Go Dog, Go: The Life of a Retired Racing Dog
- Details
- Written by Andrea Seiden
- Hits: 2285
As I was petting a muscular, smooth-coated dog in the clearing of Red Maple Swamp, I noted that he was shivering in the drizzling rain despite wearing a tony down-filled black turtleneck and army green parka. In his even-tempered way, the dog seemed to side-eye his owner; his droll expression communicated, I did my business – now let’s get a move on, Sunday Morning may still be on. Clearly this dog was unusual in our neck of the woods -- where we see so many doodles – not to mention his sartorial appearance.
The dog stayed close to his engaging (and quite frankly, hilariously funny) owner who introduced himself as Daniel Rosenblum. The dog, he said, was a Greyhound, named Baz Blackwell. In his former life, he was a champion racer. Before Daniel adopted Baz a few years ago, Baz competed in at least 20 races in Florida and bested in several. In fact, Daniel’s father found videos of Baz going for gold. He seemed to fly down the track. Hard to believe, Daniel continued, this 80-pounder, competed with other dogs, chasing down an artificial lure. All the while, hundreds of elderly fans who had made five-dollar bets cheered him on as he crossed the finish line ahead of the pack. Now he excels at sleeping. He is a very loving and sweet dog, but I can’t deny that in his retirement, he is very lazy.
I took a closer look at the all-or-nothing Baz -- once a champion racer and now a couch potato. I could see that this graceful hound was built for speed. With his lean inverted S-shaped body, narrow, aerodynamic skull, and shock-absorbing footpads, it’s no surprise that Greyhounds are the fastest dog breed.
I had recently traveled to Egypt where I learned that over 5000 years ago, the pharaohs bred greyhounds to detect, chase, capture, and dispatch desert wildlife. The pharaohs and their subjects believed that the Greyhounds were gods. As if he were able to read my thoughts, Daniel confided, Baz is now the king of our shared castle. He is a perfect dog for me. Very chill unless he sees a squirrel – then his very strong prey drive kicks in. I looked around the swamp, relieved that the rain had deterred small animals from venturing out of their habitats.
I asked Daniel about Greyhound racing in this country and found out that it was once legal and had been viewed much like horse racing. However, dog racing has gradually declined since the 1990s in response to the concerns of animal welfare activists, declining public interest and changes in the entertainment business and gambling. Most, if not all tracks have closed, marking the end of this sport altogether.
Volunteers at organizations such as Adopt-a-Greyhound and Greyhound Pets of America work tirelessly to find good homes for retired dogs. Greyhound Pets of America founded in 1987 has assisted in the placement of over 100,000 greyhounds to homes throughout the country. Daniel shared that the agency with which he worked was so committed to the dog’s welfare that they came out to his home to ensure it was appropriate for a dog and to vet him. Daniel was grateful that he got the green light because Baz is exactly the dog he wanted.
As my conversation with Daniel was wrapping up, my anything-but-a-chill dog, Maggie, emerged from a pile of decaying mulch where she was rooting around for mushrooms, old tennis balls, and the occasional lost sneaker. She wanted to play tug of war with Baz and offered him the end of a soggy branch that she was proudly clenching in her mouth. Baz would have none of it. He was content huddling at Daniel’s feet.
With a gentle tug on Baz’s leash, Daniel said his goodbyes and headed home with his graceful and obedient Baz who will continue to recline rather than race in this new chapter of his life.
Mighty: The Adventurous Maltipoo
- Details
- Written by Katy Goldman
- Hits: 934
Meet one of the cutest Maltipoos of Fox Meadow, Mighty Rabin. He was born on Valentine’s Day in 2020, and he was predestined to steal the Rabin family's hearts! Mighty’s canine mom and dad live in Oklahoma and have produced over a dozen puppies that have been placed with their friends in Texas. So they knew from the start that Mighty would have a sweet temperament and that he would be good with children.
Mighty's human mom, Dina, didn't grow up with dogs and didn't know anything about taking care of them. She also felt that she had her hands full with three boys under 10 years old!! But, as the pandemic went from days to months, Dina's husband, Shawn, and their three sons convinced her to take the plunge. Because of the Covid travel restrictions, there was no way to get Mighty to New York. Luckily, their breeder was willing to drive Mighty (and Mighty’s sister, who was adopted by their friends in Connecticut) from Oklahoma to the Palisades Mall parking lot!
Mighty has brought the Rabin family immense joy. In many ways, he is like a fourth son. He follows his brothers around, plays games with them, waits for them in the living room window until they arrive home and welcomes them with warm kisses and barks of excitement. Just like their three boys, Mighty has also created some stressful situations for the Rabins.
When Mighty was a little over a year old, he escaped their house through the front door in an attempt to follow the boys outside. With super-fast speed, Mighty made his way straight towards the Bronx River Parkway thinking he was in a game of chase with his brothers. As Mighty darted onto the Parkway, cars swerved, stopped, and even honked. Mighty froze in fear. So did Dina. Once Mighty realized Dina wasn't chasing him, he ran right back to her. Dina was so grateful and relieved! It should go without saying, but the moment they returned home, Dina called to have an electric fence installed and Mighty has not escaped since!
Mighty’s favorite place in the world are the wide open beaches on Fire Island. He loves running, digging in the sand, exploring the shells and other treasures on the beach. He also has fun socializing and playing games with other dogs—especially his friend Jerry, a Maltipoo who lives down the street from them.
Looking Forward To Every Day with Meatball By Her Side
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 1463
Sloane Finn and her Bernese Mountain Dog Meatball are almost inseparable. In fact, we often see the two of them at Fox Meadow Tennis Club where Sloane hits a mean paddleball and Meatball waits patiently just outside the court fence.
Sloane got Meatball as a puppy from a breeder in Ohio in December 2019. She was told that Bernese Mountain dogs are known to be very smart, sweet and affectionate and Meatball fits the bill. Sloane says Meatball is easygoing and likes her to scratch his belly and his back when he sits at her feet. Though his size can be intimidating he’s a baby at heart and loves his squeaky toys.
The two usually go to the dog park every morning so he can play with his friends and run around. She also take him on walks as much as possible. When Sloane is working at home, he lies a few feet away from her, either sleeping or keeping a look out for delivery people. He's very easy going. Meatball’s other happy places are the trail at Twin Lakes and Idaho where he enjoys walks along the Snake River path.
Sloane says Meatball is protective of her. When another dog approaches her Meatball quickly inserts himself between her and the other dog. However he’s not as tough as he looks. He likes to play and has a big boy bark, but if another dog starts to charge, he runs away. Meatball is Sloane's support and companion and she looks forward to spending every day with him.
Feature your dog as the Pet of the Week on Scarsdale10583. Email us at PetsofDale@gmail.com.
The Perfect Dog … All The Way From Costa Rica
- Details
- Written by Katy Goldman
- Hits: 1023
Meet Zoe, the love of the Sterling-Fenigstein family’s lives. She is their absolute favorite “person” of the house; they say person because no one in their family really thinks of her as a dog in their household. She is a rescue of mixed breed - and from what they can tell, she is a mix of many breeds. Her head is small, her body is big, her legs are skinny and her tail is a mismatch. All that being said, to the family, she is the most beautiful dog.
Zoe is kind, caring and gentle. She never jumps and rarely barks. She looks at you with her eyes and you melt. It's impossible not to fall in love with her.
Zoe has such a unique story -- she started out as a stray dog living on the streets of Costa Rica. Friends of the Sterling-Fenigstein's were there on vacation. Zoe had been hanging around their hotel, begging for food and generally following around anyone who would be nice to her. Their friends realized how special she was and ended up taking her home with them, back to Colorado where they lived. Their friends had many other dogs though, and the Sterling-Fenigstein's had none, so when visiting their friends on a ski vacation several years ago, their friends let them take Zoe home.
Zoe loves the heat. She will lie on our stone patio in the full sun in August for long periods of time. She will also burrow and lie under layers of blankets. They don’t know how Zoe can take such high temperatures! If they ever need to find her it will be in a sunny spot in their house!
Zoe doesn’t do any tricks - she doesn’t catch sticks or balls, doesn’t play, and doesn’t know any commands. However, she always listens and seems to understand everything they say. Go figure!
She loves riding in the car, long hikes, and snuggling. She pretty much just wants to be around people all the time, and is friendly with everyone.
She really is the family’s perfect dog.
We invite you to feature your pet as the Pet of the Week. Email us at Petsofdale@gmail.com.
Penny: A Pandemic Cavapoo
- Details
- Written by Katy Goldman
- Hits: 1097
Meet Penny, an adorable 2.5 year old cavapoo (50/50 Cavalier and Poodle). Penny is a pandemic dog, having joined the Blatter family in September 2020. The initial plan was to bring a dog to their family when they bought their first home in 2015, but those plans changed when the Blatters welcomed twin girls in 2016!
Given that the Blatter family consists of mom, dad and four young kids, they knew they wanted a smaller, kid-friendly dog. Penny fits the bill perfectly and is friendly, affectionate and so good with the kids. She is adored by all who meet her, including the mailman!
If you walk past the Blatter house during the day, you will see Penny’s little head peeking out from their bay window. She is likely barking at other dogs passing by or at the leaves blowing in the wind.
Nothing makes Penny happier than taking long walks around her Heathcote neighborhood. Penny has three younger siblings in Scarsdale and loves meeting up with them!
Here is a fun fact about cavapoos – they carry a fading gene. When the Blatters got Penny, she was the color of a penny! Now she is more blonde, but they love her even though her coat no longer matches her name!
Penny can be mischievous! She knows she is supposed to sleep on her dog bed at night, but always sneaks onto her mom and dad’s bed quietly while they are sleep. She also prefer to sleep in, usually belly up snoring away! She loves to snuggle and doesn’t like to be alone.
If mom and dad are out for the evening, you’ll often find Penny sleeping with one of their four children (Morgan 11, Logan 9, Avery and Emily 6).
Feature your pet on Scarsdale10583.com. Email us at PetsofDale@gmail.com.
