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NewsHound 047
September 28, 2006 |
Dear urbanhounders,
In honor of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, we dedicate this issue to New York's unwanted hounds. Why does our city still euthanize so many dogs (5,586 in the past year alone)?
We don't have the answer, but we hope to play a small role in the solution. That's the whole point of our new Help a Hound emails. Thanks to urbanhounders who sprang into action, Tootsie, who was featured in last week's Help a Hound, has since found a home.
Last year about 15,000 dogs landed at New York City's shelter, Animal Care & Control. With lots of hard work, AC&C found homes for 7,025 of them. Still, even that impressive number leaves far too many unwanted dogs who have to be put down.
How can you help? For one thing, if you're not ready to take another dog into your home, you can pass on each issue of Help a Hound to as many people as possible. You can also become a volunteer at one of the three AC&C shelters. Orientation sessions are held regularly (the next one is this Saturday) in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
Yours, in the spirit of St. Francis,
Nadia Zonis
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» Acupuncture, homeopathy, flower remedies: what holistic treatments will work for your dog? Check out urbanhound's thorough Guide to Alternative Medicine to find out.
» Can a raw food diet help your hound live longer? Urbanhound vet, Dr. Betsy Brevitz, presents the pros and cons of BARF and other raw menu options.
» Does your dog have stinky ears? Here's how to clean them safely and effectively. |
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Animal Haven Mobile Adoption Event
Saturday, September 30, 11:30 AM to 3 PM
Zoomies, 434 Hudson St. between Leroy and Morton Sts., Manhattan
Animal Haven's "shelter on wheels" is a wonderful program that moves all around Manhattan, carrying about dozen dogs at a time and allowing people to apply for adoption on the spot. The next Mobile Adoption Event takes place this weekend at one of urbanhound's Best Hound Shops. Other upcoming stops include Fetch Bar & Grill at 1649 3rd Ave., the Scholastic Store on Broadway between Prince and Spring Sts., and Petland Discounts on W.72nd St. For the full schedule, click the "Mobile Adoption Events" link on the Animal Haven website.
Annual St. Francis of Assisi Day Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 1, from 9 AM
Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave. at 112th St., Manhattan
Dogs of all faiths are invited to this hugely popular service celebrating all living creatures. Free tickets will be distributed starting at 9 AM, and it's a good idea to get there early. After the service, which begins around 11 AM, there will be a festival on the Cathedral's grounds, open to all. For information, call 212-316-7540. A warning to the timid: because the Blessing of the Animals is so popular, the Cathedral can get packed with animals of every shape and size (including, yes, elephants, camels, and horses, not to mention cats, birds, and reptiles) and this year the crowding is sure to be greater because of restoration work. For alternative, smaller-scale events, consult these listings courtesy of AmericanCatholic.org.
From Baghdad With Love Book Signing
Wednesday, October 4, 7 PM
Borders Books, 576 2nd Ave. at 32nd St., Manhattan
Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman will read from his memoir, From Baghdad With Love, which tells the story of how he rescued a tiny puppy from the war-ravaged city and brought him home to the US. Lava the Iraqi-American dog will be a special guest.
2nd Annual Gimme Shelter: Rock & Rescue NYC
Wednesday, October 4, 7 PM to midnight
Hiro Ballroom at the Maritime Hotel, 363 W. 16th St. at 9th Ave., Manhattan
This blow-out concert to raise funds for shelters and rescue groups will include performances by the Beastie Boys, Marshall Crenshaw, Blue Oyster Cult, The Choke, and others. Sponsored by the ASPCA and Rational Animal, the event's stated goal is to make NYC a no-kill city by 2010. Tickets start at $50.
Coffee Bark -- St. Francis Edition
Saturday, October 7, 7 AM to 9 AM
Long Meadow, Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Blessings courtesy of the Church of St. Thomas Aquinas will complement the usual fun at this monthly event. Held in rain or in shine, in the park's Long Meadow, behind the Picnic House (enter at Prospect Park West and 4th Street, then go left around Picnic House), Coffee Bark includes muffins for humans and dog biscuits for hounds. It's sponsored by Brooklyn's FIDO, officially known as the
Fellowship In the Interest of Dogs and Their Owners.
Dachtoberfest
Saturday, October 7, noon
Washington Square Park, Manhattan
Calling all Doxies! This event is one of our favorites. Each year, hundreds of long
hounds and their humans gather under the arch in Washington Square, march around the fountain, and sing
the famous Dachs Song, which begins simply, "There's no other dog like a
Dachshund" (complete lyrics at the Dachs Song site). In case of rain, Dachtoberfest will take place on Sunday, October 8.
Luxury Cruise to Benefit Brooklyn's Homeless Animals
Sunday, October 8, 1 PM to 5 PM
Pier 9, Emmons Ave. and 21st St., Brooklyn
All aboard the Atlantis, a 450-foot yacht that will cruise New York Harbor with 300 NYC dog people aboard. (Dogs must stay on shore, though.) There will be a cash bar, food, drink, music, and games. Tickets are $25 with proceeds benefiting the Brooklyn Animal Foster Network.
Ruffin' It ... A Day in the Park
Saturday, October 14, 10 AM to 3 PM
Lancaster County Park, Lancaster, PA
This fundraising fair supports United Against Puppy Mills, an organization that works to fight puppy mills where they are most common (in Pennsylvania). The day will include games, contests, and music. To help raise funds for the group, download a pledge form.
Canine Companions for Independence Snoopy's DogFest
Saturday, October 14, 11 AM to 3 PM
SUNY Farmingdale Campus, Melville Road, Farmingdale, NY
About 1,000 people and their dogs attended last year's Snoopy DogFest to raise money for Canine Companions for Independence, a non-profit organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs to people with disabilities. This year's event will include nifty demonstrations by working dogs, agility trails, a bake sale, trick-or-treating for dogs, costume contests for humans and hounds, a canine costume parade, raffles, games, the Great Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt, and the chance to have your photo taken with Snoopy himself. To register or download a pledge sheet, visit the Events Page on the Canine Companions for Independence website.
5th Annual My Dog Loves Central Park Country Fair
Saturday, October 14, 11 AM to 4 PM
Central Park, 72nd St. between the Bandshell and the Sheep Meadow, Manhattan
Hosted by Central Park Paws and the Central Park Conservancy, this wonderful free festival celebrates Central Park's dog community and features tons of games, contests, booths, and events. There will be guided hikes through the park, low-cost microchipping, and Canine Good Citizen testing. Register for the various events or volunteer to help at the Fair by filling out this online form.
Animal Haven 39th Annual Going Home Luncheon
Sunday, October 15, noon to 3:30 PM
Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel, 135-20 39th Avenue, Flushing, Queens
This luncheon, which raises money for the Animal Haven shelter, includes a silent auction, a raffle, performances by Ilene Kristen and Murray Weinstock, and, curiously, appearances by a whole host of soap opera luminaries (Heather Tom, Bree Williamson, and Catherine Hickland of One Life to Live; Jennifer Bassey, Robin Mattson, and Jill Larson from All My Children and others). Tickets are $60 a person; tables start at $1,000. For tickets or more information, email event coordinator Tiffany Lacey.
First Annual Howl-O-Ween Ball with Wiches in Bikinis
Thursday, October 19, 7 PM to 9 PM
Upstairs at Mo Pitkins, 34 Avenue A btwn. 2nd and 3rd Sts., Manhattan
We'll be sending out a special Halloween issue of NewsHound, but here's news of an especially early howl-o-ween event, a cabaret performance by Witches in Bikinis to benefit Stray from the Heart. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door.
Lug Nuts Weight Pull
Saturday, October 21, 1 PM
Morningside Park Dog Run, Manhattan Ave. and 114th St., Manhattan
This event has had to be rescheduled twice due to rain, but we're hopeful the weather will cooperate this time. A weight-pulling contest for bully breeds (and other strong dogs), it's become a neighborhood favorite at this Upper West Side dog run. Other games, prizes, and training tips from Sue Sternberg's Training Wheels will be on offer.
Paws for Parkinson's
Sunday, October 22, registration starts at 9 AM
Marjorie R. Post Park, Massapequa, NY
A one mile dog walk to raise funds for the Long Island chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease Association will be accompanied by a an agility course, ask the vet table, raffles, and more. Download a pledge form now.
Mayor's Alliance/Maddie's Pet Adoption Festival - Manhattan
Sunday, October 22, 11 AM to 4 PM
Union Square Park, 17th St. and Broadway, Manhattan
These regular events include lots of adoptable dogs, a low-cost micro-chip clinic, and, on hand to answer questions, a vet, a groomer, and a trainer.
The 9th Annual Carl Schurz Park Halloween Howl
Sunday, October 22, 1 PM to 3 PM (Rain date: October 29)
Carl Schurz Park, East 84th St. and East End Ave., Manhattan
For some reason, the Carl Schurz dog run always holds its Halloween Howl more than a week before everyone else's. We don't know why, but we do know that so many dogs typically compete in this event that preening and judging take place not in the dog run, but in the park's more spacious basketball courts. Costume prizes will be awarded to the three best-dressed large dogs, the three best-dressed small dogs, and to the best-dressed dog-human team.
If there's an event you'd like us to mention in the next NewsHound, please email us.
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Visit TheNewYorkDogShop.com for the best selection of Halloween costumes online! From devils to dinosaurs, we have them all. Costumes to fit any dog's size or personality. Prices starting at just $7.95.
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It's a happy day for the animals at Manhattan's ASPCA shelter. A $5 million renovation was completed this month, and the old cages and cinder block walls are no more. Along with 40 percent more room, the remodeled space features lots of natural light, shower glass and acoustical ceilings to reduce noise, and upgraded ventilation. See a NY1 video of the impressive new shelter.
The effort to preserve off-leash recreation in the parks continues. Earlier this week the Board of Health proposed a code amendment that would make the 9 PM to 9 AM off-leash hours officially legal. There will be a 90-day public comment period and an open forum on Nov. 1 before a vote is taken on the amendment. To stay current on these developments, visit nycoffleash.com.
It's an original idea. The art is handsome. And yes, the artist, who calls himself Pawlick, is donating sales proceeds to animal rescue organizations. But we're still concerned that these paintings made entirely from kibble could lead to some unfortunate mishaps.
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Copyright (c) 2006 urbanhound, LLC.
All rights reserved.
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