Article by Dana Humphrey (dana@whitegatepr.com) photo’s by Long Island Pet Professionals

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month!  On May 22^nd from 7-10pm at the Toyota of Manhattan located at 47^th Street and 11^th Ave in New York, over 200 people got together for a fun benefit party called LYME AID to raise over $1000 for LymeDisease.org. Attendees wore lime green, learned how to prevent Lyme Disease in their own home and brought their pets (from dogs to cats to bunnies).

At the event all enjoyed live music from Damn Glad, DJ DLITE, an entertaining hula-hoop/dance performance with Benjy Bronk and Elisa Jordana as “BENJELISA”, a documentary film screening of “Under Our Skin”, complimentary paw-dicures with Warren London, a book signing and lime green couture pet fashion showcase with Paul Nathan’s Couture Dogs of New York, glitter tattoos for people and pets, basketball and poker performances with Rick Caran and “Jilli Dog”, special readings with Shira the pet psychic, pictures in the Royal Photo Booth, hot catered food for people and pets, vodka, tequila, Kamoni Ice, beer and non-alcoholic drinks, poetry with Richard Blanco, prizes, raffles and amazing goodie bags!  Plus, every goodie bag included a “Tick Kit” with special supplies from PetCareRx.com and Tick SR on how to remove a tick in case you or your pets get one this season.

Special guests included Hostess Maria Milito from Q1043, Jorge Bendersky, Celebrity Groomer, Al Chernoff “Alley Cat” from Rescue Ink and Jackson Galaxy.There were vendor tables ranging from Susi Raphael and Jane Elissa art, to Mary Kay makeup, treats from Clear Conscience Pet, food from the Dog Chef Kevyn Matthews, Dr. Harveys, Natura and Stella & Chewys, Free Acupuncture and Rescue Chocolate!

A HUGE thanks to Toyota of Manhattan and event sponsors PetCareRx.com, Critter Zone USA, Natura Pet and Tick SR for making it happen. CLICK HERE to see a LOT more pictures!

Robyn Elman of In Home Pet Services and Jackson Galaxy from Animal Planet's hit show, My Cat from Hell

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

On Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 7pm a different kind of pet benefit event is hitting the roof top of Toyota of Manhattan – LymeAid!  It is not a drink, but the drinks may be green at this pet and human party.  What is this event you ask?  LymeAid is a first of it’s kind dual fundraiser for LymeDisease.org and Stray from the Heart animal rescue and to raise awareness about the awful Lyme Disease that both people and our pets often contract.

While the disease is serious – LymeAide promises to be a fantastic time with music, dancing, pet celebrities (human and the four legged kind!), scrumptious food and cocktails, raffles, photo booth, pet vendors, and so much more!  Click here to see all the details and RSVP.

This event all got started because of pet industry expert, Nikki Moustaki of Nikki Knows Pets, who herself has a serious case of lyme disease for over 2 years now.  Nikki wanted to raise awareness about the disease and help two organizations that are close to her heart at the same time.

Nikki Moustaki

Living on Long Island, many of us have known dogs with lyme disease, and people too, but no one I knew had severe cases like Nikki has. (Nikki lives in NYC and Florida). I have even known a few dogs that have contracted the disease over the years – but were treated and recovered well.   But ticks are everywhere and as dog owners that are out and about with out pups we need to be more diligent in checking our dogs for ticks and even oursleves.  I interviewed Nikki about her illness and the upcoming LymeAid event:

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places?  Are you a pet owner and can’t seem to find someone to love you and your pet (and its fur and feathers)?  Well have I may just have the answer for you! Recently, pet and lifestyle expert Charlotte Reed hosted a class at the Hotel Indigo in New York City about just this very topic called, ‘Finding the pet Lover of your Dreams.’

Charlotte who has been married for 5 years, has been often asked how she met her great, cute, and loving husband?  How with her menagerie of cats, dogs, and birds did she manage to find someone to fall in love with, who will also love and deal with her fur children?  After years of telling people how she did it, about 6 months ago she decided to host a class to help others find the pet lover of their lives.

If you are in the pet industry or just the every day dog owner who loves to go to different pet events with your pup, chances are you run into the same crowd all the time.  Charlotte found that to be true for herself, and started going to different places like toastmaster events, (loaded with men, by the way), going to networking events outside of her pet profession and started to meet a lot of different and interesting men.  She would not have normally met, say at the dog park or the gym.  Places most of us are told to look! 

Charlotte stresses, that she always makes sure she looks her best, whether it is in a designer outfit or cute shoes from Payless – and too look good in any situation.  She said, “If you’re going to the dog park in your sweats, you may be less likely to connect with the cute guy across the park when he is dressed to impress.”  The point, when you look good you feel good about yourself and you exude confidence which is attractive to those around you.

The same goes for online dating, put a great and recent picture of yourself – you want to look your best and give your best impression online also.  On a first date, you can mention you own a pet, but keep it short don’t scare away your date with horror stories of your last visit to the vet or that your dog threw up earlier, really not sexy or attractive!

“Have realistic expectations if you have a pet, while you are searching for the person you are dating.  And know the type of person you are and who you are looking for,” said Charlotte Reed.

Make a list of who you are, what your likes are, passionate about, what you do and make one of who you would like to find – your ‘must haves’ in a mate.  But, and this is key, make sure you stack up to your own must haves in your list.  Charlotte said, “Think about it you are expecting a buff guy who has a great body and works out, but you don’t or someone who is sweet, kind and caring and maybe you’re a little selfish – how do you stack up to your own wish list?”

An interesting point that maybe not a lot of people think of when searching for that Pet Lover of their dreams!

Another great point was to be proactive in your dating life.  If you are looking for a mate, but use your pet as an excuse, say I can’t go to that event because of my cat needs to eat or I have to walk the dog – then you may not ever meet the love of your life.  There are lots of pet sitters in New York City that can help take care of your cat while you’re at a new event meeting new people.

Charlotte put it well, “Owning a pet as a lifestyle choice – don’t use your pet as an excuse not to go out. If you want to meet somebody – put the time in.”

The class was jam packed with great information for any singleton pet owner looking to find love.  Lucky for you, Charlotte will be hosting a 5 city tour with her class this fall in the following cities: Atlanta; San Diego; Chicago; New York City; San Francisco and maybe Boston too.  Attendees were also very happy to leave with a goody bag loaded with pet products from:  the Animal Medical Center; Bissell; Hugs Pet Products; Hartz; Wag.com and World’s Best Cat Litter.

And how did Charlotte meet her Executive Chef of a husband? On a TV set of a news show they were both on that day.  So you never know where you may meet the love of your life.

For more information on Charlotte Reed or the next class in a city near you go to www.charlottereed.com.

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

A new dog is crowned the best in show for the 136th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the Pekingese GCH Palacegarden Malachy and did you know the Best in Show (BIS) judge is from Long Island?  While I was cheering for Fifi the Doberman to win, (for obvious reasons) she didn’t grab the BIS title.  The Westminster Dog Show is the Superbowl of dog shows and with 2,000 dogs competing this year at Madison Square Garden, I would not want to have to pick the winner!  People come from all over the country and the world to compete or just to attend as a spectator.

After being at Westminster all day on Valentine’s day, I was reading the guide and record and it occurred to me, the 136 Annual dog show.  That’s 136 years this show has been happening, and started back in 1876, really quite remarkable.  Another piece of interesting history, for all you history buffs out there – did you know that the Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show is one of only 3 tenants to have been in every one of the four different incarnations of Madison Square Garden – and Westminster started prior to the first MSG location.  MSG was originally it was called Gillmore’s Gardens and was located at 26th and Madison Avenue.  The current location of MSG is the fourth place MSG has been located.  Who knew?

The Clumber Spaniel was one of the first breeds in the early days of Westminster

As more and more dog breeds are accepted in the the American Kennel Club and now being shown at Westminster – there is a much broader scope of fans, onlookers and attendees at the show.  The show seemed a little more crowded to me this year than last and this year 6 new breeds were competing: the Cesky Terrier; Entlebucher Mountain Dog; Finnish Lapphund; Norwegian Lundehund (a dog with 6 toes on each foot); and probably the most unique looking dog the Xoloitzcuintli the national dog of Mexico – commonly called the ‘show-low’ for short.  The hairless breed was originally called the Mexican Hairless – who knows why the name was changed, but really a cool looking dog.  I do however prefer dogs with fur! And even only last year the Cane Corso, once considered a rare breed was let into Westminster and I think there were 20 dogs competing today.

Cane Corso

Dog shows in my opinion have evolved in the way of the crowd – it’s not the average dog show person that you see at the event – but every day dog owners and dog lovers.  It’s such fun way to see so many breeds in one spot and have such an enthusiastic crowd at Westminster.  You can ask the handlers questions about the dogs, get ideas if a certain dog is for you, etc. Even Pet Celebrities like Victoria Stillwell was there meeting dogs and speaking with people.

Victoria Stillwell of Animal Planet's It's Me or the Dog

And if for some reason you can’t hop on the LIRR to head into the show next year, you can join in on their social media craze.  Social Media for Westminster has taken off like wild fire in the past two years.  The Facebook Page for Westminster has over 96 thousand fans and during the two days of the show fans watching the show were tweeting with the #WKC hashtag.  Last year the day after the BIS win – their website had 10.2 million page views – amazing!

As cool as that all is – we all just want to route for our favorite breed or local owner who has a dog in the show, like Lynn the only female Harlequin Great Dane that was in the Great Dane Ring today, Lynn is from Patchogue.  There are many stories like that and many dogs from Long Island who competed the last two days at Westminster.  Do you have a dog that competed from Long Island? (more pictures below)

Sleepy girl!

English Mastiff takes a rest right in the middle of the floor!

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

After the Pre-Westminster Fashion show, and before the Westminster Dog Show there is a conference tucked in between both and held at the Hotel Pennsylvania – it’s been taking place the past few years.  What conference am I speaking of?  The 4th Annual Pet Writing Conference of course!  This year was my first year I was able to attend – but as a pet writer or someone in the pet industry thinking about getting into pet writing – this is a conference you should not miss.  Meeting with other pet writers from across the US, pet authors who have published pet books and with editors and publishers – this was an intimate group of about 40 pet writing professionals I would not have otherwise have met.

The conference is hosted by Charlotte Reed of The Pet Socialite Inc., and at lunch time the world famous David Frei of the Westminster Dog Show and Angel on a Leash stopped by to speak to us and with us – in which he was a fab addition of the lunch break.  I have met David a few times in the past and he did not disappoint with his stories of Uno a past Westminster Best in Show winner and his perfect pronunciation of the new breeds this year.  You know the dog breed starting with an X, I wouldn’t even attempt how to pronounce it.

Prior to David showing up at lunchtime, there were different seminars throughout the morning – and I have pages of notes yet to go through and hearing from people in the pet writing industry and learning their ins and outs – was very informative and dare I say fascinating at some points.

I spoke with a publisher and was asking her what she sees in self publishing vs. trying to get your book published world, and she said her company has published pet books that were self published first and the traditional publishing methods.  Was pretty interesting to hear her insight.

Another seminar had speakers from Petside.com and they were so nice and helpful – it was such a wonderful thing to see – as many of us have our own blogs, or pet magazines – they offered nothing but insight and even how to work with them.

Back to the books – one seminar after lunch that was almost a battle, was the Authors on writing – which featured a local Long Island author of 3 children’s books, the first being, ‘Ankle Soup‘ by Maureen Sullivan.  I met Maureen 3-years ago at a pet event in NYC when she and her illustrator were debuting Ankle Soup – and the French Bulldog on the cover is what caught my eye.  Turns out Maureen has been in the publishing world for a while, and yet she still self published her own three beautiful books.  The other author in that seminar, had a book published called Culinary Canine – and she told us of the woes of getting book published, how long it took and how long before they see a percentage (yikes!).  It was really insightful to hear the too authors almost battle out which publishing method was better.  (If and when I write a book, I think I am going to self publish) – so for that part of the seminar alone – made it well worth the attendance of the conference.

I love the fact that I learned things I wasn’t expecting to learn, hence all the notes I still have to go through.  And I was inspired by a few of the speakers that gave me great ideas for things I have coming up in my own pet world.  Gotta love that – and of course all the networking too.

If you’re a established pet writer, blogger or budding pet writer, I would say while in the midst of next year’s Westminster blur – be sure to attend this conference.  Now if I could just think of a catchy title for my book…