Reptile Show 4:00 PM Petland Discounts Traveling Pet Show 4:30 PM Birds of Prey Program 5:00 PM Rainforest Reptile Show 7:00 PM Rainforest Reptile Show

Sunday, March 6 10am-6pm

ogs

rmance D -9’s Perfo Classic K

Rainforest

Dog Ring

10:30 AM Agility & Frisbee Demonstrations by Doggie U and LI Road Rage 11:15 AM Dog Pals Dog Trick Show NOON Classic K9’s Performance Dogs 12:45 PM Dancing with Your Dogs 1:00 PM Jilli Dog 1:30 PM Agility and Flyball Demonstrations by Doggie U and LI Road Rage 2:15 PM Classic K-9’s Performance Dogs 3:00 PM Dog Pals Dog Trick Show 3:45 PM Dancing with Dogs 4:15 PM Classic K9’s Performance Dogs 5:00 PM Agility, Flyball & Frisbee Demonstrations by Doggie U and LI Road Rage

ow Reptile Sh

Stage

11:00 AM Rainforest Reptile Show NOON Petland Discounts Traveling Pet Show 12:45 PM Birds of Prey Program 1:00 PM Rainforest Reptile Show 1:30 PM Dog Pals- How to Use Feeding Time to Train your Dog 3:00 PM Rainforest Reptile Show 3:30 PM Petland Discounts Traveling Pet Show 4:00 PM Birds of Prey Program 5:00 PM Rainforest Reptile Show The Pet Expo reserves the right to make changes in the schedule

m rey Progra Birds of P

Long Island Press presents Pet

Visit www.longislandpetexpo.com for discount coupons & to purchase discount tickets

For additional information call 631-423-0620 or email petexpo@optonline.net or

Press march 2011

LEAGUE FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION of Huntington, Inc.

Raymond is just about one and a half and all puppy. He’s a high energy dog, who is very smart and eager to please. He already knows sit, paw, wait, and leave-it. He’s mastering down, stay, and drop it. Ray is hoping for an active family as he relishes running around the yard fetching a ball. He walks well on a lead and would make a perfect jogging partner. He loves other dogs, RAYMOND though he can come on a bit strong at first. We recommend Raymond be placed with older children who can participate in his continuing obedience training. If you’d like to come down to meet this sweet, affectionate boy, call us to set up a date. He’s waiting for you. Allow me to introduce my sassy self. I am Clarissa, a flirty 3-year-old Lab mix looking for an adoptive family who promises to never let me go. I am a very happy and spirited gal—I love to participate in various activities, like playing ball, getting brushed, giving kisses and getting belly rubs. I just love being the center of attention! I know my sit and down commands CLARISSA and am waiting to learn more. At times, I can be distracted so my new owner needs to have plenty of patience. I walk nicely on lead, but I don’t get to stretch my legs as often as I’d like here. Please save me...I’ve been locked up in this cold, sterile cage for far too long!

www.LAPHuntington.org 631-757-9373 or LAPdogz@msn.com

www.longislandpress.com/pets

LI Dogs at Westminster By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Living on Long Island we are very fortunate that once a year the most prestigious and biggest dog show comes to New York City. The Westminster Dog Show draws thousands of dog lovers from around the world and is practically in our backyard. Approximately 90 dogs at Westminster were from Long Island, and on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, a lot of the big dogs—and I mean this in size, not status—took part in the competition. One of those beautiful big dogs was the handsome, playful and young Bull Mastiff “Brutus” (Bandog’s Brutus the II of Raven), owned by Mike and Marilyn Schamroth of Hewlett. The Schamroths were very excited to see their boy in the ring—it was his first time at Westminster. Brutus, who is 18-months old, is already a champion and seasoned pro—he won the “Best of Winners” at the Bull Mastiff Association Nationals in Massachusetts in September 2010. Brutus was led to that championship by his handler, Rolissa Nash—a long-time Bull Mastiff breeder, owner, professional handler, accomplished dog trainer and co-owner of Doggie U K9 Academy in Bay Shore. “I can’t sing Rolissa’s praises enough—because with her it’s all about the dog, and the dog comes first —she has been fantastic to work with,” said Mike Schamroth. Another newcomer from LI to show this year was “George” (CH BlacNFlat Burns and Allen), a FlatCoated Retriever owned by David and Carole Kralstein of Canine Club Getaway. George started his show dog career at a single cluster of shows in July 2010, and in just five days, earned his championship title. He also won “Best of Breed” and G2 (2nd Place of the sporting group) at the October 2010 Westbury Kennel Club show on LI. George, a very sweet and handsome boy, is a willing and happy worker, while remaining the typical

Long Island Press presents Pet

(top) Rolissa Nash handles brutus in the benching area while George (bottom) struts his stuff.

Flat-Coat goofball. George is also an accomplished therapy dog and a canine good citizen. “George loves working with children as a therapy dog—he participates in a reading dog program where kids who may have trouble reading, read to him,” said David Kralstein. “He had a great time and he looked great in the ring. He was glad to get home and slept almost a whole day.” If you have never been to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show—this is a must-do for anyone interested in dogs. Mark your calendars for next year, as this is the “Best in Show” of dog shows!

Press march 2011

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Can’t Seem to Strip Sparky’s Table Scraps? Here’s How to Fit Human Food into the Nutritional Equation By Melissa Chan

From savoring a slice of pizza at the dinner table on Saturday night to smearing cream cheese on an everything bagel on Monday morning, 25-year-old Johnathan Martinez of Levittown can count on Oscar, his 1-year-old Lhasa Apso-Poodle mix, to be waiting at his feet for the scraps. “He has a cute face when he begs,” says Martinez, who admits that throwing his dog scraps has become more like a family activity. “We don’t give him a lot—just a little bit—but he’ll bark until we give him something.” Like Martinez, pet owners, for many reasons, insist on sharing their human food with their non-human, furry friends, whether it be from giving into begging or using the food as a sign of love. “Some owners like to provide treats, while others exclusively feed human foods and may have the perception that human goods are good and commercial dog food is harmful,” says Jennifer Larsen, DVM, Ph.D. of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Whatever the reason may be, veterinarians agree that most raw or cooked vegetables and fruits, especially carrots, and a little bit of cooked beef, chicken, turkey and salmon, in moderation, make good treats. However, pet owners are warned to heed the phrase “in moderation.” If these foods are unintended to be full meals, they must be treated as snacks, given in small proportions and not as frequently in order to still main-

tain a balanced diet. Larsen recommends that the calories coming from treats not exceed 10 percent of their daily calories. “Compare this to what cookies are like for humans,” says Sharon Gwaltney, DVM, Ph.D., Vice President of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Animal Poison Control Center. “You want to keep it to a minimum because you wouldn’t want to have a meal that is 50 percent cookies. “You don’t want to substitute people food for healthier dog food because they could end up with a nutrient deficiency,” Gwaltney continues. “A small amount is not going to do any harm but you don’t want to get them to the point where they refuse to eat their regular food, ruining their nice balanced diet.” But, what is a balanced diet? In order to survive, dogs essentially need amino acids from proteins, fatty acids and carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and water. Depending on the size, breed, amount of activity, and age of the dog, the daily recommended amount of each nutrient needed may vary. These nutrients can be provided by either commercial foods or by home-cooked diets. If choosing dog food products instead of human food, Gwaltney recommends selecting products that follow American Fine Food Corporation (AFFCO) guidelines. Pet owners should also consider choosing premium brands, staying

a small amount of human food is ok for dogs... this is not.

away from store brand dog foods that have a lot of fillers and a lower quality of food. If creating whole meals entirely consisting of human food, it is critical that pet owners use a properly formulated recipe that addresses their individual pet’s needs, says Larsen. And because there are pros and cons to both commercial and homecooked food diets, pet owners should discuss their options with a veterinary nutritionist or consulting www.balanceit.com, a website developed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists.

Does Your Dog Need A Diet?

Combining a large diet mixed with human food, especially table scraps, and dog food can lead to obesity in dogs, due to the excess amount of food they may be ingesting from snacks. This common issue that affects one out of four dogs may lead to diabetes and osteoarthritis in dogs. The chance of obesity increases with age and is more common in neutered animals. According to the National Research Council of the National Academies, your dog is overweight if you cannot feel her ribs, if you see fat deposits over her back and the base of her tail, cannot distinguish her waist behind the ribs when viewed from above, and see no abdominal tuck in her profile.

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Nature’s Magic on LI By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

There is a magical place on Long Island if you like nature, birds, and seeing wild animals up close and personal, and no it’s not the zoo, game park or sanctuary. A nature preserve on the north shore of the South Fork is one of best places to observe nature and have wild birds actually land in your hand. The Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge is a treasure that many Long Islanders have either never heard of or have yet to visit. It’s beautiful in every season, but something magical happens when there is a fresh fallen snow. Maybe it’s the fact that there are less people there and more wildlife walking around. The birds are always very active, but in the winter they are amazing. You will never see so many bright red cardinals in one place at one time, and you will see birds you have never seen before at your backyard feeder. If you are looking for something to do with your now-cabin-feveredup kids outside, or maybe your kids have never been this close to nature, Morton’s is definitely worth the trip. On any given day you can see families of deer walking around, wild turkeys

Long Island Press presents Pet

who are not the least bit scared of you, bunnies, squirrels, red-tailed hawks, and of course, the birds: chickadees, nut hatches, blue jays, tons of cardinals, sparrows, and many other species, who will literally greet you at the entrance. It’s quite a spectacle. There is a trail that leads down to the bay beach and there is a look-out deck equipped with binoculars. The view is spectacular. Another part of the trail loops around through the woods. You’ll pass a pond with a deck for observing wildlife. You’ll also cross over a few short wooden foot bridges. The variety of landscape at Morton’s is quite interesting, too, from wooded trails and tall pine trees to a swamp near the pond to a magnificent bay beach—there is something to see around every turn.

Press march 2011

there’s a host of bird breeds that will greet you when you arrive at the elizabeth a. morton national wildlife refuge.

This is a nature preserve, so there are rules, like no pets allowed, not even your cute little dog—leave him home. Bicycles aren’t permitted, either, and please, don’t litter or take things out of the park. For more information go to http://tiny.cc/Morton_Wildlife_Refuge

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Feral Cat Problem on LI by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Long Island happens to be home to thousands of feral cats—and this winter has been a tough one for many colonies across the island. Many of these cats and kittens are cared for daily by devoted volunteers of rescue groups who try to help deter the problem by trapping, spaying and neutering, and re-releasing them back into the colony where they were trapped. This is also known as Trap-NeuterReturn, or TNR. Some younger cats or kittens that are not quite as feral and can be rehabilitated into living in a home are given the chance to be put up for adoption. Why do we have such a problem with feral cats across our island? One contributing factor is because people falsely believe cats can fend for themselves. So they dump cats they no longer want. Domesticated cats do not do well when abandoned. Many die from diseases they were not exposed to before, are struck by cars, or attacked by other animals. Often, people who have or live near a colony of feral cats just feed them and never ask for help to have the cats TNR’d—and as nature would have it, kittens keep coming. Interestingly, many of our college campuses have a feral cat problem. Stony Brook University has a program called SBU Cat Network, in which faculty and student volunteers help the cats living on the campus. In 2002, Associate Professor of Psychology, Dr. Nancy Franklin, founded the program based on Stamford University’s model of how college campuses deal with feral cat colonies. The SBU is solely dedicated to helping

Long Island Press presents Pet

the cats on their campus. It is not an animal shelter. They do offer advice to people and other rescue groups about feral cats, but Stony Brook is not a dumping ground for felines, and they cannot take in unwanted cats. The campus currently has about 30 colonies on the grounds and each colony has an insulated shelter the cats can go into for warmth and to get away from inclement weather. Volunteers feed the cats 365 days a year, participating in fundraising for the group and TNR. Student volunteers try to educate other students that dumping cats on campus is neither acceptable nor humane— informing them they are not allowed to keep pets on campus. Another organization, which serves the towns of

Press march 2011

Riverhead and Southold, is SAVES (Spay, Alter, Vaccinate, Every Stray), a 501c3 all-volunteer not-for-profit. Like SBU, they have no shelter to house cats or kittens, but do have limited foster homes for feral cats that are suitable for households (that become domesticated). SAVES’ main focus is TNR care for the feral cat colonies in both towns—in which there are approximately 40 colonies with a population of about 500 cats. SAVES provides food, winterized shelters, medical attention (besides spaying and neutering) and have volunteers go to feed and check on the colonies daily. SAVES has been going to Kent Animal Shelter for low-cost spay and neuter. Their main outlet for adoptions is the Riverhead Petco, in which they house cats and kittens available for adoption through SAVES. So what can you do to help? If you see a feral cat colony that no one is caring for, i.e. no shelter provided, no food or water, and/or kittens continually being born, contact a local animal rescue group to let them know about it. If you have feral cats and are just feeding them, you are very well adding to the problem—reach out to the public animal rescues for help with feral cats in your yard, facility or business.

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