PetSmart to open in New York City in August

Two new PetSmart stores are set to open in Manhattan in the coming months, marking the chain store’s NYC debut. The first, located at East River Plaza shopping center at 517 E. 117th Street will open its doors on August 21. In November, a NoHo store at 632 Broadway, between Bleecker and West Houston will become the second NYC location for the retailer (if we don’t count Staten Island, which, let’s be honest, is practically a different planet).

In true Brooklyn fashion, I have a love-hate relationship with big box retailers. I like keeping my neighborhood quaint and quirky with little boutiques and family-owned shops. But I do appreciate the low prices found at the Targets of the world. I mean, I can’t afford Key Foods’ $5 boxes of cereal. Can you?

The NoHo store happens to be located close to my office, so I will undoubtedly check it out once it opens. The press release claims the store will have “a boutique look and feel which local pet parents will appreciate.” That may be true, but really the only thing that might make me a regular customer is lower prices. Oh, and Martha Stewart Pets (just kidding!)

To their credit, PetSmart does have a sizable charity that helps homeless pets and furthers animal-welfare causes. Charity Navigator gives PetSmart Charities a positive assessment (higher than the Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA).

So what do you think?  Does NYC need another pet store chain?

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admin, August 3rd 2010 | Tags: ,
Posted in Stuff

Pet-friendly interior design

Back in March, a man living at 100 Jay St. in DUMBO made a splash when he listed his beautiful 800-square-foot apartment for $679,000. Nothing unusual about that, except that this apartment also served as playground to his two cherished roommates, Oliver and Dodger, domestic shorthair cats.

Though the apartment is no longer on the market (I haven’t been able to locate a selling price yet), it serves as an example pet lovers everywhere can aspire to. The apartment’s owner designed it himself over time, fusing human aesthetic considerations with the natural instincts of playful felines. Check out the video:

You like my bling?

Carpet-covered “staircase” bookshelves, a floor-to-ceiling sisal-covered pipe, and a modified bench for the litter box are a few of the key features. It got me thinking about pet friendly interior design – something which you’d think would be more widespread by now, given our culture’s obsession with pets. We clothe and accessorize our pets til you’d think they were rap stars, so why aren’t Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn selling more pet friendly, design-conscious furniture?

I did find a few resources if you’re ready to move beyond the run-of-the-mill scratching posts, litter boxes, and dog beds:

Read more…

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admin, July 27th 2010 | Tags: ,
Posted in Services, Stuff

NYC Feral Cat Initiative – TNR Workshop in Brooklyn, 8/7

While it’s not dog-related, managing feral cat colonies is a big part of reducing the homeless pet population (an important cause for DFB!). Unchecked, feral cat colonies will grow like crazy, often becoming a nuisance to local residents and other animals. But if you’ve ever seen a cat wandering the streets with what looks like the corner of their ear chopped off, then you know someone’s been looking after him or her.

The ear cropping is a widely-used marker that a feral cat has already been trapped, usually vaccinated, and spayed or neutered before being released. TNR (trap-neuter-return) is (in my opinion) a humane and effective method to control feral cat colonies. Since most adult feral cats don’t make for great house pets, the alternative to TNR is euthanasia.

But TNR programs require resources – human and financial. Someone needs to take the lead in monitoring a local colony, setting the humane traps, and bringing the animals in to a vet to be fixed. The NYC Feral Cat Initiative is an effort by the city and a nonprofit two nonprofits, the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals and Neighborhood Cats to take control of feral cat colonies. They provide numerous services to those willing to help, including TNR training classes, equipment (traps, etc), access to free spay/neuter services to certified TNR caretakers (via the ASPCA, Toby Project, Helping PAW and the Humane Society of NY), and ongoing advice to volunteers.

On Saturday, August 7, 2010, the NYC Feral Cat Initiative will be holding a workshop entitled, “Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR): How to Manage a Feral Cat Colony” from noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Library Sunset Park Branch, 5108 4th Avenue (at 51st Street).

Advance registration is required. E-mail lois@NYCFeralCat.org or call Neighborhood Cats at (212) 662-5761 with your name, address, phone number, and date of workshop you wish to attend. For more information, visit the Neighborhood Cats website.

For additional resources and organizations working on the feral cat issue in New York, go here.

(photo courtesy of the New York City Feral Cat Initiative)

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admin, July 23rd 2010 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Adoption/rescue, Events, Services

Don’t own a car? Here’s how to get around the city with your pet

I was thrilled when I first learned my employer has a pet-friendly office policy.  But then the reality set in: I live in Brooklyn and my office is in Manhattan… how would I get Duke back and forth?

Pbffft. That's all I have to say about your rules!

Transportation for medium to large dog owners is always an issue (unless you own a car). Some NYC cabs will pick up a passenger with their pet, but it’s entirely at their discretion, and in my experience, uncommon.  There are, however, a few other options:

  • Pet taxis – Most pet taxi companies will transport your animal with or without you as co-passenger. So if your dog or cat needs to go to the vet or the groomer unaccompanied, this is your best option. As far as I’m aware, Tim’s Pet Minivan is the only Brooklyn-based pet taxi service. There are several based in Manhattan, however they tack on surcharges for non-Manhattan trips (typically, trips to/from Bk will start at around $50 – not cheap). I’ve included links to a few Manhattan pet taxi companies at the bottom of this post.

  • Rental cars – Zipcar and Mint (a smaller, Zipcar-like service) both permit pets in cars if they are enclosed in a carrier. They also require owners to clean up any pet hair that may be left behind. Connect By Hertz does not allow animals in their cars unless they’re service animals.

  • Private car services – This is my preferred method for traveling with Duke. Brooklyn has many private car service companies, and some are more willing than others to take your pet. I’ve been using Express 11 recently, and as long as you tell the dispatcher that you have a dog, they’re very accommodating. I’ve also used Arecibo in the past, but had a couple less-than-stellar experiences where the driver sent had not been told about my dog by the dispatcher (and wasn’t too happy about allowing him in the car).

  • Get creative! – New York City Transit regulations about pets on subways and buses are pretty restrictive. “Small domestic pets” in carriers that can fit on your lap are permitted. Of course, “small” is not defined. One of my stronger friends modified a large tote bag so her 35lb dog could fit comfortably inside (see photo above). If only Duke were a few pounds lighter…!

    • Manhattan-based pet taxi companies: (none of which I’m recommending because I haven’t tried any of them!)

  • Pet Taxi
  • Pet Chauffer
  • Canine Cab Company
  • K9 Cars

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    admin, July 12th 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
    Posted in Services