The Inside Press

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Maggie Mae Pup Reporter

Bringing Home Baby

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Mason loves his canine “brother” Riley who always watches out for him. Photo by Ronni Diamondstein
Mason loves his canine “brother” Riley who always watches out for him. Photo by Ronni Diamondstein

By Maggie Mae…with Ronni Diamondstein

My friend Riley, a Staffordshire Terrier, always walked with his owners Alysa and Bryan Paul. Then one day last summer Riley and the Pauls started walking with a stroller and a little baby named Mason. This excited me, because I love babies. When I was a puppy my owner took me to meet humans of all ages, including little babies, but I had never lived with one. So I decided to ask Riley what it was like and if his owners did anything special before the baby Mason arrived.

Riley told me he had been well trained and had learned boundaries in his home before the baby came to live with them.  Now he was happy to have his new brother. The Pauls got advice from Riley’s trainer Gary Pietropaolo, and I listened carefully when they told my master 
about it.

“Safety comes first,” said Pietropaolo. “Know your dog and whether the dog, especially an older one, will be able to adapt to a baby in your home.”  He told them that it may be necessary to call in a professional, who will work with your dog to reinforce the rules in your home and your position as pack leader. “There are a lot of dogs in shelters because they are not good with children,” said Pietropaolo.  I didn’t like to hear that, but I knew it wouldn’t happen to me or Riley.

Besides training, Pietropaolo told them to get Riley used to the sound of a baby.  “Try to have a friend or neighbor bring over a baby. The dog needs to be acclimated to the sound of a baby crying.” There are CDs with baby sounds and even some on You-Tube.  Riley watched Bryan set up the baby’s crib and sniffed it. It also helped to turn on the baby swing and have Riley sniff baby lotion too. Once he got used to the changes and smells, Riley was ready for the new addition to the family.

Before they brought Mason home, Bryan took Riley into the nursery. He dressed a Teddy Bear toy in one of Mason’s Onesies and wrapped it in a blanket so Riley could get used to the smell. Bryan held the teddy bear in his arms just as he would hold the baby.

Soon after that Alysa and Bryan brought their newborn home.  Alysa came inside first and let Riley smell Mason on her and know that something was different. Bryan followed with the baby.  Following Pietropaolo’s advice, they had Riley sniff the baby’s feet first.  The trainer had told them that it was important always to be in the room with Mason and Riley. “My concern is accidental injury,” said Pietropaolo, stressing that they should keep a leash on Riley, even in the house.

At first Riley wondered if the new baby would take a lot of their attention away, but it worked out fine.  Riley told me that his owners still spent time alone with him every day and took him for walks without the baby.  He still felt a lot of love from them.  Not only is Riley good around his baby brother Mason, but Mason is also good around Riley. Mutual respect has to go both ways. And some mutual admiration, too.

Whenever I see Riley he is right beside Mason’s stroller and happy to have the company of Mason and his owners Alysa and Bryan.  They are one happy family.

For more information on bringing home babies go to www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/preparing-your-dog-new-baby

Contact Maggie Mae Pup ReporterTM at maggiemae10514@gmail.com

Maggie Mae lives in Chappaqua with her adoring owner Ronni Diamondstein, who, when she isn’t walking Maggie is a freelance writer, PR consultant and award-winning photographer who has worked in the US and abroad.

Help the Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry, Inc.

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Maggie Mae’s Must Do:

Food Pantries are not just for people. Many people who need food also need food for their pets. The Hudson Valley
Pet Food Pantry, Inc. was founded in 2010 to help them. The Pantry provides free pet food to people who cannot
afford to care for their animals. This includes senior citizens, disabled persons, veterans, and those who have lost their jobs. The Pantry’s mission is to keep animals from being abandoned or surrendered to shelters. “We are presently
serving 263 clients each month, feeding 683 animals,” said Susan Katz, founder and president of the Pantry. “Since January, 2013, we’ve distributed nearly 10 tons of pet food.” The facility is located in White Plains. You can help them by making donations or volunteering.
For more information go to: www.hvpetfoodpantry.org

Reading has Gone to the Dogs

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By Maggie Mae…with Ronni Diamondstein

Eight-year-old Marielle of Briarcliff Manor never misses an opportunity to read to Too Tall.
Eight-year-old Marielle of Briarcliff Manor never misses an opportunity to read to Too Tall.

Since I was a puppy I have heard people say to my owner, “Maggie should be a therapy dog.” Because I am small, calm, very gentle with children and a hypoallergenic poodle they thought that would be a good job for me.  And I like to have people pet me.  My owner said that these dogs visited hospitals, elder care centers, schools and other places to help people feel better and happy. Then I heard about a therapy dog that has children read to him at the Chappaqua Library. I thought this was really a great thing since I love when my owner, who is a former School Librarian, reads to me. So I contacted Miriam Budin, Head of Children’s Services, to find out about their program Short Tales for Too Tall.

Children sign up for a fifteen-minute session to read to Too Tall, a retired rescued Greyhound racing dog. Accompanied by his owner, Anne Quick, Too Tall listens to each child read either a book of their choice or one that the library provides. “We’ve had a number of different therapy dogs over the past ten years and have structured the programs in a variety of ways, but we’ve come to feel that a private session with the therapy dog feels extra-special, even though it limits the number of children who can participate” says Budin. “The response to Too Tall, a particularly elegant, gentle and gracious dog has been wholly positive.”

When Quick, a Young Adult Librarian adopted Too Tall, she immediately began to train him as a certified therapy dog as well as a  R.E.A.D (Reading Education Assistance Dog). Too Tall told me he likes the children reading to him and especially enjoys the treat they give him at the end of the session. “Even though it may look like I am sleeping with my eyes closed, completely relaxed with my head in the child’s lap, I am paying attention,” says Too Tall. “I have a vivid imagination and close my eyes to picture the stories being read to me.” And he adds that Quick reads to him all the time too. “Her mission in having people read to me is not only to introduce and foster a love for learning and literacy, but also to share me with others and teach people what ‘greyt’ pets retired racers make.”

“Dogs don’t care if you read fast or slowly. They just like to be with people,” said Quick. A parent of one of Too Tall’s readers told me that she brings her seven-year-old son so that he has a “noncritical” listener. Her son had brought his own copy of a Henry and Mudge book by Cynthia Rylant, which is a popular series about a boy and his dog. Marielle, an eight-year-old from Briarcliff Manor wouldn’t miss a session with Too Tall, “I love reading and I love dogs!”

Too Tall can’t take his eyes off Thomas as he reads to him about a boy and his dog. Photos by Ronni Diamondstein
Too Tall can’t take his eyes off Thomas as he reads to him about a boy and his dog.
Photos by Ronni Diamondstein

Quick says she always gets terrific feedback and that the parents enjoy it as much as the kids.  “Some of our readers were afraid of dogs before meeting Too Tall. Some were afraid of reading,” says Budin. “Anne Quick and Too Tall have such an encouraging way about them that the response to their visits has been entirely positive.” Short Tales for Too Tall will continue this fall at the Chappaqua Library. Check the Chappaqua Library website for more details about this special program for children: www.chappaqualibrary.org.

Wow! All this talk about reading makes me want to sit on my owner’s lap and curl up with a good book. Then maybe I can be a R.E.A.D dog too!

Contact Maggie Mae Pup Reporter at maggiemae10514@gmail.com

Maggie Mae lives in Chappaqua with her adoring owner Ronni Diamondstein, who, when she isn’t walking Maggie is a freelance writer, PR consultant and award-winning photographer who has worked in the US and abroad.

Maggie Mae’s Must Do:

Top Hat and Tails Gala October 18th

Launching a new feature to highlight pet events, charities and organizations and am wagging my tail with joy to tell you about a special event for the SPCA of Westchester, the 11th Annual Top Hat and Cocktails Gala. This hot dog of an affair will be held at the Ritz Carlton in White Plains on Friday, October 18, 2013 from 7:00 to 9:30PM. Step out in style with your dog for a fun evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, canine ice cream bar, animal communicator, live music, dancing and a silent auction. Tickets are $200 per person. Well socialized dogs and their owners will enjoy this event that supports the many wonderful programs of the
SPCA of Westchester.

For more details visit

www.spca914.org.

Keeping Summer Safe and Fun for Your Dog

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Maggie Mae stays cool with a drink of water visiting Chloe and Sophia in Connecticut. Photo by Ronni Diamondstein
Maggie Mae stays cool with a drink of water
visiting Chloe and Sophia in Connecticut.
Photo by Ronni Diamondstein

As the weather gets warmer I notice that my routine changes. I take my long walks in the early morning and my owner carries my water bottle with her whether we walk into town or go in the car. In summer the scorching pavement sometimes makes my paws hurt and I don’t like that one bit. Thinking of my hot paws made me wonder if there were to other things I should know about being safe in the summertime, so I decided to talk to a veterinarian, Julie Slavin of Visiting Veterinary Practice of Westchester.

“The warm summer months offer great opportunities for outdoor play with pets, but there are several precautions to take to prevent some commonly encountered problems,” said Dr. Slavin. I knew that I needed to drink more water and I asked her about that. Dr. Slavin said that unlike people, dogs don’t sweat and can’t regulate their body temperature so they are at great risk to get very sick from the heat.  And she also said that like walking on hot pavement, walking on hot sand can cause painful burns to pets’ footpads.

Once a month my owner gives me an extra little treat with my dinner. Dr. Slavin said that my treat was actually medicine to prevent heartworm disease. Mosquitoes spread the disease and they are around a lot in the summer. “Parasite populations are at their highest numbers during the summer months–fleas, ticks and mites as well as internal parasites,” says Dr. Slavin. “My owner checks me for ticks each time we come in from the outside and I get monthly treatment for them too, but not just in the summer. “Consistency in administration is key,” says Slavin.

I ride in the car more in the summer time, and whenever we travel, I always ride in my crate. Dr. Slavin says that if your dog doesn’t like the crate, you can always use a harness type seatbelt. I love to go in the car but not all dogs do. “Car travel can be very stressful for some animals,” says Dr. Slavin. “If your pet is an inexperienced traveler, short ‘practice’ trips will help to get them acclimated prior to a longer trip.” And she had other good advice: don’t let your pet eat too much before you leave on a trip. “Some pets experience nausea and this can lead to vomiting.”

I’ve never flown in a plane, but if we do, I am small enough to travel in the cabin. Dr. Slavin says unless a dog can travel in the cabin, it’s not a good idea to travel by plane during the summer. “Larger dogs are placed in the cargo hold where the temperatures are not well regulated which can lead to overheating.”

I am lucky because my owner takes me on trips with her. Not all dogs can do this. Some  have to be boarded at a kennel. Dr. Slavin recommends that you visit the facility ahead of time to see if it is a good place for your dog and see if it is clean. Ask to see the size of the enclosure where your pet will be spending most of its time.  “See where they will be exercised and how often and meet the people who will be caring for your pet,” says Dr. Slavin. She also adds a note of warning: because of the potential risk of exposure to infectious diseases at boarding facilities, like kennel cough and influenza, make sure your pet is appropriately vaccinated. “Not every pet should be boarded,” says Dr. Slavin, “especially those that suffer from chronic illness, are immunosuppressed, elderly or suffer from anxiety.” Pet sitters in the home would be a better choice for these pets.

And then we got the most important advice of all: “Never leave your pet in a car without air conditioning. In minutes, a parked car can turn into an oven and kill your pet.”

I can’t wait to see what adventures I’ll have this summer. And I hope that I will see all my dog friends keeping cool!

For more hot weather tips for pets you can go to the ASPCA website:  www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/hot-weather-tips.aspx

Contact Maggie Mae Pup Reporter at maggiemae10514@gmail.com

Maggie Mae lives in Chappaqua with her adoring owner Ronni Diamondstein, who, when she isn’t walking Maggie is a freelance writer, PR consultant, award-winning photographer and a School Library Media Specialist and teacher who has worked in the US and abroad.

Giving Greyhound Racers a Second Chance

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Rescued by Sophie and her family, Jester found a loving home in Chappaqua. Photo by Ronni Diamondstein
Rescued by Sophie and her family, Jester found a loving home in Chappaqua.
Photo by Ronni Diamondstein

By Maggie Mae…with Ronni Diamondstein

One day I was talking about my job as a journalist to my friend Jester, who is a Greyhound, and he told me that he once had a job too. “When I was young I was a racing dog and now I am retired,” he said. Jester and I are both five years old so I thought it was strange that I was in the prime of my career and he had already retired.  “I was racing in Florida and broke my leg so they didn’t want me to race anymore.” He told me that he spent months in a crate before anyone repaired his leg.  That made me sad.  My owner would never treat me that way, and I know Jester’s Chappaqua family would never do that to him. I wondered how he got here from the south. “I was adopted through Greyhound Rescue & Rehabilitation, and that’s how I came to live with Sophie and her family,” he said.

I was curious about greyhound racing, because the only racing I know is when I run around in my house or chase a squirrel. From the ASPCA I found out that racing dogs are not treated as well as I am. They spend a lot of time in crates and when they can’t race anymore they are put to sleep forever.  That made me even sadder, so I decided to find out about the Greyhound Rescue & Rehabilitation (known also as GRR). I contacted the President and Founder, Christine Johnson, who lives in Cross River. She told me that she started GRR after she got her own dog.  Her sister recommended that she adopt a retired greyhound, because she lived in a condo and racing dogs don’t need to run a lot. I was surprised that racers didn’t need to run, but she explained that to me. “Greyhounds live most of their lives in crates so they make excellent apartment pets,” said Johnson. She adopted her first dog in 1999. It worked so well that within four months she adopted a second.

Johnson started GRR because she loved her dogs so much. She found out that there were lots of retired greyhounds that had been injured or  “were just a split second too slow ” Unless these dogs found homes, their futures were uncertain.

GRR takes greyhounds from all over the country. “Most of the hounds have no medical issues, but we do take in as many with injuries as we can afford.” Like Jester, some of them break their legs while racing.  “The retired racers we get are from 2 to 6 years old, however we will take younger dogs if they’re injured while getting ready to race or older dogs, which we refer to as ‘brood moms’ who have had racing careers and then a second career having puppies,” says Johnson. GRR doesn’t have a kennel so after each dog is examined by a veterinarian and either spayed or neutered, it needs a foster family to care for it until it is adopted.  I was surprised to learn that the foster family has to teach the dog how to be a pet.  Racing dogs have never learned to go up and down stairs or walk on a leash. They don’t even know about those things in your house that you can look through but not get to what is on the other side. My owner calls them windows. And I couldn’t believe it when Johnson told me that these dogs have never even had a ride in a car, which is, next to going for a walk and eating, one of my favorite things to do.

So to help these greyhounds find families to love, GRR runs adoption “Meet and Greet” events in our area.  Dogs like Jester are on hand at the events as “Ambassadogs”.  If you want to adopt a greyhound or find out more about Greyhound Rescue & Rehabilitation and the upcoming events go to their website: www.greyhoundrescuerehab.org

Who knew that my sweet and personable greyhound friend Jester had such an interesting history?  Makes me wonder what my next career could be.  Some kind of “Ambassadog” sounds good to me!

Contact Maggie Mae Pup Reporter at maggiemae10514@gmail.com

Maggie Mae lives in Chappaqua with her adoring owner Ronni Diamondstein, who, when she isn’t walking Maggie is a freelance writer, PR consultant, award-winning photographer and a School Library Media Specialist and teacher who has worked in the US and abroad.