Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and Jorge Bendersky’s, “There is no Poop Fairy” Workshop Held on Saturday, August 25, 2012, at the Thomas Jefferson Park Recreation Center in East Harlem was a Great Success!
New York, New York – August 28, 2012 – On Saturday, August 25, 2012 the “There is no Poop Fairy in East Harlem” Campaign took place at the Jefferson Park Recreation Center on 112 Street and First Avenue in East Harlem, New York City. The event began at 10:00a.m and ended at 1:00p.m. The launching of the campaign along with the various informative workshops gave attendees information, tips and advice regarding responsible pet ownership. Attendees also had the privilege and opportunity to meet celebrity dog groomer, Jorge Bendersky during the workshop as well.
In response to a growing number of dog poop piles, and a growing number of constituent complaints, Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito took a page from the very successful “There is no Poop Fairy Campaign” introduced by the Jefferson County Animal Control office in Colorado, to address this serious health hazard with humor; as a means to encourage dog owners to pick up after their dogs in our parks and neighborhoods.
Over 100 people from the community came out to volunteer and Scoop the Poop at Saturday’s event. The afternoon consisted of attendees visiting the many informative booths set up, along with playing games in order to win prizes, raffles, tee-shirts and more. At the workshop, Jorge explained and demonstrated to attendees the importance of properly grooming our pets to ensure a longer and healthier life. Petmate Dog Toy and Espree grooming kits were given out to attendees who answered grooming and pet health questions correctly, asked by Jorge. A special thanks to Petmate and Espree for making this raffle happen!
Lickety Sticks were also taste tested (and approved) and then given away to our furry four-legged friends who attended the event. Many animal organizations joined together on Saturday, and other exciting events happened throughout the day. The ASPCA was there with their spay and neuter truck along with a representative who explained the city benefits for low income families. There was a representative from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) who talked about pets in public housing as well.
The “There is no Poop Fairy” workshop was a great event with a lot of volunteers to help and spread the word. Hopefully, other city councils will take this idea and implement it on other districts too. It is essential that as pet owners we clean up after our animal companions and also look after our community and neighborhoods too!
About Jorge Bendersky: Expert celebrity dog groomer, Jorge Bendersky has been seen on Animal Planet’s reality show, “The Groomer Has It”, as a Judge on TLC’s Extreme Poodles and as the new Grooming expert on Animal Planet’s Dogs 101. Jorge’s skills, talents and also his love for animals has made him committed to “giving back” through a series of pet care workshops in NYC’s inner-city neighborhoods and by conducting seminars to help other groomers carry on this mission. To learn more about Jorge Bendersky visit www.planetjorge.com. Twitter: @JorgeBendersky. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JorgeBendersky.
Tails Untold just received a note from Cheryl, who just purchased a second book this time for her other Golden Retriever, Bubba, Yogi’s Brother. Here is what Cheryl had to say.
“I just received my second book from Tails Untold for my golden, Bubba. I love the book and have to say that this is such a unique and creative way to capture a pet’s characteristics and humor. The adventure of NYC is the overlay to a great read on your pet’s behavior and personality. We now have two books for both our goldens and I can’t think of a better way to carry their legacy than on our bookshelf forever and ever. Thank you Tails Untold for such a wonderful opportunity.”
Thank you, Cheryl!
We have all heard stories of wealthy pet owners leaving their fortunes to their pets. Although we think of our pets as family, the legal system designates them as “property”, which you can’t leave property to. When you meet with your lawyer to plan your will, remember to include your furry companions. Today there are over a million wills in the United States that include pets. The following are some examples of pets whose rich owners have or will provide for them for their lifetimes:
* A chihuahua named Conchita, who belonged to a Miami heiress named Gail Posner was left a mansion and a 3 million dollar trust fund. Her son did contest the will and said his mother was drugged by her staff who wanted the 8.3 million dollar mansion for themselves.
* Gunther, a German Shephard inherited 80 million dollars from his Austrian blue-blood owner, Karlotta Liebstein. When Gunther passed on, the rest of the estate went to one of his puppies.
* Oprah Winfrey’s 5 dogs, some of whom were rescued from shelters, have had 30 million dollars set aside for their care after her death.
* Betty White’s will includes 5 million dollars for her Golden Retriever Pontiac. Betty is well-known as an animal-rights activist, in addition to her fame as an actress.
* A former alley cat was rescued by the late Maria Assunta of Rome and received 13 million dollars, the entire estate of the heiress.
* Ben Rhea left nothing to his relatives, but he made sure his beloved cat Blackie was taken care of . Blackie inherited 25 million dollars after Ben’s death. This story is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records.
* The widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry set aside her mansion and a 4 million dollar trust fund for her dogs. She also left 1 million dollars to her pets’ caretaker.
* The well-known hotel heiress, Leona Helmsley, gave her Maltese terrier Trouble, 12 million dollars from her estate. She wanted the public to be aware that our pets need to be planned for. Trouble will be buried in the Helmsley mausoleum with Leona and her husband.
You do not need to be a millionaire to give your pets a lifetime of contentment. Check with your state as there are 39 states that have statutes outlining pet trusts. It is best to designate a caregiver who will provide for your pet after you are gone. This should be stated in your will. If you can’t find a caregiver, look at breed-specific or general no-kill shelters or rescue organizations. Be sure your chosen caregiver has a diary of information about your pet’s likes and dislikes, including favorite treats or habits. This information is also very important if your pet will go to a rescue organization or shelter. If your pet dies before you, the money you planned to leave your pet stays with your estate.
Thinking of your pet and providing them with care after you are gone is one of the best gifts you can give them. After all, even if the legal system thinks of pets as “property”, they are members of our family and deserve a lifetime of love.
When you are in the market for a new dog, you may wonder about adopting the pet or getting it from a breeder or pet store. Some people fear that if a dog is in a shelter or with a rescue organization that there must be something wrong with it. While this can be true, there are many different reasons why dogs are put in shelters. It can be due to illness or death of the owner, a move that will not allow for a dog, or someone in the family is allergic to the pet., among other reasons. On the negative side, the owner couldn’t take the time to properly train the dog so it was given up.
Just the act of adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue organization is rewarding and fulfilling, knowing you have saved a dog’s life. You may need to invest a lot of time initially in training your newly rescued pet. But once over the hurdles of ridding excess doggy baggage, the love and bonding you have from your pet is priceless.
If you go to a shelter, interview the staff and volunteers about the pet’s personality and habits. They will usually tell you if the dog was a stray or had to be given up by its previous owner. Ask about the reasons the dog was given up. Ask about health or behavioral issues that have been evaluated. Work with the staff to figure out which dog is a good match for your lifestyle and personality.
Often shelters or rescue groups have covered the costs of spaying or neutering, vaccinations and flea or tick treatments among other things. This can save hundreds of dollars over the initial vet costs you would pay for a purchased puppy. Adoption fees vary but are much less than the cost of a dog from a pet store or breeder.
Remember, when you buy your dog from a pet store, thinking you are freeing it from life in a small cage, you are actually perpetuating the puppy mills. These are dog breeding factories with overcrowded and less than healthy environments. Often these dogs are inbred and may have genetic problems. Mixed breeds, which make up about 70% of a shelter population, are less likely to have inherited genetic diseases since they are not inbred.
Dog rescue organizations often save a pet from euthanization, which is common in over-crowded shelters. These rescued dogs may then live with a foster family who can take the time to assess behavior and do any training needed before the pet is adopted. There is also the added benefit that if for some reason the adopted dog does not work out for you, the rescuers will take the dog back.
Whether you adopt from a shelter or a pet rescue organization, you are saving a dog’s life. Plus, you are creating an opening for another dog that needs rescuing. It is a win-win situation for all of our abandoned friends!
Tails Untold created a Book for Cheryl Solomon’s Golden Retriever, Yogi. Here is what Cheryl had to say about her Yogi’s Tails Untold New York Adventure Book.
“To all my dog loving friends – please check out www.tailsuntold.com. You can have a personalized, hard cover book of your pet where you get to share your dog’s characteristics, etc. The book is made for your dog. Easy to create by simply filling out the questionnaire on the site and submitting photos. I had one done of Yogi and it came out so fabulously that I had to order extra reprints for gifts. I’m working on Bubba’s this weekend. Short turnaround time too – within weeks! All for less than $110!!! It’s a steal and a lifetime keepsake so please go to website and share your dog’s stories with Tails Untold and have your dog published! “
We have all seen the cute advertisements and cartoons that show kittens and cats drinking cow’s milk. But it may not be a good idea. Very young kittens produce the enzyme lactase to help digest the lactose sugar that is present in their mother’s milk. Mothers begin to wean their kittens at about four weeks of age. The ability to produce the lactase enzyme decreases after weaning. Therefore, if a kitten is given cow’s milk, it may not be able to digest the lactose that is present in the milk. Undigested lactose passes through the intestines and draws water with it. Bacteria that is present in the colon can ferment the lactose and produce unwanted fatty acids. This can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Diarrhea can be deadly to a kitten as it quickly leads to dehydration.
So what is one to do if an orphaned kitten is found before the age of 8 weeks when it is able to drink water and eat solid food? Many pet stores carry mother’s milk replacement formulas. After 8 weeks, when the kittens eyes are open, able to focus, and it is steady on its feet, it will not need the formula anymore. However, it does not harm the kitten to give him this milk formula as a treat. If you are unable to obtain the milk replacement formula, it is best to give the kitten milk that’s processed to be lactose free.
| Name: | Weezie |
| Nickname(s): | The Boss |
| Gender: | female |
| Characteristics: | One eye, white face, very large pointy ears |
| Personality: | stealthy, determined, quiet, funny |
