by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Living on Long Island we are so privleged to see so much wildlife around us on land, and in the sea.  Being surrounded by water offers a huge variety of marine life to see, if you take the time to look!  This past Saturday, in Hampton Bays, the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation held a sea turtle release at Ponoquogue Beach.  What a joy to be able to see this juvenile Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle, who was a cold stun rescue from October 2013, be released back into the ocean. Kemps Ridley sea turtle’s are the most endangered species of sea turtles and the smallest – weighing 80 to 100lbs compared to other, much larger sea turtles.

The turtle named Estonia, was found on the beach in Long Beach – she was a cold stun rescue.  A turtle that is cold stunned is a result of the water temperature rapidily decreasing which can cause the turtle to stop feeding, heart rate to slow and float on top of the water.  Estonia is one of many turtles that the Riverhead Foundation cares for due to being cold stunned and she was rehabilated at their facility since she was found.  I asked one of the volunteers why they were just releasing her now, they informed me they have to wait until the water temperature is warm enough.

There was easily over 150 people there (on both sides) waiting to see the release.  I don’t know who was more excited, the humans or Estonia as they walked her past all the onlookers, as soon as they went by the ocean she was practically jumping out of the turtle carrier!  Her flippers were going and you could tell she was ready to go back home.

Estonia flapped her flippers the entire way she was being held, kind of like when you hold a dog above water and they do a doggie paddle in the air.  It was adorable!

Off she goes! She went very quickly into they ocean once they place her on the sand.

The device that is glued to her shell is a tracking device, and as she travels in the ocean the Riverhead Foundation has an area of their website where you can see her travels by tracking her.  As she grows, the device may fall off as her shell gets bigger, remember she’s a young turtle.

For more information on all the fantastic programs that the Riverhead Foundation has, to make a donation and to learn more about what they do, visit their website!

Good luck Estonia!

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Historical mansions on Long Island are not something you would first think of to bring your dog too – but here on LI we are very fortunate enough to have many such places to explore and take in the history with our pups!  A new series of articles will feature many different places in bought Nassau and Suffolk counties over the next few weeks.

We start with the Castle and grounds at Sands Point, N.Y. that is located just north of Port Washington in Nassau County.  While we have a few castles on Long Island – which really is amazing in and of itself – the fact that you can bring your dog to such places may be unheard of in other parts of the country.  Sands Point is a hidden gem if you are looking for a different spot to spend the day with your pup.  While there are some restrictions to where you can bring your dogs on the grounds – it is well worth the trip and experience.  How often can you take a picture of your dog, like this one below of Phineas in front of a castle?

The history of Sands Point is quite fascinating, known as the Guggenheim Estate, and now cared for by the Friends of the Sands Point Preserve.  The estate was built in 1920 and modeled after the Kilkenny Castle in Ireland.  The castle is 100,000 square feet built with limestone and was originally served as the servant’s quarters and horse stables.

The Hempstead House which was the property’s main residence, overlooks the Long Island Sound is a 50,000 square foot Tudor-style home thta is 225 long and 135 wide with 40 rooms and 60 foot tall entry way.

The house is off limits to dogs – but you can walk right up to it with your pup or walk on the large grounds adjacent to the house that overlook the stunning view of the Long Island Sound and Connecticut.

There are also hiking trails that you can walk your dog through, picnic tables to hang out with your pup and while there is a beach – they do ask that you don’t let your dog in the water. If you’re looking for a new spot to take your dog too, Sands Point is well worth it – and I imagine in the fall it will be beautiful with the leaves changing.  Respect the areas that say dogs aren’t allowed to keep this piece of LI history dog friendly!  For more pictures, click here!

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime! Summertiiimmmme!  While we are enjoying the warm weather and summer activities – our pets may not be.  One thing many people tend to forget or not even think of is pet safety and heat.

While there are many ways your pet can overheat; too much exercise in the heat of the day; squished face pets like bulldogs, pugs, Frenchies, Shihtzus who can’t breath that great to begin with – they have a hard time with the heat; and lack of access to water for your pets especially if they are outside for any length of time in this hot and humid weather.

Of course this time of year the major concern is pets left in cars.  It amazes me year after year, that I still see people on a warm day leaving the windows open a crack and leaving their very furry dogs in the car – while they go into a store. According to a study done by San Francisco University, and if you haven’t seen this video of a veterinarian sitting in a hot car which shows how quickly temps rise during a heat wave.

Why not try it yourself, without your pet of course.  Next time it is a beautiful 75 -80 degrees, go sit in your parked car crack the windows a bit and sit in there for 10 -15 minutes. Don’t cheat and drink water or put the AC on.  Now imagine yourself in a fur coat without the ability to sweat. Are you hot yet?

Sometimes people think it’s ok to run into the store for 5-minutes during the summer and leave their pets in the car.  But what if you get stuck in the store, there is a long line, problem at the register, etc., and there you are in the air-conditioned store while your pet is sweltering in the heat, causing heat exhaustion or worse death.

What to do if you see a pet left in the car during during the warm spring, summer and fall months:

• Call Animal Control of the town the car is located in.

• Call the police, tell them the location, make/model color of the car, give them the license plate number.

• Stay until the authorites arrive to be sure the pet was safely evacuated from the hot car.

• A great tip is to program the Animal Control (Animal shelter) phone #’s to the town and surrounding towns you live in, into your phone contacts so you can access them immediately.

Pet owners should also know if you are caught doing this or someone reports your car with a pet in it to the police, the police have the right to break into to your car with whatever means necessary, call animal control and have your pet seized. You may be issued a summons, arrested for animal cruelty, or more. So the next time you are running up to the supermarket on a hot day, please, please, please leave your pets at home in the AC!