Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester
By Maggie Mae…with Ronni Diamondstein
“May I pet your dog?” is music to my ears and a question I often hear my owner asked. I love to meet people and if I wasn’t a dog, I would say I’m a people person. In my travels around town I have had many opportunities to meet children, most of them pleasant. [Read more…] about Making Friends with Man’s Best Friend
By Maggie Mae…with Ronni Diamondstein
I recently visited the veterinarian when I was feeling fine. My owner said it was a check-up. That got me thinking about staying healthy and I wondered, “What are some ways that dogs can stay well and when should you go to a veterinarian?” So, I thought I’d go back to see my veterinarian, Megan Duffy, DVM at Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center for the answer.
“An annual exam is important to see if a pet is healthy or not,” says Dr. Duffy. She listens to my heart, looks in my ears and at my teeth. Something could be wrong and my owner doesn’t know it. She says when you catch a disease early you are more likely to get well sooner with a successful treatment plan. Young animals, like me only have to go once a year, but as animals get older she says bi-annual exams are important since they may have disease issues. As a puppy I went more often for vaccines to booster my immunity and protect me from diseases. She weighs me too. “We can also monitor body weight and discuss changes in diet if needed,” says Dr. Duffy. She advises us about eating good quality food that is nutritious. Two years ago when I weighed over ten pounds she said I needed to go on a diet. I did and now my owner measures my meals and I get one biscuit a day–in pieces–so I keep my trim nine pound frame. I love taking walks and that is a good thing because Dr. Duffy says that dogs need at least thirty minutes a day of exercise–and that more is even better.
My owner brushes my teeth regularly. Dr. Duffy says brushing once a day is best and to use animal toothpaste since human toothpaste is not properly pH balanced for pets. I am proud of my beautiful coat and even though grooming is not my favorite thing it is important in keeping my skin and coat healthy. Once a month there is a pill mixed in with my food and my owner puts something wet on my back that makes me wiggle. Dr. Duffy says that prevention is the best medicine. She recommends monthly heartworm medication and Frontline to prevent ticks, lice and fleas to keep a dog from getting diseases like Lyme disease and parasites.
There are lots of things outdoors to watch out for that can cause health problems: salt on the ground in the winter and heat and hot pavement in the summer. Owners should check pets for ticks too.
I once got a hold of a salad that had currants in it. My owner had to call the ASPCA poison control hotline and, for a fee, she was told it was poisonous to me. I was rushed to the Emergency Veterinary Center to get it out of my system. (I have had pet medical insurance since I was puppy. It covers wellness visits, medications and emergencies and came in handy for this visit.) There are many foods that can make dogs sick. “Most people know about chocolate as a toxin,” says Dr. Duffy “but they do not know about raisin/grape ingestion and how it can cause kidney failure. Other things to avoid are macadamia nuts and Xylitol which is found in sugar free gum. Easter lilies can cause kidney failure too.”
I wag my tail whenever I hear Dr. Duffy’s name and I like to ride in the car to see her. My owner says it’s important to have a veterinarian you can trust and feel comfortable talking to about your pet and your concerns. Thanks to good care from my owner and my veterinarian, I am on a path to wellness and hope my article helps all dogs and their owners to follow one too!
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.
By Maggie Mae…with Ronni Diamondstein
When I visited animal expert and author Jean Craighead George last spring I met her pet African parrot Tocca. I see birds outside, but I had never encountered a bird in a cage in someone’s home. I wondered “are there other unusual pets and who would take care of them?” I asked around Chappaqua and discovered that a veterinarian, Laurie Hess who specializes in parrots and other cool pets lives in our town.
I checked out her practice online, Veterinary Center for Birds and Exotics www.avianexoticsvet.com and was intrigued by the tagline “Exceptional Care for Extraordinary Pets.” I knew I had to meet her so I got a ride over to her office in Bedford Hills.
The first thing I wanted to know was, “What is an exotic pet?” Dr. Hess said in her practice she sees birds(like parrots, macaws and canaries) and rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs, ferrets, small rodents (like mice, rats, gerbils and degus), reptiles, amphibians and less seen exotics like kinkajous, wallabies, fennec foxes, and opossums. I asked her how she decided to take care of birds and exotics. She said that in veterinary school there was not a lot of training for these animals but during her internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City she had a chance to work with them and she knew these unique creatures were her calling.
Dr. Hess helps people before they even get their pet. She has a phone consultation service. “I welcome people calling. We talk about their lifestyle, their family and the financial piece of bringing an exotic pet into their home.” Exotics are low maintenance pets. Most are small and don’t need a lot space. They don’t need vaccines and they are easy to transport when they need to be boarded.
Dr. Hess recommends bringing a new bird or exotic pet in for a wellness visit. “We educate people as to how to care for all kinds of animals.” Offering advice on nutrition, environment and care, Dr. Hess says you don’t want to wait for a pet to get sick before you bring them in to be checked. She is very passionate about educating people about their pets and the importance of taking these little creatures seriously. “You can’t judge the value of a pet by its cost,” she says. Many of these animals live for decades. “I’ve had grown up grandchildren bring in a turtle that belonged to their grandparents.”
I know I like to be around people and asked if birds and exotics were good company too. She said that these pets bond with people and that they are quite social and can be very entertaining. Ferrets are playful, interactive, and comical. Parrots are good companions too. “I can’t tell you how rewarding these pets can be,” Dr. Hess says. “Birds talk to you!”
I had to know if she had any pets and I wasn’t surprised to hear that she did: three birds, four cats, and several fish. I wonder if I can convince her to get an exceptional dog like me to add to her extraordinary menagerie. And maybe I can get an exotic pet 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, award-winning photographer and a School Library Media Specialist and teacher who has worked in the U.S. and abroad.
By Maggie Mae…with Ronni Diamondstein
Three years ago I became someone’s pet, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I love having human beings in my life. I am cared for beyond my wildest dreams–food, shelter and lots of affection. I know having an owner is great and I wondered, “is owning a pet as great for people.” I asked around Chappaqua and beyond, and here are ten reasons why owning a pet, any pet, can be a great thing!
10. Pets are good company. My friend Wilson, a Shi Tzu, says his owner Janet talks to him all the time. A dog or cat has been known to fill an empty nest when kids go off to college.
9. Pets help you get exercise. No matter what the weather, my owner has to get out of the house to walk me. My neighbors, Abby and Sam, two Shi Tzus, go hiking with their owner Stephanie, making her take more breaks from grading papers than she would without them!
8. Pets are good for your health. Studies have shown that having a pet in your life can lower blood pressure. From the purring of a cat to watching fish in a fish tank, the effect of animals is very calming.
7. Pets are perennial playmates. My cat cousins Bella and Mittens, two Abyssinians, are permanent play dates for their only–child owner Sophia. For teens, stingy with hugs for their parents, the pet is the perfect object of affection for cuddling.
6. A pet can teach responsibility. Not only dogs and cats, but rabbits, gerbils, birds and fish can give young children a sense of accomplishment by feeding, walking, or cleaning out a cage or litter box. Many teenagers feel that taking care of their family pets is good preparation for parenthood in the future.
5. You can do a good deed and save a life if you rescue a cat or dog from a shelter.
4. A pet is a great way to meet people. My owner, for one, has met more people in town thanks to walking me. People are friendlier if I am with her.
3. Pets are entertaining. Hermione, an American short hair cat dazzles her family by diving into empty bags and chasing her catnip. Rocky, a Black Lab, makes his owner Ethan, laugh. When Ethan calls, “Clean up,” Rocky comes running to lick up spills and crumbs. He is no dirty dog!
2. Pets can take care of your
family.
My friend Bailey, a Pomeranian, patrols his yard and house always on the lookout for wrong doing. He is very protective and takes his job seriously, policing the children in the family by barking if they are horsing around. Rocky also serves as a watch dog and barks viciously and growls when he hears someone at the door. Of course, when the door is open, he greets a friend or stranger with kisses and a wagging tail.
1. And hands down, the best reason of all, especially for dogs like me, is pure and simple: love, unconditionally!
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.
“Nobody will ever love you as much as your dog does,” writes Jean Craighead George in her book, How to Talk to Your Dog. I have been thinking about that line since I interviewed her last year. What better month than February and the love issue of Inside Chappaqua to explore the way my canine friends and I express our love.
I’m always happy when my owner comes home. I wag my tail, run to her and then scurry to see what she has brought into the house. My friend Bear, a big Akita/Shepherd blend, howls to welcome his owners Dan and Sheila when they walk through front door. Coco and Jules, two mixed breed rescue dogs, jump on their owners Dave and Celine giving them lots of licks. “We follow them around the house because we want to be near them,” says Coco who also loves to cuddle with the family cats.
Another way I show my love to my owner is to curl up on her bed. I roll over so she can rub my belly. Coco and Jules love to nestle in bed with their owners too. “My favorite morning moment is to jump in the bed and snuggle,” says Coco. “And Jules loves to kiss his daddy’s shiny bald head when he does his sit ups!”
The sofa is another place to show affection. I climb up with my owner, resting on her chest while she watches television or reads a book. I can feel her heart beating and I am sure she can feel mine. My friend Belle, a Chocolate Lab, nudges her owner Jen when she wants to lie down next to her. And on a cold winter night, Bruno, a Boxer, puts his paws up on his owner Carmine, hugging him till Bruno falls asleep in his arms.
Grooming is not my favorite activity, but it’s a special time for Alfie, an Old English Sheepdog. He loves to be brushed by his owner Bill. “I just melt,” says Alfie. It’s a bonding experience for both.
I never know who I will see when I take walks. When I see Natalia and Melanie, two six year olds who live in my neighborhood, I always wiggle and wag my tail with happiness. I give them my kind of hug, nuzzling on their feet. One day I saw Riley, a year old American Staffordshire Terrier. We were sniffing each other “hello,” when all of a sudden the girls came running towards me. I was excited to see them, but Riley, who did not know them, barked. I had never heard him bark before so I knew he was protecting me–giving puppy love a new meaning!
When I’m feeling affectionate, I push my head under my owner’s hand, begging to be petted. She calls me a love bug and says, “Maggie, you’re my girl.” I love her no matter what she does, even if she annoys me–which she does from time to time. I protect her, I defend her and I will be a loyal friend, always. This talk of love makes me want to jump up on my owner’s lap, lean my head on her hands, and finish writing this story together.
Contact Maggie Mae Pup Reporter.
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.
