By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Today, May 3, 2013 is National Specially-Abled Pets Day – celebrating amazing pets and their owners who care for them.  It’s not about what they can not do, what their aliment is, it’s about what they can do.  As someone who was an owner of a 3 legged Doberman – who lost her leg due to cancer at the age of 8 years old – she was an incredible tripod girl that lived another 4.5 years after her amputation.  Dogs adapt rather quickly and don’t look back on what was.  My dobie Shanna amazed people every day, every where we went with her 3-legged skills, and never concerned that she only had 3 legs.

So to celebrate these our amazing pets here are a few pictures below of local pets owned by wonderful people who see past the fact that their pet may be blind, deaf, need doggie wheels or is missing a leg or any other aliment.  If you have a picture you want to share about your specially-able LI Pet, post it on our Facebook page.

The 3 Aussies picture here are either Deaf or deaf and blind - amazing owner Kim!

Rain is a deaf happy girl!

Brooklyn is a deaf, super happy girl!

Shanna!

Shanna posing!

Share your Specially-Abled LI Pets on our Facebook page or make a comment below!

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

The 2nd Annual ‘Long Island’s Best’ adoption event hosted by ARF (Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons) was held at the Riverhead Polish Hall on Saturday, April 6th, 2013.  In addition to ARF there were other Long Island rescue groups on hand with many adorable dogs, cats, puppies and a couple kittens looking for furever homes.

The rescue groups at the event were:

Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF)
www.arfhamptons.org

Kent Animal Shelter
www.KentAnimalShelter.com

Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter
http://toh.li/animal-shelter

North Fork Animal Welfare League
http://main.nfawl.org

Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation
http://www.southamptonanimalshelter.com

RSVP – Animal Rescue & Welfare Group
http://www.rsvpinc.org

Were you at the adoption event? Did you adopt a pet?  Would love to hear from you in the comments section below!

By Project Your Bubble for LIPetPlace.com

In 2013 Teach Your Pet This One Life-Saving Thing

Protect Your Bubble identifies the most important command every dog (and dog parent) should know

Every year we set new goals for ourselves – lose weight, get healthy, land a promotion, find that special someone.  But what about our dogs – should we set goals for them?  The folks at Protect Your Bubble pet health insurance brand say yes!  And they’ve narrowed it down to one very important thing.  In fact, it’s one of the most important things you can ever teach your dog – it could save his or her life one day.

It’s called emergency recall and most pet loving families have neglected to teach Fido this command for a number of reasons – it can be tough to train, it can be boring (for your dog) to learn, and it’s not used very often.  But boy will your tail be wagging when you need to use it and your dog listens.

An ‘emergency recall’ command is very different from a ‘come when called’ command, according to pet behaviorist and certified dog trainer Kate Jackson with Jabula Dog Academy.  “Dogs are used to hearing the word ‘come’ and often there are strings attached – they’re in trouble, they’re leaving the dog park or they’re headed to the vet.  Because the ‘come here’ command is used so often, many dogs decide to ignore it to avoid the consequences it may bring.  That’s why teaching an emergency recall is so important – it’s the ‘drop everything you are doing and come running back to me immediately’ command.

Watch behaviorist Kate Jackson discuss this command.

This command should be reserved for emergencies ONLY – your dog is running into traffic or headed towards a dogfight or an aggressive or dangerous situation.  “It’s extremely important not to overuse this command so your dog doesn’t become conditioned to ignore it,” says Kate.  “He or she should come immediately when this command is used, no questions asked.  In the event of an emergency, it could be the difference between life and death.”

“As a pet health insurer, we see many injuries that could have been avoided,” says Stephen Ebbett, President of Protect Your Bubble.  “Believe it or not, ninety two percent of pets will experience a severe accident or emergency in their lifetime. We believe that an emergency recall command can save our pet-loving customers a lot of heartache.  It’s not a very well known command, so we want to spread the word.  It’s a great goal for 2013 – teach your pet this one life-saving thing.”

If you don’t already use an emergency recall command and you’ve trained your dog to do other tasks, this command can be taught by using positive reinforcement and repetition.  If you’re not comfortable training your dog, Protect Your Bubble recommends searching for a certified trainer in your area and finding one with whom you and your pooch are comfortable. And remember, for those with a Protect Your Bubble pet health insurance policy, behaviorists can be covered under certain policies, so give us a call to find out (toll free 1-855-792-7387). Training this command will help ensure a healthy and happy year with your beloved furry family members.

About Protect Your Bubble

Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Protect Your Bubble is available online, via mobile app or phone, and allows consumers to understand, buy and protect what’s most important to them. The insurance company offers the following types of insurance plans: Pet, Car Rental Insurance, Travel and Gadget.  Pet plans provide up to 90 percent reimbursement for covered vet charges for eligible accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions and behavioral treatments and alternative therapies. They allow owners to visit any licensed vet in the country. Additionally, annual deductible options start at $100 which only need to be met once per plan year.

This is a sponsored post for LIPetPlace.com to teach a life saving command to your dog.

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

It’s begging to look a lot like…bored dogs, scratchy cats and wheel spinning hampsters! Oops I meant Christmas…or the Holidays if you will.  Here at LIPetPlace we are always looking for ways to keep our pets safe, happy and well cared for during the holidays, but know with the overwhelmingly busy time of year many pet owners tend to let things slide.  I get it, but for safety sake for your pet, (and your wallet),  there are few simple things you can do to ensure you dog, cat, ferret, hampster, parrot or bunny stay happy, healthy and out of the Vets office!

This is after all the busiest time of year that veterinarians see pet emergencies, Sparky could have ingested a holiday decoration, or Buster isn’t feeling well because too many family members gave him things he should not be eating.

Here are some tips to keep your pet out of the vet’s office and have a safe and happy holiday too!

• Pet Proof your house, Dr. Michel A. Selmer of Advanced Animal Care Center said this, “Puppies, in particular, may behave like young children, acting excited and inquisitive around lights, ornaments, candles, trees, unfamiliar foods, an influx of new people, and even a visiting pet. Especially during the holidays you must ‘pet proof’ various areas of your house. Pets must be taught off-limits, such as nibbling of ornaments on the lower branches of trees, or sampling the foods on the coffee table.”

• Instruct your guests and family members not to feed your pet as he could get really sick.  This usually does the trick with people falling for puppy dog eye expressions, but really emphasize this with your guests. “Rich food and too much of it can spell gastrointestinal distress for your pet,” said Dr. Selmer, and then you end up at your vet’s office with an unexpected expense and stress worrying about your pet!



• Be mindful when you are opening presents and if your pet is getting into any of the wrapping.  “When presents are opened, be aware of what you do with the ribbon, which presents a chocking danger. Mistletoe (Phoradendron species) is extremely toxic if eaten, while Poinsettia is mildly toxic. Tinsel can get caught up in the intestine and cause obstructions,” stated Dr. Selmer.

• Have a safe haven for your pet to retreat to.  Whether it is their crate or their bed in a quiet room away from guests and crowds.  A Kong stuffed with peanut butter (then frozen) also will help keep him busy while away from the crowd, but check on them often to make sure they are ok.

• Watch your pets behavior, if they seem different or stressed out around the holiday crowds, bring them to their safe haven – never ever as a punishment, but as a place to retreat.

• Christmas Tree as play toys! This picture says it all if you have a cat (I have was always fortunate, our cat just liked to go under the tree and hang out), but if you have a mischievous kitty who likes to climb in the tree, think about this before hanging family heirlooms, glass ornaments or sharp objects the cat could hurt himself on while scaling your Christmas tree.

• A tired dog is a good dog, exercise your dog on a long walk before the crowd comes over!  I have said this before and I will say it again!  This is one of the best things you can do, if you have to get up earlier or walk longer to have a happy, tired dog the day your guests are there, everyone including your pup will thank you!

Most of all enjoy your holidays, don’t forget about your pets needs too and maybe make a donation of a pet toy to your local animal shelter!

Happy Howlidays from Max!!

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

UPDATE as of 11/15/2012: Much more information below on what you can do to help.  Many foster homes are needed also.

What can you do to help?

Sandy’s carnage has severely affected our area as you know, and many people have contacted me to offer their help.  For those that want to donate or help with the pets that have either been displaced and are in long term temporary shelters, or for our rescue groups and shelters that are in need, here is a preliminary list of who needs what.  I would also encourage you to go to your local shelter (and save on gas driving around) and see what you can offer them.  Or if you can carpool with someone to drop off donations for the list below, that would be a great way to conserve gas.

I spoke with Pam Green from Kent Animal Shelter today, and they just got power back yesterday but are still in need of cat and dog food, blankets and towels.  Also just spoke with Michael Arcari who is at Mitchell Field where he said, this will be a long term operation for at least the next 45 days of housing pets who are owned by evacuees who lost everything.  So many homes were lost in Nassau – so they will be moving to the Mitchell Field Gymnasium where they can hold more pets.  Right now they have about 100 cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and are expecting more from the overflow that went to some of the municipal shelters.  See below for what they need and where to drop off.

Nassau County:

To donate to Mitchell Field, go to 1 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Uniondale, NY 11553 and the Nassau County # (516) 572-0400. (This is the county # listed, so it may or may not be working).  Pet Safe Coalition is there helping with all the animals as well as other organizations – please donate what you can. Here is a MAP.

They need the following:

Cleaning supplies, paper plates, cups, blankets, towels, paper towels, hand sanitizers, poop pick up bags, pet supplies like: collars, leashes of all sizes, possibly need crates, pet toys and pet food.  And if you want to bring non-perishable goodies for the volunteers I am sure they would appreciate it.  They need volunteers to do morning & afternoon walks and during the week is when they need them the most.  Please contact: JoEllen Cimmino of Pet Safe Coaltion at jcimmino@petsafecoalition.org.

Glen Cove Animal Lovers League:
Located at 40 Shore Road, Glen Cove, NY (516) 676-5913.

Anything people want to donate, like pet food, supplies, etc.  They also are housing evacuee pets and are always in need.

Bobbi & the Strays:

UPDATE!!!!– Just spoke to Bobbi and the dogs MUST be moved out of their location by tomorrow. FOSTERS OR SPACE DESPERATELY NEEDED ASAP!!!! Also need heaters to warm and dry out the shelter. Please share.email laura@bobbicares.org or call Bobbi at 718 845-0779 or 917 213-9840. From one of their volunteers Myra, “I’ve been at the shelter for the past 3 days and the amount of damage is unreal. Almost everything is ruined and needs to be replaced. Clean-up is still a disaster because the heat needs to be fixed to dry everything out and the part that is needed is out of stock everywhere. All of the cat trees are GONE as well as all of the dog beds. All the sheet rock walls need to be cut out to the level where the water rose so they can dry out the walls and replace the insulation. The doors are warped and cannot close properly. Bobbi REALLY needs as much help as possible in terms of labor–all kinds of contractors and handymen, cleanup, new supplies for the animals and of course monetary donations. If you can help IN ANY WAY, please do!!! Thank you to all who have already contributed,volunteered or helped in any way, but much more help is needed. The animals cannot return to the shelter until the heat and contracting work can be done. Please share with all your friends and animal lovers. the shelter is at 2 Rider Place in Freeport. The phone isn’t working but the shelter will be open tomorrow for help and donations only from 10am-5pm. The animals are currently at other shelters or in foster.”

All About Spay & Neuter:

From Joann B. Monez their Director, “During the storm AASN’s home (which is also my home) was flooded and everything inside is DESTROYED. We took in 27 inches of water into All About Spay Neuter, Inc. AND THIS IS WHERE WE DO ALL OF OUR HARD WORK. We also lost one of our precious rescue cats Cleo during the storm and her passing has saddened us.  THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ALL THAT YOU CAN DO!!We need your help!!! We need a place to house our cats and kittens since our current home isn’t livable. The conditions are becoming unhealthy. We are currently looking for a place thats at least 1000 square feet with running water, electric and heat (obviously, this is what we need when life goes back to normalcy). We would like the place to be between Massapequa/North Massapequa and Merrick as we dont want to burden our volunteers with further traveling. We will roughly have 30 cats in the facility – 25 kittens will be caged, some will be free roaming. Please reach out to everyone you know and see if they have anything available. Please post on your facebook and help us find a place. THIS IS URGENT AS ANOTHER STORM IS COMING ON WEDNESDAY!! Please contact me by email at allabtspayneuter@aol.com or one of our volunteers Jenny at jenny.luca87@gmail.com.”

Suffolk County:

Kent Animal Shelter located at 2259 River Road in Calverton, NY 11993 MAP – they still don’t have phones but have been updating their Facebook page here.
In need of pet food, cat and dog, blankets, towels.

Break The Chain Program:
Igloo doghouses for large size dogs, bedding, blankets, dog bones, chews, collars/ leashes…ANYTHING. We are also happy to accept new or gently used. We will also accept non perishable foods for the owners and coats.  Drop off much needed doghouses/ supplies: 2 locations:

1.) 151 Pine Acres Blvd. Deer Park, NY 11729
2.) 9 Cliff Ave. Sayville, NY 11729

Little Shelter in Northport:
Parts of their shelter were severely damaged in hurricane. If you’d like to help, Little Shelter will certainly need funding for repairs and is in dire need for foster and permanent homes for the loving cats and dogs.  Please call 631-368-8770, or visit Little Shelter at 33 Warner Road, Huntington, NY 11743.

Appaws Petsitting and Grady Animal Hospital are collecting pet food and supplies to be distributed to Long Island pet owners and animal rescues/ shelters affected by Sandy. We are collecting dog and cat food, blankets, leashes, collars , toys, and bowls. Drop off at
Grady Animal Hospital,
465 Montauk Hwy, Sayville
For info please email appawspetsitting@yahoo.com or call 631-255-4480.

Guardians of Rescue: –> UPDATE 11/15/2-12 Pet Clothing, Pet beds and pet toys are desperately needed, owners in Staten Island are living in homes without heat with their pets, and have lost everything.
They are in a lot of need for Pet Food (dog/cat), kitty litter – donating daily in Staten Island and other very hard hit areas.
Guardians of Rescue is organizing a multiple drop location for pet and human supplies.  You can go donate items at the following locations:

VERY IMPORTANT:

If you know of anyone who had to leave their pets behind during Hurricane Sandy, there is a 24 hour hotline to call for rescue. The phone number to call is 1-855-407-4787.

Also if you have lost a pet please check your local town municipal shelter first See the list below for all LI Town Animal Shelters – and if you found a dog, there is also a big Facebook community looking to help those find the owners of missing pets.  You can bring the dog or cat to your local veterinarian to see if they have a microchip.

Other things you can do:

Foster a dog or cat – this is huge, as our local shelters are already full – now getting more and more displaced pets or lost pets.  Contact local rescue groups that are affiliated with shelters – Shelter Link at the Town of Islip, The Shelter Connection at the Town of North Hempstead and many more throughout Long Island.

As more  information comes in were affected by Sandy and need supplies and help, I will post and to those of you who are already helping and reaching out to offer help – a very big THANK YOU!  If you have been affected, please take our quick 4 question survey – this will help for future needs.  Currently, many people are looking for people to Foster their dog or cat temporarily, could be long term though, so if you can foster – please post your information below in the comment section – just register to post a comment and do so.  It is difficult trying to point people in the right direction of Fosters that can help.  Thank you!

Long Island Town Municipal Shelters – where lost pets could be:

Town of Babylon Animal Shelter
51 Lamar Street
West Babylon – 11702
631-643-9270

If you are a bird owner and need help:

The American Federation of Aviculture can help bird owners who were affected by the storm who need food, etc. for their parrots.