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in this issue:
Letter from the Editor
by Chris Franko
All together now, in unison!
More than any other season, summer is when we PUPS members open our arms to the rest of the city. Unfortunately, in light of the pending Juniper Park legal action, the city may be biting back: this could be the last summer of our off-leash bliss. Since any bad press could have serious negative effects, the folks at PUPS and the Fort Greene Park Staff think it more important than ever that we do our part as responsible dog owners. You’ve heard it all before, but here we go, once more with feeling:
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Off-leash hours are 9 pm - 9 am. You might think the 8:50 am patrol car sweep is overkill. But just imagine how passers-by feel when at 9:20 am a cluster of pet owners seem oblivious to their dogs still running loose.
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Clean up after your dog! BBQers aren’t the only ones contributing to the mess in the park. Pick up your dog’s poop and fur (if you’re an outdoor brusher) and discard it properly.
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Off-leash does NOT MEAN out of control. If you dog is lavishing unsolicited kisses on the Park Manager while you’re down the hill swapping last night’s gossip, you’re not holding up your end of the pack, er, pact.
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Keep paths and intersections clear. Not everyone’s a dog lover and some morning commuters may view zooming dogs as a menace.
Take a deep breath. It’s hot. It’s humid. We’re all feeling a little cagey and penned-in. Let’s keep confrontation (and incarceration) to a minimal. Got a gripe? Don’t just fume — let us know. We’d love to hear what’s on your mind. Visit fortgreenepups.org/about.html and click on contact.
OFF-LEASH UPDATE
Dog Owners Citywide Band Together Against Lawsuit
On June 13, NYCdog representatives met with a PArks attorney to discuss the Juniper Park case and its possible implications.
Following the meeting with Parks attorney, NYCdog "encouraged them to do everything possible to put pressure on the city through calls to 311 and letters to the Mayor. PUPS president Kath Hansen delivered a petition with signatures of more than 200 PUPS member to the Parks Department and the Mayor’s Office. Several of the other dog organizations followed suit."
For additional information on the lawsuit, please visit FIDO President Mary McInerney's summary of the lawsuit here. Or if you’re feeling really motivated, the hearing date is set for Tuesday, June 27, at 9:30 am in the Queens Supreme Court Building, 88-12 Sutphin Blvd. and is open to the public.
KEEPING YOUR DOGS FIT
Vets Require Waivers for Online Pet Meds
With tick and flea season in full swing, it’s time to stock up on the medicines you need to keep your dogs and cats kridder-free. Many consumers have recently noticed that they’re now required to shoulder an additional responsibility to fill their dog’s prescription, especially when purchasing meds online. The PUPS team did a little digging and here’s what we found out:
Most vets now require pet owners to sign some kind of waiver before they’ll release a dog’s prescription to an online medication vendor. Ostensibly, the waivers limit the vet’s liability for the quality of the medications. Most pharmaceutical companies won't guarantee their products if purchased from anyone other than a vet, citing a lack of regulatory oversight of the internet and a concern that online meds have passed their expiration dates or are of compromised quality.
While it may be true that some vets are concerned by the loss of business, most recognize the cost savings of shopping online and provide the waiver service free of charge. Others by contrast are even jumping in the game and starting own online prescription service. A brief unscientific survey of PUPS members skewed to the positive citing no apparent quality issues with the meds they’ve purchased online.
So whether you want to stick to the tried and true or go for cost-savings, it’s still best to talk to your vet before making the purchase. A 30% savings may seem hard to pass by, but when if comes to protecting your pet, a little extra cash at the vet is worth a million in peace of mind.
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Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?
One of my favorite aspects of summer is the wealth of fresh veggies at the Green Market every Saturday. That got me thinking -- On an almost daily basis since spring, Otis makes a point of dragging me to his favorite spots in the park – a few choice grass patches. Is Otis after that crisp snap of summer satisfaction as well? Here’s what I’ve discovered:
Most vets agree that eating grass is normal part of a dog’s diet and as long as the grass is free of fertilizers and chemicals it poses no danger to your dog’s health. Quite the opposite: Herbs can assist in the healing process by helping the body eliminate and detoxify. The grass, in effect, helps purge irritants and toxins.
In the wild, dogs like their canine relatives the wolves and foxes got their grass second hand – by hunting and eating herbivores. The canned meats and dry kibble of modern day canine diets mean a dog’s forced to supplement its leafy intake. (Several pet food companies currently respond to this dietary gap by marketing “green tripe” options, a fiber- and nutrient-rich rich intestine mix. Otis, for one, loves it.)
Others theorize that dogs don’t eat the grass as much as “read” it, marking their territory in a sense. But perhaps the most basic reason that dogs eat grass is simply that they like it. In fact, one species of grass has been so well loved by dogs over the eras that its botanical name is Agrospyron canina.
Give That Dog A Bone
If you’re a morning regular then you’ve surely met Honey, the adorable Mastiff puppy and her equally affable companion Phil. Honey’s more than just a pretty face, though. She’s a crime stopper.
Phil recently pulled his car up to an ATM on Myrtle Avenue, leaving Honey in the back seat. As Phil was in mid-transaction, a stranger slipped into the car with the intent of driving off. Unaware of Honey, he got more than he bargained for. A local resident who witnessed the scene quickly called 911. Even quicker to respond was our stealthy pup who quickly sensed the intruder and clamped down on his shoulder blade.
When Phil headed back to the car, he witnessed the nightmarish scene of a bloodied Honey wrestling the foiled criminal to the pavement with traffic stopped and police sirens in the distance
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In the end, Honey was fine and despite the initial shock and a hefty bill to detail the interior of his car, so was Phil. The perp, however, is now missing a large chunk of his latissimus dorsi and will be incarcerated for some time. It turns out that in addition to attempting grand larceny, he also carried a concealed weapon.
So on top of stopping a carjacking, Honey may also have saved her owner’s life. Embracing Honey’s penchant for helping others, Phil has decided to enroll her in a therapy dog training program. Rest assured, this won’t be the last good deed we hear about from one of PUPS favorite new additions.
Phil, his son Joshua, and Honey
RIP Basil
PUPS wishes its sincere condolences to the friends and family of Basil, one of the neighborhood’s most beloved veteran canines, who recently passed away after a life well lived.
FORT GREENE PARK ROUND-UP
The Doors are Open…
On May 18th the Fort Greene Park Visitor Center officially opened its doors, historical exhibits, and gift shop to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Brooklyn Borough Parks Commissioner Julius Spiegel and New York City Council Member Letitia James joined Pulitzer Prize winning historian and 1776 author David McCullough to honor the occasion. Stop by and experience some Fort Greene history for yourself, from 9 am-5 pm daily.
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What do all these dogs have in common? They all have a shot at being featured in the 2007 PUPS calendar!
Want to give back to the community?
Consider supporting PUPS through participation or a donation. The Great PUPkin and the 2007 PUPS calendar will be here before you know it.
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You talkin’ to me?
We sure hope so! We hear your theories on all things Fort Greene every morning in the park. Put ‘em down in writing and send them to us at PUPS — we’d love to feature your ideas and musings in the newsletter.
PUPS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit so your dollars are tax-deductible. Donate now at fortgreenepups.org or mail a check to:
Fort Greene PUPS, Inc.
PO Box 103
542 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217