Astoria Park Alliance is Helping the Rockaways!

This weekend, ARF-ARF's friends at the Astoria Park Alliance will be hosting their annual Leaf Fest Cleanup. They are generously using the opportunity to host a drive for Sandy relief in Rockaway. Not only will they be collecting animal supplies for our December drive, but also monetary donations. Since we like to spread the love, ARF-ARF is compiling a list of organizations to disperse money to.  Please tell your friends who live in or near Astoria!

Guardians of Rescue Looking for a Foster

Christine lost everything in the flood that followed "Sandy". She is running a shelter for other displaced victims of the storm and needs our help. Tragically, both of Christine's cats died 4 months ago in the same accident that caused Poochie to go blind. While Christine was at work, her landlord went in to her home without her knowing and treated it with pesticides. She had just started to recover from the loss of her beloved cats and get poor Poochie adjusted to living without her sight in her new home when the storm hit....... Now she has lost everything....... she needs our help. Poochie is blind, used to cats but not good with other dogs, so a special home is needed with patience and love to give her. Poochie is sad and confused and needs a safe haven while her owner recovers from this devastating hurricane. If you want to foster Poochie, email the foster application from www.guardiansofrescue.org to volunteers@guardiansofrescue.org.

We Are Back Online!

For those of you who view our news feed online, we are truly sorry that we have not been able to keep up.  Since we are entirely made up of volunteers who have also been affected by Superstorm Sandy, many of us were without power and/or regular internet service.  But we were able to connect to Facebook via smartphones, so we were able to get some information out that way and communicate with those who needed help.  Our core is now back up and running, and so are we.  To get you up to speed, this is some of the things that we have been up to since the storm hit:

This was just a snippet of what happened to the dog park.  In total, we had 12 very large trees down in our 2.5 acre space. 

Our storage container was completely moved off of its foundation and turned around.  Normally, it is closer to the entrance, and runs parallel to Rockaway Freeway.  On the side across from the plain white side, is a large mural inspired by artwork from elementary students in Rockaway.  That side should be facing the street.  Everything inside the container was knocked over, and since the container took on water, all of our supplies for events, park maintenance, outreach, and items we had collected for our shelter drives is now destroyed. 

After surveying the damage from the park and speaking with our parks department, we found that there was nothing to be done until the trees get cleared.  Since it took so long to be able to even get into the park in order to open the container, there is nothing salvageable.  At this point, we will probably need someone to come in who is trained in dealing with mold removal.  We will also need to hire someone to move the container back to its foundation.  We would need to raise money, but that could be done later.  There was nothing to be done at the present.

We were sure people needed help, but who, and how would we start?  We tried to contact our regulars and members to find out if they were ok and if they needed any help.  Some only had home phones that were down, some had cell phones that had died, but we did get in touch with a few people.  Many said that they were fine, but some were running out of supplies, while others asked for things for their neighbors.  So we took the money that we had just raised at the Costume Carnival the Saturday before, and went out and bought supplies.  We asked friends who weren't affected if they would like to donate items, and we put out the word for the need for fosters and adopters.  Seeing that we had just received our non profit determination from the IRS the week prior to the storm, we tried to get in touch with larger organizations and businesses, but unfortunately, we still had other paperwork that hadn't been filled out yet, and there just wasn't time for that.  Since many of us no longer had cars, we borrowed rides, and went around to help.  We found fosters for 7 turtles, an adopter for a Russian tortoise, rescued one dog, helped find a home for a bunny, and looked for a foster for a parrot.  We delivered dozens of cans of wet dog and cat food, 10 bags of dry dog food, leashes, collars, cat litter, pans, 2 bags of parrot food, 2 bags of hamster food and 2 packs of small animal bedding, one bag of rabbit food, and a few toys for animals.  Our Executive Director spoke at a town hall meeting on B94th St to let people know that help was available.  We even had New York Tails and the host of Pets in the City on Pet Life Radio come out to spend the day with us and do some stories about what was going on in our area, and how it was affecting the pet owners of Rockaway.  We even handed out supplies to a couple of local rescues who were helping with pets that were being taken care of. 

Now that the city has come in to help, the work is easier, but it is still far from over.  We still have animals in need of homes.  Some people still have missing pets, or are in need of help.  We are committed to helping in whatever way we can, even while we are still getting ourselves in order.

If you would like to help or know someone in need of help, please email us at info@arfarfrockaway.org or call 917-903-6518.  There is no donation too small, or any man hours that will go to waste.  We thank everyone who has already donated money, supplies, and time.  You have made it possible for Rockaway to recover and start rebuilding.  We hope that this help will continue as we move forward.

We are currently coming up with a plan of how we will move forward.  We have several ideas of things that we would like to implement.  Things that Rockaway should have always had, but there was never enough time or money.  Hopefully, this will change.  Stay tuned.

To like us on Facebook, click this link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allied-Rockaway-Foundation-for-Animal-Recreation-and-Fitness-ARF-ARF/211241952248318

To see videos of the day with New York Tails, go here: https://www.youtube.com/user/NewYorkTailsTV?feature=watch

To hear the interview on Pet Life Radio, click here: http://petliferadio.com/cityep43.html

ASPCA will be in Rockaway Tomorrow!

The ASPCA will be in Rockaway tomorrow handing out pet supplies.  They will be handing out cat and dog food, and providing medical services for pets along with microchipping.  This will be on 116th.  There will also be another possible location at B94th.  ARF-ARF will also be handing out supplies tomorrow to St. Francis on 129th.  Stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates, as we will continue to try to help organizing getting more supplies into Rockaway. 

Also, we are putting together a list of people who need to find fosters or pet friendly housing, both temporary and long term.  Please contact us regarding your needs via email at info@arfarfrockaway.org, or via our Facebook page.

If you are not connected to us on Facebook, please click on the link to like us:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allied-Rockaway-Foundation-for-Animal-Recreation-and-Fitness-ARF-ARF/211241952248318

"It's My Park Day!" Tomorrow

Come join us for our Fall cleanup to celebrate Partnerships for Parks "It's My Park Day!"  We will be filling in holes, cleaning up garbage, cleaning up the paths, painting, and putting up new snow fencing on the front gate.  There is no special skill needed.  Feel free to bring tools you feel comfortable working with, but please note that it is not necessary.  Parks will supply us with tools.  All volunteers will receive refreshments and an entry into a raffle for a goodie bag.  Please remember that all children MUST be closely supervised.

ARF-ARF is Now an Official Charity!

We are pleased to announce that ARF-ARF has finally received approval from the IRS, and is now an official 501c3 public charity in the eyes of the federal government.  Now our next step is to register with the state government.

Please note that if you make any contributions to ARF-ARF, that money is tax exempt.  We will be making this announcement publicly at the Canine Costume Carnival on October 27th.  You won't want to miss it!

Thank you to all who have supported us so far.  With this new tax status, we are hoping to be able to do even bigger and better things, and hope that we can continue to count on your support.

ARF-ARF Presents to CB14 Parks and Public Safety Tonight!

Zina Skachinsky, Executive Director of ARF-ARF, will be presenting about the needs of Freeway Dog Park to the CB14 Parks and Public Safety Committee.  The meeting will be taking place at 7pm in the Peninsula Mediation Room.  Come out and show your support for the largest dog park in NYC.

Our Costume Carnival will soon be here!

In just a few weeks we will be celebrating our 6th annual Canine Costume Carnival.  There will be lots of activities for both people and dogs, not to mention our costume contest (registration ends at noon so don't be late!).  Don't forget to bring an item for our shelter drive, which will go to benefit Heavenly Angels Rescue.  They will be at our event with some adoptable animals.  See the flyer below for more info.  You won't want to miss it!

It's National Walk Your Dog Week!

Walking your dog is not only beneficial to your dog, but it's great for you too!  Did you know that daily walks with your dog increases the endorphins (happy chemicals) in your brain?  We have so many beautiful spots in Rockaway like the beach, boardwalk, and Freeway Dog Park!  To find out more about the week and the benefits of walking your dog, click on the link below:

www.walkyourdogweek.com

PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS!

Thank you to everyone who came to the annual meeting last night.  If you could not make it, a summary of ARF-ARF's goals and achievements will be placed in the info bin in the park.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email info@arfarfrockaway.org.

We are sad to announce that we are losing one of our board members, but happy to announce that we have several new board members.

Our Board of Directors is as follows:

Executive Director: Zina Skachinsky
Associate Director: Bill Molloy
Finance Director: Keren Feuer
Communications Director: Tom Kerr
Administrative Director: Barbara Millet

Our Consulting Board is as follows:

Park Maintenance: Nick Zimaras
Community Outreach: Karina Salvo
Volunteers: Belinda and Ozzie Edwards
Finance:  Donna Van Houten Nauss

Please give them a warm welcome and congratulations the next time you see them at the park!

If you would like to be on a committee or volunteer for ARF-ARF, please email us at info@arfarfrockaway.org.

ANNUAL MEETING MONDAY SEP 17TH!

Please click on the link below for the announcement.  Please email info@arfarfrockaway.org if you plan on attending.  Hope to see everyone there!


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Help Rockaway Get More Affordable, Accessible Pet Care!

Please take a moment to sign this, even if you don't live in Rockaway. Dr. Salvo is a great, AFFORDABLE vet, who is an asset to our community. She cares about our pets instead of just seeing dollar signs. Rockaway needs a great vet like her to open ASAP.  Click on the link to sign.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-the-opening-of-pawprints-animal-medical-centre.html

 

 

LOST DOG ALERT!

English Bull Dog lost on 91st Street, Rockaway Beach, NY
Last seen 8/16/2012 in the evening.
His name is Gotti, brown and white english bull dog.
If found or if seen, please call David (916) 708-7675

Dr. Salvo's Weekly Dose

Veterinary Examination Schedules and What's Really Needed!

   It's that time of year again when you get that little car in the mail reminding you that your pet's yearly exam is due! Often times along with that reminder is  a laundry list of vaccines...fecal test, heartworm test and perhaps blood work! That is a lot to fit on one little reminder card! So what's really needed?

  As I have mentioned before, our pet's lives are shorter than ours. They age quicker than we do and hence, disease processes tend to occur more quickly with them. It is important to remember that. Why? Because we want out furry companions with us for as long as we can have them in our lives.

   I always recommend to have physical examinations every 6 months because of how quickly our pet's lives can change. There are many things that can affect our pet's lives, such as weight gain or loss, changes in physical activity and exercise programs, various types of foods and changes in eating habits and what is offered to new additions in the home (two legged and four legged variety), moving to a new home, change of seasons and effect on health and so much more. Many of these things can effect our pet's lives without most of us realizing it....having your veterinarian examine your pet twice a year and discuss these changes as well as keep a close watch of any changes from the prior exam is crucial in preventing or identifying changes in your pet's health.

  Identifying changes in your pet's health early is an integral part of preventative medicine. It allows you to keep a better account of any and all changes during your pet's lives and be able to discuss those changes with your veterinarian. For instance, the sooner a heart murmur is detected and montiored accordingly, the better you as a pet owner are at being aware of any changes that may be seen in your pet's overall health that may be related to that heart murmur. They say ignorance is bliss...but I believe it is more dangerous than blissful.  Keeping an open discussion and communication with your veterinarian is important in that it allows you both to keep patient and animal family member in their best of health!

  Now, what's needed? Many of our elderly pet population has various changes in blood work that signifies changes in organ, endocrine or metabolic function. Many of these pets are on various medications. Illnesses or age related diseases are that..age related...usually. I always say that not every dog and cat reads the books...so everyone is different. Age is not a disease, but disease does occur more often with age. Many changes can be detected in general blood work...yearly for those pets over the age of eight. Of course monthly heartworm and flea and tick prevention is also highly recommended, not only by me, but also by the American Heartworm Society! (Prevention is key!)

  Vaccination schedules...tackling the laundry list of vaccines! I can be technical here or all encompassing....but I would prefer to be practical! The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) lists two categories of vaccines, core and non-core.  The AVMA recommends 'core vaccines'...these are distemper and rabies. Also according to the AVMA the non-core vaccines should be based on the pet's lifestyle....for instance if the pet rarely frequents tick prevalent areas, then lyme vaccine is not necessarily recommended, or if a dog frequents the dog park, visits with other dogs on a walk or boards, then a bordatella or kennal cough and the Canine Influenza vaccines is recommended. Each pet lives a different life, indoor, outdoor, doggie day camp or is the class clown at the boarding facility...so not every pet should obey any cookie-cutter vaccination program.

   So there it is...examination schedules and what is needed...or not needed. Most importantly what is needed is communication with your veterinarian. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet or have general questions, please do not hesitate to call, email or facebook me!  We are not yet open at PawPrints on Beach 116th Street but are still doing house call services.  718-474-PAWS    www.PawPrintsAMC.com

Have a Great Week!

-Dr. Karina Salvo and Staff

Elections are Coming Up!

Presidential candidates aren't the only ones on the campaign trail!  Elections for the Board of Directors and Consulting Board will be taking place in September.  If you are interested in possibly running for a seat, please email us at info@arfarfrockaway.org.  Only up to date members will be eligible to vote, but anyone can run for a seat.  All nominations must be in by Sept. 1st.  Stay tuned for the annual meeting date announcement.

Some Rainy Day Fun with your Dog

Even though it turned out to be a nice day, we found this tip for some rainy day fun to keep your dog busy.  Try it out and let us know how your dog did!

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=eghej5iab&v=001Nk7PNBlHbx1Qi6aHih5Mli4rZMQ9Wk4fqfsPLuRcHukZTeHRxhPMqGfL8ggD6Fb0QRuaGIaCgHvtJi4xUWDWPWcvmaIV0sDnlC43R-oYMr76AzplE6M-BA%3D%3D

Pet Adoption Event Tomorrow

Pet adoption event this Saturday on 116th at Rockapup. To check it out, click here.

Dr. Salvo's August Newsletter

Enjoy!

Kittens Found at Dog Park Need a Home!

These adorable babies were left in a cardboard box in the dogpark.  If you or someone you know is looking to adopt a cat, please let us know!

Dr. Salvo's Weekly Dose #2

Here is the second of Dr. Salvo's Weekly Dose.  Enjoy!

Got a "HOT" Dog? WOOF!

by Karina B. Salvo of PawPrints Animal Medical Cenre P.C.

Summer Heat is blaring and the a/c is running 24/7!! With the change of season comes the change in weather and increasing heat and humidity. As we all enjoy the changing seasons and the warm weather, we also have to be aware of hydration and the overheating potential (heat stroke) in our pets!!

Our dogs love to go for walks and play at the parks and along the beach…but increasing temperatures can be a very dangerous thing for our little furry friends. Working in an animal ER, I have seen numerous cases of heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke during the summer months. Many of these pets come in and are severely dehydrated, (excessive panting increases dehydration). They are often weak and have temperatures of above 104 degrees. These little patients have to be hospitalized and receive intravenous fluid therapy and slow cooling of body temperature and close monitoring of vital signs (usually for several days). Some patients present appearing stable but quickly decompensate and become critical to grave within minutes to hours of presentation.

Overheating can happen very quickly and can lead to devastating consequences!

It is important to keep your man or woman’s best friend cool and hydrated during the next few months as we are now within the hottest time of the year. Be sure to bring plenty of water with you to the parks or even on walks! It is true that some breeds are more likely to overheat before others ( bulldog, frenchies, pugs etc…the short nosed little ones).  Although this thought holds true for those short nosed breeds, every dog outside for any extended period is certainly at risk! 

Another concern are for those pets that are overweight, heat and humidity makes any movement, especially long walks, very difficult.

Longer walks should be done in the early mornings and late or early evening hours…when its cooler. Never leave your dog in a car, even with the windows down or the a/c on…accidents can happen and are simply avoided by not leaving your pet unattended. Cars can act as ovens and temperatures inside a car can reach well over 120 degrees. Leaving your dog outside, even though he or she has a dog house and water? Put yourself in their four little shoes…I wouldn't want to be stuck outside all day…its hot out there!

As we all welcome the summer festivities here in the Rockaways,  please remember to bring the water with you ( to the beach, the park and for a walk), avoid the hottest times of the day ( besides the pavement gets HOT for those little toes! Those can burn too..so make a midday walk QUICK!).  I hope that all my readers are more aware of the heat and the effect it can have on your pets.

Have a Happy & Safe Summer!

Dr. Salvo & Staff at PawPrints AMC

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If you ever have any questions or concerns about your pet or their medications etc, please do not ever hesitate to call us at any time!

We want the best for our pets, and yours too...afterall, they are a part of the PawPrints family!

Best Regards,

Dr. Karina Salvo

PawPrints Animal Medical Centre PC

718-474-PAWS

We can treat sometimes, cure often and comfort always!

"Dr. Salvo's Weekly Dose" Now on this Page!

Some of you may have noticed that Dr. Salvo's contribution to the column "Paws for a Moment" has been removed from the Wave.  For those of you who are just as disappointed as we are about having this valuable information removed from the community paper, worry not!  Dr. Salvo has still been writing, and has kindly agreed to let us post her weekly article, "Dr. Salvo's Weekly Dose" on our news blog.  We will also be printing out a few copies to put in the dog park for those who don't have regular internet access.  Thank you, Dr. Salvo, for insuring that Rockaway's pet owners are becoming better informed "pet parents"!  For the next few days, we will be posting past issues until we are caught up.  And now, without further delay, Dr. Salvo's weekly dose:

Shots Shots & More Shots!

I have received many questions about vaccines;     Which ones should my pet have? Does he need all of them at once? Every year?

Put your seat belts on….here we go!

* update on the Canine Influenza vaccine...read below*

Today there are many vaccines available on the market. Vaccines are given to our pets to facilitate a stronger immune system so that in the event of contagious disease exposure, our pets have a lessened severity of disease or infection is even prevented. Vaccines are divided into two groups, core and non-core. Core, meaning vaccines recommended for most pets by the American Veterinary Medical Association versus vaccines that are given to specific pets due to those pets specific lifestyle (non-core).

Choices! Choices!

Ok, not that we have a menu that you can pick and choose which vaccines…

How many shots or vaccines does your pet need? All of them? No. Half of them? Probably not….

There are many vaccines available, but not every pet needs every vaccine! Why? Each dog lives a different lifestyle. For instance, the cushy couch potato pooch versus the rugged Labrador that goes for a run on the beach, thru the trees, frequents his other dog friends at the park…both come in contact with different exposures in their life. Same with our feline friends…some like to go outside and others prefer to jump where they aren’t supposed to be ( usually a table or counter) and watch the world outside thru the window…again, different exposures.

So each pet’s lifestyle should always be taken into account when determining which vaccines are best for that specific pet.

Vaccines each and every year?

Well….there are some veterinarians that have done titers in the past. Titers measure where your pets immune system “is” in relation to immunity.  According to the American Veterinary Medical Association there is NO ESTABLISHED CONFORMATION that a low titer makes a pet less vulnerable or a high titer confirms a pet to have better immunity against disease. So what do we do? We base our vaccine schedule on our pet’s lifestyle and need for specific vaccines.

Let’s talk numbers!

How many vaccines should our pets receive at one time? That depends…on age, breed, size, stress and past reactions. Yes, vaccines can cause allergic reactions, but it occurs infrequently and the chance of a reaction decreases by separating the vaccines out over multiple visits.

This means that the vaccines that have been determined to be best for that specific pet are not all given at the same visit. Age is a concern as younger pets may not have ever had vaccines before and their response to them is not yet known. Some breeds are more susceptible to allergic reactions to specific vaccines. Smaller pets can also be more at risk for having a reaction if multiple vaccines are given at once. 

Stress effects all of us, there is nothing that can replace gentleness and bedside manner…

working with a fearful animal can be challenging, but discussing distraction, handling and behavioral techniques with an owner makes the experience less stressful for the pet…which I believe is one of the most important factors of veterinary medicine.

We want our pets protected as best we can!  Vaccines are only one avenue of protection. Over vaccination is NOT the answer. Acknowledging that each pet has a different lifestyle with different exposure risks, spacing out vaccine administration for each pet and minimizing stress should always be the determinate of which vaccines we administer, when and how often.

* The American Veterinary Medical Association states that " The canine influenza vaccine is a "lifestyle" vaccine, and is NOT recommended for every dog. In general, the vaccine is intended for the protection of dogs at risk for exposure to the CI virus, which include those that either participate in activities with many other dogs or are housed in communal facilities, particularly where the virus is prevalent. "

Have a Happy and Safe Summer!

-Dr. Karina Salvo

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If you ever have any questions or concerns about your pet or their medications etc, please do not ever hesitate to call us at any time!

We want the best for our pets, and yours too...afterall, they are a part of the PawPrints family!

Best Regards,

Dr. Karina Salvo

PawPrints Animal Medical Centre PC

718-474-PAWS

We can treat sometimes, cure often and comfort always!

ICE CREAM SOCIAL 2012 IS A SUCCESS!

We would like to thank everyone who came out for some off leash summer fun yesterday!  The rain stayed away, and so did the mosquitoes!  We raised $350, which will go towards more fundraising efforts and items for the park.  Thank you to Paw Prints Animal Medical Centre, P.C., the ASPCA, Happy Hounds Dog Walking & Pet Sitting, and the Office of Emergency Management for participating in our event.

If you weren't there yesterday, we introduced everyone to our newly adopted mascot, Rocky.  Rocky will be joining us at outreach events to help spread the word about responsible pet care and animal kindness.  In fact, he will be joining us tomorrow evening at National Night Out Against Crime.  The event will take place on B108& Shorefront Parkway from 5-8pm.  Come and grab some giveaways and information and say hello!  Also, don't forget, all current members who show us their card will get a special treat!

We also shared a bit of exciting news yesterday.  On Friday, ARF-ARF filed its 501c3 status with the IRS.  Now all we need to do is get approval from the IRS.  What does that mean for our organization?  That means that any donations will be tax deductible.  It also means that we will be able to take bigger donations and secure grants which will help us get the bigger ticket items for Freeway Dog Park.  We'll also be able to start doing some bigger and better things.  So keep your fingers crossed and stay tuned to this news page for updates!

Arf Arf News

Welcome to the Arf-Arf Rockaway News Blog!