by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Just because we already passed tumbleweed Tuesday (the day after Labor Day), and there is a distinct chill in the air doesn’t mean there is nothing happening on the East End. There are some really fantastic pet events happening that are perfect for your autumn outings with your four legged friends.

The first of which happens to be taking place this Sunday, September 23, 2012 at Martha Clara Vineyards in Riverhead, NY. The 3rd Annual Wines & Canines 5k Dog Walk/Run to benefit Kent Animal Shelter. The event starts at 11am and participants will enjoy walking or running through 200-acres of scenic vineyards during peak harvest season on the North Fork at Martha Clara Vineyards. This is a non-competitive run or walk where guests can bring their pooch along with them for this special leisurely dog walk/run to benefit homeless animals at Kent Animal Shelter. Wine tasting, food vendors, pet vendors, auctions, prizes, K-9 Frisbee demonstration and more! What’s better than a day out on the East End with your pup to help homeless animals and drink some fabulous wine? I am in! To get more info and download a registration form www.KentAnimalShelter.com/winesandcanines/ or register in person at the event. The cost for the event is a $25 minimum donation per person and children 12 and under are free. Registration begins at 11AM, walkers and runners may start the course anytime between 11AM and 1PM as it is not a timed race. For questions please call (631) 727-5731. Well behaved and leashed dogs please! (No retractable leashes).

Another east end event, but on the South Fork is the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) Annual Stroll to Sea Dog Walk on Saturday, October 6th at Mulford Farm in East Hampton, NY. And stick around for the next event…TV and movie pet celebrity to be at the next event!

If you are more inclined to go to Montauk, we have the event for you! On Monday, October 8th, 2012 (Columbus Day) from 12:30pm-5:00pm there will be a Pet Celebration and Luncheon Event at the Oceanside Beach Resort in Montauk (626 Montauk Highway, Montauk, NY 11954). The Pet Celebration and Luncheon Event will have: music; pet vendors; raffles; pet costume contests; adoptable pets; goody bags; yummy food for humans and dogs alike; dog festivities and much more! This event is being held to celebrate the completion of A Journey Four Paws – in which Irene Rabinowitz and her 10-year old dog Sydney will be walking the last 10-miles of their 70-mile, four day journey into Montauk! A special guest appearance by Bocker the Labradoodle, TV & Movie Pet Celebrity will be at the event signing pawtographs!

Guests can bring their dogs dressed in their best most creative Montauk Monster, Surfer Dog, or original costume! Humans can dress up to if they wish as it is close to Howl-o-ween! Come and join us to cheer Irene and Sydney as they complete the ‘tail end’ of this amazing journey all while raising funds and awareness for the Long Island chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and for Central Suffolk Paws – an division under LI-Dog that helps get much needed dog parks in our towns on Long Island. Tickets to the luncheon are $35 per person and dogs attend for free! To purchase tickets or find out more information about this event go to www.barksnbubblesli.com/2445.html.

And for more events happening across the East End and Long Island, sign up for the weekly FREE Pet Events Newsletter and don’t miss another event!

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Heading to the North Fork with your furkid to go pumpkin picking or hitting the wineries this weekend?  The east end of Long Island is very pet friendly and I have yet to be at a farm stand, pumpkin patch or winery that a well behaved pet was not allowed.  If you are staying the entire weekend and are looking for a place to board or walk your pet while out there, you are in luck as there a few places to choose from:  A1 Critter Sitters, C-Dogs Unlimited LLC, These Dreams Pet Services, Inc. (631-764-9571), some also offer grooming.

If you are bringing your pet with you, be sure to stop at The Country Pet on Love Lane in Mattituck – this quaint pet store carries beautiful pet products as well as top quality pet food and treats.  Want to capture the weekend or maybe have Fluffy’s photo taken by a pro, you will want to schedule an appointment with ThePuparazzi, that’s right (you don’t have to be in the Hamptons to have flash blubs going!).

Or maybe you need some training techniques and tips from an expert dog trainer?  Like how to handle your dog when he sees all those different farm animals at a vineyard or pumpkin patch?  Give the North Fork School of Dogs a call and they can help you.  After a long day of pumpkins and new scents your dog may be wiped out so what about a canine massage or reiki session?  You are in luck as Patty’s Pet Services offers just that.

Autumn on the North Fork is a treasure for LI and a wonderful place to visit with your pet.  Just remember to keep your pet leashed, clean up after him, have fresh water available and respect the areas you visit with him.  Your dog will experience the excitement of a new location, new scents, may see animals he has never seen before – so be sure you know your dog can handle it.  Enjoy the harvest!

Heading out East for the day but don’t have a pet, be sure to stop by Kent Animal Shelter, the North Fork Animal Welfare League or Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation on your way back!

(Recently while apple picking on the North Fork a family had their two dogs with them a large golden doodle and a poodle, the dogs were perfectly mannered and sweet, even took the ‘hay’ ride out to pick apples.  The dogs were so well behaved the entire time with very good owners, I cannot say that for the out of control kids that were throwing mud and apples and screaming the entire time – and their parents didn’t care! Even the dogs were looking at those kids like ‘what the bleep?’ is going on.)

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

After Thanksgiving meals are over, (leftovers and all), and the family and friends have gone home, don’t forget about your dog – who may be in desperate need of a nice long walk or hike. Dogs can get stressed out during the holidays with new noises, crowds, traveling and unfamiliar people coming and going. Help relieve that stress by going for a hike with your canine pal. Keep these tips in mind when out:

• Make sure you have your dogs appropriate collar on that has his or her name tags, license and rabies tag. Even if you are using a training collar to walk your dog, you want identification on your dog at all times. *Don’t have tags on a choke or prong collar – these are training collars that should be taken off when at home.  A flat cotton, leather or nylon collar is best for dog tags.
• Use a good leash. A sturdy leather or cotton 6-foot lead is best, especially if you don’t often walk your dog. Retractable leashes are not the best if in a heavily populated park or if you have no verbal control of your dog. Your dog should be close to you, not 15 – 30 feet ahead wandering around with no direction from you. (And people coming towards you can’t see if your dog is on a leash or not and it could be unnerving for them).
• Bring water, and treats with you if you are going on a longer walk.
• Check to make sure you can legally walk your dog in the park you are planning on going to. Don’t take your dog off leash if it is not allowed, obey the park rules, and it will be a more enjoyable day for everyone.
• When approaching an oncoming dog and owner, ask if the dog is friendly and if your dog can say hello. Not all dogs are dog friendly, if you just let your dog wander up to any dog without asking, you could very well be asking for trouble. If they say no, don’t be offended, just move on.
• Don’t over do it – if your dog is primarily a yard dog, an 8-mile hike might be too much. Go for a shorter mile or two.  Keep a pet first aid kit in your car also.
• Invite a friend or two with their dogs and go together, dogs like to be social and enjoy walking with their canine pals.
• If it is cold out and your dog has short hair, a dog coat will help him keep warm during the walk. 
• If you live on the East End of Long Island be careful where you walk, as it is unfortunately hunting season, and often times areas where hunting is happening may not be marked.  Or signs can be confusing, i.e. one sign may say, ‘Nature Preserve No Hunting’ and 50-feet away is a private game hunting area, crazy!  Call your local town hall to find out more information on where you can safely walk or hike with your dog.
• Most of all have fun and walk your dog often, not just after Thanksgiving! Walking with your dog is a wonderful way to bond, work on training techniques and drain some energy both physically and mentally for your dog.  You know what they say, “A tired dog is a good dog!”

Suffolk County Parks are Dog Friendly, leashed of course.  Some are seasonal, click her for more info. http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/Home/departments/parks/Parks.aspx

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

This is the time of year when we as humans indulge on all kinds of goodies, from Thanksgiving turkey, trimmings, pumpkin pies and a lot of food we would not normally eat on a daily basis. A lot of dog owners think they should give our dogs whatever we are eating as their holiday treat. You may feel guilty with those puppy eyes looking back up at you while they are licking their chops, but wait, stop and remember that guilt is a human emotion. Indulging your pet with all the yummy goodness of a Thanksgiving meal, could just have you spending that night in the ER for pets.

Some dogs, if they are not used to eating turkey, pumpkin or sweet potato pie, can get sick from it. So make sure you refrain from giving your dog foods they are not used to and also ask your guests to do the same. Dogs are better off eating what they are normally fed during the holiday season. With the rushing around in this busy time of year, you may not notice your dog not feeling well because someone gave him the turkey thigh. If you really want to give your dog a special treat, go to your local pet store and buy a dog treat – make sure it is veterinarian approved and made in the USA and don’t leave your dog unsupervised with it. This time of year, veterinarian offices see a pretty big spike in visits from gastrointestinal problems i.e.: dogs not used to eating table scraps, blockage from ingesting a toy or toy part (while no one was watching) and it could require surgery.

Before your friends and family are coming over for Thanksgiving, take your dog for a nice long walk, you know the saying goes, a tired dog is a good dog. There are many beautiful places here on Long Island to do so, and it will be good for you to. Keep your dog healthy on Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving!

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

We all hear about Spring Fever, but for many animals and pets, Fall Fever is much more appropriate.  After this long and very hot summer we have had, the cool weather is a welcome break for us humans; you can only imagine how much our four legged friends in their fur coats are loving it.  Many pets may be much calmer or less hyper when it is really hot outside and prefer the air conditioning inside.  My own dog goes through some serious ‘fall fever’ this time of year, he just can’t get enough of the cool weather.  So if you are new to pet ownership, or got a pet over the summer and don’t understand why your pet may be suddenly acting ‘crazy’ – or just has a lot more pep – the change in the season could very well be why. 

Keep in mind while our schedules may get more sedentary due to less sunlight during the day, some pets tend to have more energy.  As a pet owner realizing this is the first step in the right direction to keeping your pet happy during this change of season.  Pets feeling the relief of the cooler weather may need longer play time, for a dog it could be a longer walk or a longer ride if you own a horse. Also understand sometimes their internal clock could change with the seasons.  My own dog likes to eat earlier during the cooler months, more like an early bird special for him in the late fall and throughout the winter – and this happens literally the day we turn the clocks back. 

While it starts to get dark out earlier, here are some things to consider for pet and owner safety:

• Make sure you dog and cat both have proper ID tags on their collars and think about investing in a reflective collar for your pet for night time walking.  Also make sure the collar is on correctly.  For owners reflective gear is important too, as many streets don’t have adequate lighting or may not have sidewalks, a great choice is the Walk Me Wear Reflective Cap created by a local Long Islander and made in the USA. www.walkmewear.com.
• Don’t use retractable leashes at night.  The fact that you will not really be able to see how far your pet has ventured out on the leash in the dark – a car is definitely not going to see that line in the dark.  Always use a sturdy leather or cotton 6-foot leash.  If you are in a really dark area, bring a flashlight with you so you can see where you are walking and where your pet is. (Or if there are any wild animals, raccoons, deer, opossum, wandering around).  Check your pets paws when you get back inside – you never know if there is broken glass or anything else they may have stepped on in the dark that could be harmful.  
• Have a pet first aid kit at home and in your car.  This way if your pet suffers from a minor scrap or cut due to exuberant play, you can tend to it immediately.  A pet first aid kit in your car is especially important if you decide to take your pet on a leaf peeping hike, maybe in a new location where you don’t know they terrain all that well.

Most of all take advantage of the cooler weather to take your pet out for a longer walk – because before you know we will have snow on the ground!