by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

In just a few days, pet bloggers and pet companies from across the country will gather in Atlanta, Georgia for the annual Bark World Expo!  This is one pet industry person who is attending and excited to be there and meet other like minded pet writers, pet companies and pet industry leaders.   This will be my first time at the expo and will be reporting back after the event to tell you all about it!   To find out more see who is speaking at the national social media petworking conference, click the Bark World logo below.  And don’t worry cat lovers, Meow World will be debuting this year at Bark World to!

If you are interested in going, there are only a couple seats left!  Hope to see you there!

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

By now if you are in the pet industry, you’ve known for quite a while that October is Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month, and it is now also Pit Bull Awareness month. But to the average Joe, someone who may own a family dog but isn’t engrossed in the pet industry or rescue, what does Adopt-A-Shelter Dog month really mean to them and the rest of the world?

Plain and simple – Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month is a month to bring awareness to the general public about getting them to think of going to their local shelter to adopt a dog. Personally I see the month as a way to educate the general public about how many dogs there are available locally at their own town municipal shelters and private shelters. I would love to see more people open their minds, hearts and eyes to shelters dogs and see that they make amazing pets. And to educate themselves about why they should not buy puppies in puppy stores.

In the past four Pet Events Newsletter I have been featuring Asia, a complete sweetheart of a pit mix with two different colored eyes, who loves people, kids, and dogs. Asia has been at the Town of Islip Animal and Adopt-a-Shelter Center for 19 months (that’s a year and 7 months people). They take great care of her, and she is even a little chubby, but she came into the shelter very preggers gave birth to her pups which of course were all adopted quickly, and she remains. If I could take her, I would – I went to visit her not to long ago and she was so silly in her kennel when
I was talking to her it was a riot, I was cracking up laughing her ‘please adopt me antics’ she was doing.  She is a very good dog – and was even featured on News 12 this morning. I really hope someone opens their home and hearts for this sweet girl.

The Town of Islip is having their Annual Adopt-a-thon tomorrow, Saturday, October 13, from 11am – 3pm at the shelter (210 S. Denver Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706) with a ton of vendors, music and of course TONS of adoptable pets. They are also announcing who will be the lucky family to bring Joey the pit pull puppy home who had over 100 applications for his adoption. LINK. I really hope in honor of Joey that the hundreds of people who applied to be his new family will go into the shelter and take the time to meet some of the dogs, cats, and bunnies there waiting for love.

There have been adopt-a-thons going on all across the country and right here on LI. Another upcoming fun offsite adoption for Kent Animal Shelter will take place on Saturday, October 27, 2012 from 11am to 3pm at Westhampton Pet (29 Riverhead Road in Westhampton Beach – Exit 63 off of Sunrise highway south). They will have dogs available for adoption. Bring your dog down to visit dressed in their best HOWL-O-Ween costume and a prize will be awarded for best dressed dog!

October may be Adopt-A-Shelter Dog month – but any chance you can get to go to your local shelter and meet a potential new family member, take it, you won’t be disappointed. A lot of adoptive pet parents and rescuers can tell you that somehow the dogs ‘know’ that you are their new person. It’s true – and you will be much happier with your decision knowing you are adopting and taking a dog home out of a loud, stressful environment to live he or she was meant to live. By your side!

Photo credit: Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Don’t you love the cooler, crisp weather that is happening after a brutally hot summer? I know I do, and my dog Max has some serious hyper fall fever for a 11 year old pupper! One of the things that we think changes with the cooler weather is less fleas and ticks around, however that is not always the case. Many people resort to topical treatments to keep fleas and ticks away from their pets, in which I do not use any of those products on my dog, never have, never plan on it. I am however, proactive in always checking my dog for ticks, especially here on LI – they never really go away unless the temperature goes below freezing or their is snow on the ground. So my dog knows the routine after a nice long walk in the woods or even just down the street – he gets checked for ticks afterwards. To be fair, he has short hair and he his coat is mostly white – so it is a bit easier to look for ticks on him vs. say a long haired or double coated dog. It’s a choice I make to not use topical treatments and use holistic sprays to keep pests away, but dog owners have to decide what is best for them and their dog on an individual basis.

My dog has had ticks on him from walks or romping in a field which I remove with a ticked off spoon or device like that, but he has never a problem with fleas. But in order to know where fleas and ticks may be a problem in your neighborhood, PetCareRX.com came up with this ingenious local flea and tick tracker which is designed to help customers track the flea and tick threat level depending on location. The tracker is simple to use and extremely beneficial for pet owners and their animal friends. To try it, just click on the button on the top left hand side of the site ‘Find your local Flea & Tick Threat Level’ on PetCareRX.com.

Pet owners can explore the different charts and maps that are generated based on the zip code. The various charts help break down flea and tick patterns depending on the temperature, time of year and location. For instance, the 3-day flea forecast chart uses the average temperature and humidity forecast for the next three days to compute a flea threat level of low, medium, or high. There is also a chart based on 2012 parasite prevalence maps which show the risk of tick borne diseases in the requested area as well.

The Flea Activity chart is based on historical weather patterns by state which can help viewers see when the low, moderate and high flea threat levels might occur. This chart is great because it can help pet owners choose a flea and tick prevention course of action based on their region’s flea activity. For example, this year has been warmer than usual in many parts of the country. It is important to pay attention to our pet’s habits (indoor or outdoor, country or city, etc) in order to decide what the best course of action to protect our furry friends.

So whether you are using a topical treatment or a holistic approach – it is a great tool to find about the flea and tick patterns in your neighborhood so you can best prevent your pet from getting these pests.

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 Robyn Elman, President & Founder of In Home Pet Services, Inc., Certified Pet Tech

Would you know what to do if your pet or a client’s pet was choking? Do you know the most common case of poisoning veterinarians are seeing right now? Would you know the steps to save your pets life if he or she was hit by a car? Taking a Pet First Aid & CPR class can teach you how to calmly and confidently deal with any of these situations and other pet emergencies.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association 1 out of every 4 more pets would have survived if only ONE Pet First Aid Technique was applied prior to receiving emergency veterinary care. While taking a Pet First Aid & CPR class is vital for anyone who owns a pet, it is essential for anyone who works with pets on a volunteer or professional basis – whether it be a shelter worker, animal rescuer, dog trainer, groomer, animal control officer, or pet sitter.

The next class offered in our area will be on Saturday, November 4th, 2012 from 9:30am to 1:30pm and is held at Bid-a-wee’s educational building in Wantagh, (3300 Beltagh Avenue  Wantagh, NY 11793), across from Last Hope Animal Shelter.  The class is a lot of fun and students will learn from lecture, demonstration, and a lot of hands on practice in the class. Upon completing the class, students will know how to handle ANY emergency that can happen with their pet or a pet in their care, and also receive a 2-year certificate, emergency muzzle, full manual, and more.  This class is perfect for every day pet owners and pet professionals that work with animals on a regular basis. Register online at In Home Pet Services, Inc. or on the In Home Pet Services facebook page. The cost of the class is $85 per person and proceeds will be donated to Pet Safe Coalition – a non-profit group that teaches emergency preparedness and works with local government in setting up shelters for pets displaced in natural disasters.  Many pet accidents and emergencies happen during the holiday season, and this is the last class in our area for the year, being prepared for any pet emergency may just help you save a pet’s life!

Recent News 12 Video on Pet First Aid & CPR