Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe in the Fall
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- Written by: Daniel Love
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The Love family's Havanese, WinstonMushrooms, chrysanthemums and candy can dangerous for your dog
Fall can be fun and festive but beware of the potential dangers to your dogs. With leaves covering lawns it is important to stay vigilant when walking your pups. Mold and mushrooms thrive on the ground in the fall and can be highly toxic. Many curious dogs will try to eat them. If you notice that your dog has eaten either mold or a mushroom, carefully collect a sample and notify your veterinarian.
Chrysanthemums are popular landscaping plants in the fall but are also toxic if ingested by dogs and cats. Eating mums can result in vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and shaking. Call your veterinarian immediately if your pet eats these flowers.
if your dog eats a mushroom, call the vet.
Halloween candy can also be dangerous to pets when left low to the ground. Trick or treaters often drop candy when going from house to house so it is important to pay close attention when your dog lingers during their normal walking route in early November. Chocolate is especially dangerous and can be fatal if ingested. Make sure to store candy inside your home in closed containers away from where pets might access it.
It is very important to be aware and alert when walking your dogs in the next few weeks. Dogs can ingest things quickly and fallen leaves tend to camouflage hidden dangers that exist low to the ground where your pets are.
Chrysanthemums are toxic for dogs and cats.
Ozzy: The Pefect Prescription for the Pandemic
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- Written by: Katy Goldman
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Ozzy Brown, a/k/a “Ozzy Bear,” is a 2-year old Golden Retriever from Ithaca, New York. She joined the Brown family in June 2020, rescuing her new family of 4 from the doldrums of the first Covid summer. Ozzy’s siblings who are now 16 (Jacob) and 14 (Leah) lobbied hard for a puppy when their beloved summer sleepaway camp announced its closure for the summer. Faced with the prospect of a summer of nothingness – socially isolating and without any structure – Mom and Dad relented, and it was one of the best decisions they ever made! They searched far and wide for a family friendly dog from Maine to Wisconsin to Tennessee. They happened on a bit of luck when the family that was originally intended for Ozzy was suddenly unable to take her.
Ozzy loves playing with her many neighborhood dog friends in Greenacres and, thankfully, negotiated a relatively peaceful co-existence with their 7-year old Siberian cat, Piper. Ozzy has a mischievous knack for eating any human food that is left unattended, even momentarily. She once ate a full dinner of fish tacos, and a wrapped bagel egg and cheese sandwich. On a recent walk, she found an entire slice of pizza someone had thrown into a thick hedge.
This past summer, Ozzy went to Maine with her family and another family from Edgemont. The two families were the only people on a 4-acre island. Ozzy was in dog heaven. She ran free all over the island, bird watched, and swam in the ocean. Upon returning to Scarsdale, Ozzy was disappointed to learn that she would have to resume walks on a leash without easy access to the ocean.
Sorry Ozzy, but you'll have to wait for Rye beach to open, because your family is staying in the ‘Dale!
To feature your pet on Scarsdale10583.com, email us at [email protected].
Meet Bailey - Is He Part Human?
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- Written by: Katy Goldman
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Meet Bailey, a micro-mini goldendoodle, a total love-bug who believes he is part human and has convinced his family of the same. He is very effective at communicating and often uses his signature move, “the paw”, to ask for what he wants. A smart, no trouble kind of guy, Bailey is up for anything, enjoying hiking, kayaking, playing in the snow and traveling - though belly rubs, walks and play dates with human and canine friends and relatives are his favorites. He actually has 8 fur-relatives in the neighborhood! His family thinks he is the bestest good boy ever.
Daisy: A Sweetheart of a Dog
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- Written by: Katy Goldman
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Meet Daisy, the Detmer's 5-month old mini goldendoodle. They got her at 8 weeks old from a breeder in Rochester and surprised the kids. Daisy loves going on walks, playing at the beach, cuddling, napping and playing fetch. Daisy has two big-dog cousins in the neighborhood, Tusker (who was a featured pet last year!) and Winnie, who she loves to play with! She especially enjoys meeting the mail carrier at the door who always has a treat for her. Daisy is a very mild-mannered sweetheart of a dog and they're so happy she's theirs!
Feature your pet as the Pet of the Week. Email us at [email protected].
Kits, Cats, Kittens: Elizabeth Makes Room for Them All
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- Written by: Andrea Seiden
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No doubt that you have heard the age old expression, cats have nine lives. In fact, many cultures promote the notion that cats are invincible and have multiple lives. In Arabic-speaking parts of the world, cats are believed to have six lives. And in Spanish-speaking parts of the world as well as Italy, Greece, and Brazil, people believe that cats have seven lives.
Nine, seven or six we may never agree. But one thing is for sure, Elizabeth Ward dedicates much her time to ensuring that a cat’s current life is just a little bit better.
Over the years she has volunteered much of her time in animal shelters such as Paws Crossed (formerly Pets Alive), a no kill animal rescue in Elmsford. Elizabeth shares that, “Many animals are rescues from the South where people frequently don’t spay or neuter their pets and most shelters have high kill rates.” She goes on to say, “Animals are my passion. I can’t bear seeing these helpless animals not get the love and care they deserve.”
While volunteering, Elizabeth has been captivated by many of the felines and, ultimately after passing a rigorous screening, has brought many home to live with her family.
For starters, there was the ginger, Mickey, a rescue who lived to be 14 years of age and a constant companion. “He seemed to have a blue jean fetish and would climb into anyone’s lap if they were wearing a pair. Naturally, jeans became the family uniform since it ensured Mickey’s attention.”
Then there’s Felix a 10-year old cat with a loud meow who signals when he’s hungry (Apparently, cat’s meows are a way of talking to their human owners. Who knew?) Once he reaches his bowl he demands to be brushed while he eats.
Maya was the Houdini of the bunch. It wasn’t unusual to open a dresser drawer and find her sleeping on a pile of sweaters, or peek in small box and see her securely tucked inside or even look in a bookcase and find her napping on stack of old of National Geographic magazines.
During the pandemic, Elizabeth and her husband Andrew fell in love with Casey, a little cat living in foster care. “We Zoomed with the foster mother – while the cat soundly slept in the background. It was a leap of faith to adopt the cat, but the foster mother rightfully assured them that little Casey was playful and affectionate.
Once while going to CVS to pick up a prescription, Elizabeth noticed a beautiful, long haired white cat sitting in the back seat of parked car. “The cat seemed to call out to me, and I stopped in my tracks.” She tapped on the window with her index finger and the cat followed. The cat initiated a game of tag, batting at Elizabeth’s finger with her little paw from behind the car’s windshield. The cat was so engaging that Elizabeth forgot to go into the 
pharmacy. Suddenly, a teenager came out of the CVS and asked Elizabeth if she wanted the cat. He explained that the cat belonged to his grandmother who was unable to care for the cat due to her own declining health. The teenager introduced himself as Carlos and went on to say that he had tried to surrender the cat to a Westchester shelter, but was refused because he was a minor. The cat had Elizabeth from the moment they made eye contact. There was no turning back. Before you could say catnip, she agreed to take the cat from Carlos – provided it got along with her other pets.
Elizabeth encourages people to consider visiting a rescue like Paws Crossed or the New Rochelle Humane Society when thinking about adopting a pet. You’ll inevitably wonder “who rescued whom?”
Would you like to feature your pet in the Pet of the Week column? Email us at [email protected].
