The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Dogs

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.

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.

Top Ten Reasons I Love Writing for Inside Chappaqua

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Maggie Mae doing what she loves to do in our special town! With New Castle Town Board member Robin Stout at the Memorial Day Ceremony last May. Photo by Ronni Diamondstein
Maggie Mae doing what she loves to do in our special town! With New Castle Town Board member Robin Stout at the Memorial Day Ceremony last May.
Photo by Ronni Diamondstein

By Maggie Mae…with Ronni Diamondstein

In honor of the 10th anniversary of Inside Chappaqua, I want to share the top ten reasons I’m proud to write for the magazine.

10. It gets my owner out of the house: Not only does she walk me all the time, but she gets to come along with me on my interviews, take pictures–which she loves to do–and she meets the interesting folks I write about.

9. I get to showcase important causes:  I was proud to interview rescue dogs and the staff at the SPCA of Westchester in Briarcliff.  I hope to do more stories like this in the future.

8. I’ve learned a lot and shared what I have learned: Why it’s great for kids to have a pet and how it’s good for people of all ages to own a dog. And one of my favorite columns was why I am a child at heart and always will be.

7. I can help other pets and their owners: My friend Biscuit’s owner Gary told me that he didn’t realize dogs needed to be licensed in the state of New York and our town until he read my first column “Why I Wear My Dog Tag Proudly” in May 2010. And I’ve shared a lot of other important       information on pet health, dog safety in the winter and being careful about coyotes. From the foods that are toxic for dogs to having a whistle to scare off a coyote, I am happy to pass along what I have learned.

6. I can have fun. I met my friend Rocky at Gedney Park for my story on dog parks. And it was an honor to be asked to be a celebrity dog judge at Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester’s first Dog Social last spring.

5. I get my picture taken. I’ve been in front of a camera since I was a puppy so I love when people want to pose with me!

4. I am recognized wherever I go. One day my owner was surprised when someone she didn’t know said hello to me on one of our walks into town. The woman explained that she recognized me from my picture in Inside Chappaqua magazine. I am always very happy to meet my readers!

3. I go interesting places and meet very nice people. I wrote about pet friendly lodgings and toured Crabtree’s Kittle House and Inn with John Crabtree, one of the original owners. I was so happy to visit author and animal lover, Jean Craighead George at her home and talk to her about her book, How to Talk to Your Dog. And I’ve been to Town Hall to talk to New Castle Animal Control Officer James Moore and Town Clerk Jill Simon Shapiro.

Maggie Mae meets up with her beloved editor Grace Bennett at the Chappaqua Farmers Market in the summer of 2011. Photo by Ronni Diamondstein
Maggie Mae meets up with her beloved editor Grace Bennett at the Chappaqua Farmers Market in the summer of 2011.
Photo by Ronni Diamondstein

2. I’ve met some very intriguing animals. I loved meeting Ronnie, a rescue dog at the SPCA and was happy to hear he was adopted after my visit. One of my favorite and scariest interviews was at Dr. Laurie Hess’s Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotic Pets. I loved meeting Dr. Hess and I was very brave to have my picture taken with her parrot Target whose beak got a little too close to me!

1. And the number one reason is Grace Bennett.  In this “dog eat dog” world (I can’t believe I really wrote that!), Grace had the vision and imagination to give me, Maggie Mae Pup Reporter, and my owner this amazing opportunity to have a voice.  Thank you, Grace! Congratulations! Here’s to another ten years!

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.

Animals on the Loose

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littledogPets are very cherished members of numerous families in the Town of New Castle.  Occasionally, some of these four-legged friends decide to answer a call from the wild and set out to explore their environs.  When a pet does not return, Animal Control Warden Jim Moore receives a call.

Moore sets out promptly in pursuit.  When a lost pet is located, it is scanned and the owner is contacted.  Approximately half of the animals in town have imbedded microchips.  If the animal is not identifiable, it is entrusted to the SPCA in Briarcliff Manor.  In 80% of these cases, a missing animal report is received the next day and the owner is directed to the SPCA.

Rest assured, the animals at the SPCA are coddled and cared for.   Volunteers take them on walks and socialize.  Executive Director Shannon Laukhuf emphasized that the location in Briarcliff is “a no-kill shelter.”  All animals are held for a period of eight to ten days.  If they are not claimed, they are vaccinated, checked for disease and put up for adoption.

Sometimes reports about strays pertain to more exotic species.  On one occasion Moore found an alligator in Pruyn Sanctuary.  “It was only one and a half feet long,” he noted cheerfully.  Another time, a resident called to report the presence of four horses on her lawn.  “The paddock door [on a neighboring property] was left open and the horses trotted off and went to greener pastures,” Moore recalled.

Coyotes are a growing concern in the hamlet.  When reports about these marauders are received, Moore contacts trappers who are authorized to euthanize.  Many coyotes have been seen on the east side of town, near the Mount Kisco Country Club.  In 2011,  approximately half a dozen were euthanized.

Moore provided advice on preventing the loss of an animal:  “Supervise them and don’t allow them to run free.”   “Don’t feed them outside,” he added.

It’s A Small World for Dogs in Chappaqua

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By Maggie Mae…with Ronni Diamondstein

When my editor and publisher Grace Bennett was off on her adventure in Africa with Secretary of State Clinton, I started to think that most of the dogs I meet on the streets of Chappaqua are not native American breeds.  I, for one, am a Poodle.  Most people think poodles are French, but we really came from Germany.  Secretary of State Clinton has a Toy Parti Poodle, Tally, just like me. She and President Clinton also have a Labrador Retriever named Seamus.  Labs are the most popular dogs in America, and their ancestors came from Canada.  On my daily walks, I meet lots of them; some are chocolate, others are black or yellow.

Walking around Chappaqua, I have met dogs from all around the world. One of the first dogs I met when I was a puppy was Gizmo, a Tri-Color Australian Shepherd. Though he was about ten times my size, Gizmo seemed shy at first.  When I got to know him, he was gentle and friendly.  He was like the mayor of Greeley Avenue and made me feel right at home on the street.

Out of Egypt comes my friend Jester, the sleek and speedy Greyhound. “We are one of the oldest breeds known to man,” Jester, a former racing dog, told me, “ and came to America in the 1500’s with the Spanish explorers.”

I’ve met lots of dogs from Europe: the very friendly and low-key Puffy, a Black and Gold English Spaniel and Oliver, the exuberant Yorkshire Terrier, and Milo, the very affectionate cream-colored French Bulldog.  Another handsome dog is Finnegan Patrick O’Keefe, the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier whose name lives up to his breed’s Irish roots. Don’t be surprised when Finnegan gives you his Wheaten greeting, playfully prancing on his hind legs and showing off.  Wheatens are very outgoing and self-confident that way.

Maybe you’ve seen “Q,” the Golden Retriever, romping in Gedney Park.  He collects tennis balls, which are about the only thing this Scottish lad retrieves.  Or Harry Houdini, the Wire Hair Terrier who also hails from the British Isles, springing into action at Gedney and around town.

And there are all the “Doodles” and “Poos”.  Goldendoodles  and Labradoodles were first bred in Australia. Although he is not a service dog, my friend Blue, a Goldendoodle told me that his ancestors were Golden Retrievers bred with Poodles to create hypoallergenic dogs for visually impaired people with allergies. Taz, a Labradoodle, actually flew over from Victoria, Australia via pet jet 11 years ago, when he was only 4 months old.  He was picked up at JFK cargo by his owners. And I mustn’t forget Cody the Malti-Poo, who is a mix of the aristocratic Maltese with the intelligent Poodle.

My neighborhood is like the United Nations. We have French Papillons with butterfly-shaped ears, Chinese Shih Tzus and a Hungarian Vizsla, to name a few. There are two All American dogs on our block, MJ and Lucky, who are Boston Terriers. I did some research and found out that their breed began when Bostonians combined two British breeds: English Terriers and English Bulldogs.

And so as I stroll around town greeting dogs from all over the world, I realized we have some things in common.  No matter what our size, color or country of origin, we are and always will be man’s best friend and feel right at home in Chappaqua.

My owner says there are lots of other breeds from abroad in Chappaqua so you can let me know who you are.  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.