(Despite the coming bad puns on the 2003 Electric Six single Danger! High Voltage, this post does address the serious condition of errant electrified ground in Marcus Garvey Park. As a reader points out, this is a consistent problem for dogs, and a real potential hazard for children.)

Fire in the disco? Of course, and we don't need no water.
Fire in the Taco Bell? 89 cent Cheesy Double Beef Burrito. Done.
But Danger! Danger! High Voltage! in Marcus Garvey Park? This is not my desire.

Harlem Fur reader Mickey writes in about the electrical burns one of his sister's dogs suffered from walking in Marcus Garvey Park.

Recently we noticed one of them had sores on her paws so we took her to the vet and the vet said they were electrical burns likely sustained from manhole covers or exposed wires.

We walk our dogs in Marcus Garvey Park so we next spoke with the parks workers who told us it happens "all the time". We were horrified! The workers said that the reason we don't hear about it is because it is only reported if the dogs get killed and thankfully no dogs have died at MGP, yet!

What sucks is at least one dog has died due to errant voltage, and it has been over a year since this happened. So you think this would have been resolved.

in June of 2007, New York Post reporter Denise Buffa's 100-pound Italian mastiff Mushy died from a Marcus Garvey Park electrical shock. 100 pounds is no small animal. As was pointed out at the time, there are a lot of kids and dogs running around the park who weigh much less than 100 pounds.

Mickey is looking to connect with other pet owners who have had similar problems. The idea is to approach the city and ConEd in full force. It's not as much as a shameless plug as it could be, but if you want to connect up, the Harlem Fur network (also liked via the box in the upper right) is a place to start.

Posted by Chris at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPTOWNflavor threw us a bone via the new Harlem Fur social network! about some love for Posh Paws from snifnycdogs!

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a great pet boutique in Harlem called Posh Paws. While pet boutiques, stores and related businesses are a dime a dozen in lower Manhattan, some savvy small business owners are realizing the potential of opening similar businesses in untapped local markets...

A Harlem blog communicating via a Harlem social networking site with another Harlem blog about a different blog that includes a link to an article that references the Harlem blog is enough sheer self-referential meta madness to to collapse the Intertubes wave function upon itself and creating an infinitely dense event of awesomeness!

Posted by Chris at 09:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's almost as if Drs. Ina Obernesser and Mary Mansfield, the duo behind Uptown Veterinary Associates, read the comments on Harlem Fur.

For those who are wondering about the new Harlem vets on 112th and Frederick Douglass Blvd, Uptown Vets is having its Grand Opening Sunday, November 4th, from 10am to 6pm. Nabe residents, two and four-legged alike, are invited to come meet the staff, take a tour, have some drinks and snacks, and take home some goodies.

Uptown Veterinary Associates, P.C.
295 West 112th Street
New York, NY 10026
212-222-1221 office
212-222-5681 FAX

Posted by Chris at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Join the Friends of St. Nicholas Park Saturday, October 6th, in the dog run to preview this season's eclectic foliage collection of brows, oranges, and reds. While you are at it, accent your Fall experience with a smart, discrete donation to the Friends.

Dear Friends,

This Saturday, October 6th from 9am-11am we'll be having our monthly Coffee Bark at St. Nick's Dog Park.

Coffee Barks take place on the first Saturday of every month. This social event allows us to get to know one another as well as address dog park issues and discuss future endeavors in St. Nick's Dog Park and St. Nicholas Park.

Free coffee, donuts and other refreshments will be served.

BRING YOUR DONATION TO THE BARK

Did you know our dog park cost over $10,000? The Friends paid for all of it with your help!

We'll be collecting donations to Friends of St. Nicholas Park at the Coffee Bark. Your donation helps the group maintain the dog park as well as host our yearly events for the community including the Fall Festival, Easter Festival and our Holiday Tree Lighting. Your donation is tax deductible. For all check donations of $250 or more, City Parks Foundation will mail you an acknowledgment letter as required by law.

>>We cannot accept cash. Please bring a check.<<

WRITE A CHECK
Step 1: Write a check made out to: City Parks Foundation In the memo of the check be sure to write "Friends of St. Nicholas Park"
Step 2: Bring your check along with a cover letter describing your donation to St. Nicholas Park in an envelope. We'll take care of the rest!

OR DONATE ONLINE
You can also donate by credit card by following the instruction below:

Step 1: Go to www.stnicholaspark.org. Click on the Online Donation button. It bring you to the City Parks Foundation donation page.
Step 2: Fill out the online form by follow the directions. This form is secure and from a trusted non-profit corporation.
Step 3: Make sure you fill in the 'Designation' field by typing in "Friends of St. Nicholas Park". If you don't, your contribution does not go to our park.

Hope you can make it and of course please bring your dog! If you have any questions or would like to volunteer at The Coffee Bark please email us at info [at] stnicholaspark [dot] org

Thanks,

Friends of St. Nicholas Park

Posted by Chris at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Dear Friends,

Just a reminder, we are holding the St. Nick's Dog Park Fall Clean-Up
Day tomorrow from 10am to 2pm. We'll be filling in doggie dug holes,
spreading new woodchips, replacing bag dispensers, and making sure the
place looks great for the Fall season.

Your help is greatly needed and appreciated.

If you have a pair of work gloves please bring them. We will have some
available to those who don't. Also, we will have bottled water and
coffee for everyone. Please consider leaving your dog home for this
workday - you will enjoy it more!

Information on this Clean-up Day is below:

St. Nick's Dog Park
Clean-up Day
Saturday, September 29th
10am-2pm

At St. Nick's Dog Park
between 136th and 135th streets in the middle of the park

For more information visit our website or
our blog.

Thanks everyone for making this dog park one of the city's best!

Friends of St. Nicholas Park

Posted by Chris at 12:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Curse my not being around this weekend. I open the inbox this morning to see that Uptown Veterinary Associates opens today! Doctors Ina and Mary have brought vetrinary care to central Harlem (or south Harlem, or west Harlem, or whatever it is called this week).

And curse my not having my photos with me. Uptown Veterinary Associates will run the right way from the start, with a state-of-the-art paperless office that will allow all records to be easily accessible to the vets there. I took a few shots of the network going in, and will post a shot of its lazer-aided installation later this week.

Previous: Harlem Veterinary Race Is On.

Posted by Chris at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Back in April, Uptown resident Anna Petterson lost her beloved beagle Olive after a scare and injury. But now, Anna writes in to say that she has a new pup in her life.

Check out the Friends Of St. Nicholas Park website to read the story of Linnea, a tiny pooch from the ASPCA Anna adopted.

Posted by Chris at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Before we tell you about this Saturday's (September 1st from 9am-11am) Monthly Coffee Bark in St. Nicholas Park, let's first recap what has happened on the days other Coffee Barks were held.

· Saturday, June 2, 2007- The first Coffee Bark:
On the same day, three suspects are arrested in relation to a terrorism plot involving John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City with a fourth suspect being sought.

· Saturday, July 7, 2007- The second Coffee Bark:
On the same day, the New Seven Wonders of the World are announced. These are The Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil, Machu Picchu in Peru, Mexico's Chichen Itza Mayan site, the Colosseum in Rome and the Taj Mahal in India.

· Saturday, August 4, 2007- The third Coffee Bark:
On the same day, San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds ties Hank Aaron for most career home runs with 755, while Alex Rodriguez becomes the youngest player to hit 500 home runs in Major League Baseball.

What will happen on Saturday, September 1st, the date of the next St. Nicholas Park Coffee Bark. We. Don't. Know. But the question you should be asking is this: Can I afford to miss it?

Posted by Chris at 11:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So a while ago we wrote about T-Bone, a big teddy bear of a dog who was found nearly starved to death and tied up in Riverside Park. Little did we know how gruesome T-Bone's situation really was when he was rescued. But now, we're happy to say Lizz from NY City Pets wrote in to let us know it ends just how you would want it to.

A year to the month after T-Bone was found, Dorian Rence of animal rescue organization The Artemis Project tells T-Bone's tale:

Last August, I found T-Bone tied and abandoned in Riverside Park. He was the most emaciated animal I'd ever seen. He was so weak he couldn't stand for long.

T-Bone had been severely traumatized. He growled and shook with fear whenever I got too close. I left to buy food, hoping that might win his trust.

When I returned, there was a park employee on the scene. He'd already radioed for Park Rangers to come and take T-Bone to the Center for Animal Care and Control (CACC). That's the protocol for dealing with animals abandoned in city parks.

My heart sank. People looking at this living skeleton of a dog could easily decide they were doing him a favor by euthanizing him.

The parks guy and I sat together for the next 3 hours, waiting for the Rangers. He told me about the sinister world of dog fighting. As a cat person, I already knew about its cruelty, but from the cats' point of view. People use cats and small dogs as bait to train pit bulls to fight. Sometimes, they even cut off a cat's front paws so it can't defend itself. Of course, it's cruel for the dogs too. The parks guy told me they frequently find pit bulls, tied and abandoned like T-Bone, or shot in the head, presumably for losing a fight. Starving a dog is a popular method for making the dog meaner.

When the Park Rangers arrived, they used a pole with a lasso at the end to forcibly put T-Bone into a cage. He peed and yelped in fright. That was when I promised him I wouldn't abandon him. I gave one of the Rangers my phone number and asked that she call me with his CACC intake number. Several hours later, she did. I called CACC, gave them his number and told them I was interested in him. "Oh, the emaciated dog," said the voice. "Yes," I answered, "but I have a week before anything bad would happen to him, right?" The reply was chilling. "I'd come now."

To read on and find out what happens to T-Bone (don't worry, it's good), click here to download The Artemis Project's summer newsletter from Lizz's site. The story will make your day.

Posted by Chris at 11:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Some of our readers have written in to ask if life in Harlem is all about couture fashion, which wine shop to choose, or culinary explorations. Yes, we regret to inform you, Harlem is all about that. However, there are discounts to local businesses as well as a comprehensive directory to shopping and dining in Harlem at Experience: Harlem. You may find, among other things on the site, the veterinarian hospital check-up and pedicure discount to your liking.

Posted by Chris at 11:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Better than mixing wine and liquor, Harlem Vintage and Uptown Hound are inviting the nabe to mix wine and four-legged companions (dogs and cats are listed so far, but I am guessing one can take a little liberty with the qualifications).

This Saturday, August 18, from 4 to 7pm, indulge your pet's inner connoisseur with special treats and give-aways for the furry-set sponsored by UH. And just in case you don't have an animal with you, still stop by, as there is always the excuse of Saturday wine tastings form 4 to 7pm.

And as if that is not reason enough to stop by, remember that Harlem Vintage's Second Annual Red Hot Sale begins this Friday, August 17th, and runs thru Labor Day. Get ready for dramatic mark downs on some great vintages.

Posted by Chris at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

UPTOWNflavor passes along a link to Flexpetz, a "shared dog ownership concept." Basically, you buy membership into Flexpetz and get to have access to dogs kinda like a time share or a collaborative corporate jet ownership service.

At first I thought this was a horrible concept, but then read that they do take in dogs in need of re-homing, and have provided extensive veterinary care and behavioral training when needed.

Still, many of us view our pets as a member of the family, so the idea of leasing a pet strikes me as a bit strange. I have not stopped by the Coffee Bark in St. Nicholas Park as I don't have a dog, and feel I might be perceived as a creepy guy much in the same way people would look at someone without a kid at a playground. I can't imagine the situation would be much better if my dog was rented.

Believe me, it's not for not trying something kinda like this that my suspicions are aroused.

Despite the fact that we both love dogs, Cheryl and I cannot have one as her allergies are far too strong. So, I did once try running in the morning with my neighbor's dog. The idea was that in exchange for giving the pooch morning exercise, I would get a bit of the fun of having a dog.

It didn't quite work out that way. The bond the pup had with his humans does not automatically translate to anyone holding the leash, and when people stopped to say what a gorgeous dog he was and ask how long I had him, I was embarrassed to say he wasn't mine.

This is my initial take. I'm open to hearing other arguments, but at this point I'm not convinced.

Posted by Chris at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Keeping the dog trains running on time, the Friends of St. Nicholas Park will be hosting their monthly Coffee Bark this Saturday, August 4th.

The Friends write:

Dear Friends, (Here, when using the word Friends, they are not talking to themselves, the Friends, but talking to you and others who are their friends- Ed.)

This Saturday, August 4th from 9am-11am we'll be having our monthly Coffee
Bark at St. Nick's Dog Park.

Coffee Barks take place on the first Saturday of every month.
This social event allows us to get to know one another as well as address
dog park issues and discuss future endeavors in St. Nick's Dog Park and
St. Nicholas Park. Coffee, donuts and other refreshments will be served.

Hope you can make it and of course please bring your dog! If you have
any questions please email us at info -AT- stnicholaspark -DOT- org

Thanks,

Friends of St. Nicholas Park (Here, they are using the term 'Friends' to refer to themselves, not you and other friends of the Friends, as they are not intending you to read this as if you were writing it to yourself, unless, I suppose, you are one of the Friends, and possibly the Friend who wrote this.- Ed.)

Posted by Chris at 11:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The good people of the Friends of St. Nicholas Park and Uptown Vets bring you this Saturday's (July 7th) Coffee Bark.

For those of you who helped out with last weekend's Wood Chip Workday, you deserve it! For those of you thinking of helping out with a Wood Chip Workday, meet the people and pooches who make the events so rewarding.

From the Friends:

Dear St. Nick Dog Park Friends,

This Saturday, July 7th from 9am-11am we'll be having our monthly Coffee Bark at St. Nick's Dog Park. This month's bark is sponsored by Uptown Vets.

They will be there on Saturday letting everyone know about the services they provide to the neighborhood.

Coffee Barks take place on the first Saturday of every month. This social event allows us to get to know one another as well as address dog park issues and discuss future endeavors in St. Nick's Dog Park and St. Nicholas Park. Coffee and other refreshments will be served.

Hope you can make it and of course please bring your dog! If you have any questions please email us at info [ at ] stnicholaspark [ dot ] org (sorry for the crazy way of writing the email address, just trying to cut down on their spam- Ed).

Thanks,

Friends of St. Nicholas Park

Sponsored by:
UPTOWN VETS
295 WEST 112TH STREET

Posted by Chris at 08:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

William from the Friends of St. Nicholas Park writes in to let us know that help is requested this Saturday for woodchip work on the park's dog run. As a veteran woodchip spreader, I can say these events are fun and a great way to meet people in the area.

Also, click thru for a note from Shawn and his pooch Axel on dog water in the run.

Friends,

We are scheduling a woodchip workday this Saturday, June 30th from
10am to 2pm.
Our woodchips in the run are dirty and need replenishing for the
Summer. We will be transferring woodchips to the run and filling up
doggie dug holes.

Your help is greatly needed and appreciated.

If you have a pair of work gloves please bring them. We will have some
available to those who don't. Also, we will have bottled water and
coffee for everyone.

It is usually better to come to the workday after you walk your dog.
Dogs demand attention while in the dog run, and the workday will be
more enjoyable if you can leave your dog in the comfort of his home.
Of course, we understand if this is not possible and appreciate any
help you can lend.

Information on this woodchip workday is below:

St. Nick's Dog Park
Woodchip Workday
Saturday, June 30th
10am-2pm

At St. Nick's Dog Park
between 136th and 135th streets in the middle of the park

Continue reading "St. Nicholas Park Woodchip Workday this Saturday June 30th" »

Posted by Chris at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I was holding off posting on the return of neighborhood Chihuahua Bugzy, hoping to get a shot of the little camera hound. But, being that summer leaves me without a camera-friendly jacket pocket, and so no camera, I've missed some great picture opportunities. I am going with the update sans photo.

Bugzy was soon located at the 110th Street animal shelter after his great escape from the Lenox Ave Halstead office. This should have ended right then and there with sighs of relief all around, much face licking on the part of the pooch, and maybe a non-recalled treat when he arrived home. However, given that Animal Care and Control has a policy whereby animals only leave once spayed or neutered, little Bugzy was facing the knife.

Danni, Bugzy's human, was going to have none of that.

Bugzy came into Danni's life as a rescue dog with a sad background. The pup had been a victim of abuse and neglect. You could never tell it now, given his energy and excitement in meeting new people. I take that as a testament to the kind of mothering care Danni gives Bugzy. So, given all that Bugzy had gone thru, she wasn't about to see him get his balls cut off at his age. (Danni, men everywhere are quietly thanking you.)

Don't get me wrong. We, including Danni, all know that in the grand scheme spaying and neutering are the right things to do. Any stroll thru an animal shelter will provide all the sad-eyed proof one needs. However, this was not about the universe as a whole, this was about the little dog under Danni's care, and she would do what she had to do to protect him. Even if that meant, as she warned in one email, she might go to jail.

In the end, Bugzy was neutered, and Danni stayed clear of the slammer.

I ran into Danni and Bugzy on the street shortly after his surgery. The small dog walked over to me, slowly stood up on his hind legs, and hugged my kneecap. He didn't jump around, or really even pant, but simply stayed where he was with his head resting against my leg. I tried to reassure him the best that I could.

I told Cheryl all about it, and we ran into the two of them that same evening. This time, Bugzy didn't hug me, but stood in the middle of the sidewalk with his front legs somewhat apart, and threw up all over. Danni said that it may have been his nerves, or a bad reaction to the medication he was taking for the kennel cough he developed while in the pound.

As of now, Bugzy is on the road back to becoming his normal self.

Posted by Chris at 11:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

For those who walk their dogs in the Marcus Garvey dog run, beware. Harlem resident and Post reporter Denise Buffa lost her Italian mastiff to electrocution from a ConEd lamppost on 5th Ave at 120th St this week.

Mushy, weighing in at 100 lbs, is no small guy. Once can easily imagine that if he could be electrocuted, so could any other dog, or child.

The loss of her dog is only made worse by the follow-up bungled buck passing between ConEd and city agencies. It seems that various people were able to confirm a voltage leak, but no one was able to resolve the issue.

· Con Ed Horror [NY Post]

Posted by Chris at 04:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea yesterday to hit up more than one of the 5 Starbucks in my office's immediate area for the free iced coffee from 10 to noon. I mean, I'm a red-blooded American, so why turn down something free, if not a lot of something free?

Early into the two hour window, I had the idea that I should have grabbed all Manhattan Starbucks addresses, geo-plotted them, optimized travel routes, and for the 10am start gun, have had myself set at the Southernmost location ready to work my way as far North as I could before time ran out. I could have selected the best attire (easy to move in office wear or standard running shoes and clothes) and maybe sent out a media advisory with a quote from Joey Chestnut.

However, the two gratis coffees that I had (as well as finishing Cheryl's morning tea, drinking my standard large morning coffee, and having another tea for lunch) are likely what was responsible for my being in the office until 10:15pm at will and staying up into the wee hours trying to find old friends online. (You would think that with guys whose last names include "Cudd" and "Grubbs" and women whose first names include "Chamie" and "Bryn" this would be a piece of cake, but somehow it was not.)

Anyway, here are a couple of upcoming Uptown events (and an update on Bugzy to come):

SATURDAY | JUNE 9 | 11:00 AM - 3:00PM | DYCKMAN LANDING (200th St and Hudson River)

Learn to Row!

The Harlem River Boat Club, Row New York, and the Alianza Dominicana invite New Yorker's to learn rowing.

The Harlem River Boat Club uses rowing to promote real waterfront and waterway access for all New Yorkers, especially in the communities that have historically lacked recreational facilities and access to their waterfronts. Programs are affordable to the community and the HRBC is working with other organizations to facilitate enviromental stewardship of waterfront areas along the Harlem and Hudson Rivers.

DIRECTIONS

Take the A (closer) or 1 to Dyckman Street, and walk West along Dyckman to the Hudson river.

SATURDAY | JUNE 16 | 1:00 PM | MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

UPTOWNflavor sends along: Dog Owners and Their Dogs The New Yorkers: A Novel

Bring your dog to a special program for dogs and dog lovers in the Museum's courtyard. Best-selling novelist Cathleen Schine will read from The New Yorkers: A Novel (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007), a hilarious account of the interactions among residents on a tony Upper West Side block and the important role their dogs play in their lives. Adam Gopnik, award-winning critic-at-large forThe New Yorker will
introduce the program. In case of rain, the program will be held in the Museum's auditorium. FREE with Museum admission!

Dogs are welcome!

Reserve on line at www.mcny.org or by telephone at 212.534.1672, ext. 3395.
$ 5 for Museum members, seniors, and students
$ 9 for the general public

DIRECTIONS

By subway: #6 Lexington Avenue train to 103rd St., then walk three blocks west.
#2 or #3 train to Central Park North/110th St., walk one block east to
Fifth Avenue, then south to 103rd St.
By bus: M1, M3, M4, or M106 to 104th St., M2 to 101st St.

Posted by Chris at 08:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

MISSING DOG!

REWARD IF FOUND

Contact:
Danni Tyson
(212) 381-2588
(646) 708-1675

Harlem Fur veteran Danni Tyson writes in to let us know that Bugzy, her rescue Chihuahua, disappeared from the Halstead Office on Lenox Ave and 119th yesterday around 4:30, and has not been seen since.

Danni said that it is not like Bugzy at all, and so suspects that someone must have him.

Posted by Chris at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Ella is a very energetic 3 year old pup who you can see was quite eager to get her photo taken. But she didn't let her desire be known right away.

She cleverly hid her excitement under a veil of disinterest and white fur until I was ready to take the shot. Then, Ella let it all hang out.

Posted by Chris at 11:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Parks

The Friends of St. Nicholas Park are holding their FIRST! EVER! regular monthly meeting. Attendance is open to all, bringing a friend is encouraged, and people are asked to come with ideas for events and the organization.

The agenda, roughly, will be:

1. Summer Events Calendar
2. Increasing Membership
3. Fundraising Activities
4. Dog Run Update
5. Capital Projects Update

Tuesday, May 8th, 7pm at Harlem Visitor's and Community Resource Center, the first floor at West 502 142nd Street (between Amsterdam and Hamilton Place).

Dance

It was Benny Goodman vs Chick Webb on May 11th, 1937, in what became a classic night of dance and jazz in Harlem's historic Savoy Ballroom. So why let the 70th anniversary of a great battle pass without a little reenactment? Enjoy live music from the Savoy Stompers, a smart dance performance, and a free swing lesson just in case 70 year's time has put a little dust on your dancing shoes. Tickets are $20.

Friday, May 11th, 7pm at the Julia de Burgos Cultural Center, Lexington Ave & East 106 St. For further Details contact:
Clyde Wilder 646 - 546 - 8684
Bronx Barbie 917 - 941 - 0935
Clay Herndon 917 - 549 - 7075

Dogs

Move over big dogs, the little dogs are moving in. Now that big dogs have a place to call their own in St. Nicholas Park, it's time to carve out an area for little dogs (with big dog personalities). Tasks at hand include fence erecting for the small dog run, cutting and moving fencing for the new corral entrance, landscaping around the new corral entrance, and spreading woodchips in the small dog run.

Saturday, May 12th, 10am at St. Nicholas Park dog run @ 135th Street. For more information, check out the St. Nicholas Park blog.

Dogs Again

Uptown Hound will host Sit Stay Dog Training for their seminar "The Urban Dog." The seminar will cover simple things you can do to improve your relationship with your dog, as well as your dog's health. Our cat Cimbi needs some relationship training, so we may try to dress her up as a Wheaten Terrier and bring her along.

Sunday, May 13th, 2pm at Uptown Hound, corner of Adam Clayton Powell and 121st Street. The seminar itself is free but registration is required. To register: email sitstaydogtraining -at- gmail -dot- com or call 646.352.1980.

Posted by Chris at 12:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A reader writes in to say she has seen what looks to be a Chow either lost of without a home:

I've been seeing this abandoned (or perhaps lost?) dog on my block (corner of 134th and Fredrick Douglass)--it's a black chow (looks purebred to me, but I'm not an expert) that has been eating out of the garbage cans. The dog seems to be totally self sufficient and doesn't look sick, just dirty. I've seen it 3 times (twice this week), always around 9am.

I'm just writing because there's a chance that this dog was lost, and it would be great to locate the owner... or maybe someone could take the dog in. My apt doesn't allow dogs, so I really can't do much here... I don't
want to report the dog to the shelter because it might be killed there...

I just don't know who I could call/email to help out this poor creature.

Posted by Chris at 05:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Remember back in the day, October of '06, when North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon, Rep. Mark Foley's come-ons to young male staffers were shaping the final days of the midterm elections, and a woman named Ina sent an email to Harlem Fur telling us not to despair over the nabe's lack of pet services, that she was looking at spaces to rent for a veterinary clinic?

Okay, even we needed some help remembering the last one.

When Harlem Fur received Ina's email, it was filed in a folder specifically for archiving such promises (seriously, there is one). Since the Fur had begun bemoaning a lack of nearby vet services a year ago, nearly 30 emails promising a new pet sheriff in town pilled up, all unfulfilled. So, we had assumed that Ina's promise would be like all the rest.

Harlem Fur is happy to admit being wrong.

D.V.M.'s Ina Obernesser and Mary Mansfield let the Fur know that they have signed a lease, began construction, and are planning to open Uptown Veterinary Associates this summer on 112th St. and Frederick Douglass Blvd. They are determined to be South Harlem's first veterinary clinic, and will offer state-of-the-art diagnostics, surgery, a comprehensive pharmacy, and dentistry.

Ina and Mary have only one question. "Just read your post about Animal General looking for a space in the same neighborhood......any news on that?"

That's it, Harlem Veterinary Race 2007 is on, and Uptown Veterinary Associates just pulled into the lead.

· Uptown Veterinary Associates [Official Site]

· Animal General Looking For Space In South Harlem [Harlem Fur]

· Filling Harlem Vet Void, Petland On 117th St. To Hold Two More Vaccination Days [Harlem Fur]

Posted by Chris at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Harlemite, member of the Friends of St. Nicholas Park, and avid dog lover Julia is looking to launch a new pet carrier aimed primarily at dogs (but it can be used for cats too, especially by those who enjoy taking their cat to the park). To make sure the carrier is the best it can be, Julia is looking for local feedback.

If you live in Harlem and own a dog between 5 and 15lbs, we're looking for you! I'm launching a Harlem-based dog carrier line and will be holding a focus group to get feedback on our new product. We need volunteers who love their dogs! We have a couple possible dates and will require only 2 hours of your time. Food and beverages will be served. For details, please contact Julia at papooch |at| gmail |dot| com.

We haven't seen the carrier yet, but Cheryl and I are excited for a neighborhood-inspired prodcuct for transporting Cimbi to and from Central Park this summer, as well as to and from a South Harlem vet...

Posted by Chris at 02:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I find it difficult to write about a big old teddy bear Am Staff named T-Bone without wanting to put the blues on, especially as this guy has been going for some time now without a home to call his own.

And he's had his share of bad luck. Found tied up in a park and nearly starved to death, this guy was nursed back to health by the vets and staff of Animal General. But as great a place as Animal General is, it's still no substitute for a real home.

Says Lizz of NY City Pets "We love him and have taught him to sit and ask for his toys, to lay down, and to enjoy a good belly rubbing... this happy dog just wants a quiet, warm bed and some heavy duty toys to catch. Oh, and a great person to play with him too!"

T-Bone is house broken, altered, and up to date on shots. See T-Bone on Pet Finder.

Posted by Chris at 02:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

William from the Friends of St. Nicholas Park writes today with sad news on lost Beagle Olive.

We heard from Anna, Olive's mom, yesterday. Below is her email:

Dear all:

It is with great sadness I must share the news that my little Olive did not make it home. I received a call this morning from the Parks Department that she had been picked up in Highbridge Park yesterday, but that she was injured and did not make it for long. I miss her something terribly but her friendship, playfulness and indomitable little spirit will remain with me forever.

I am so very grateful to you all for your help and support over the last few days.

Thanks,

Anna

The Friends are collecting word of encouragement on their blog.

Here is a favorite photo of Olive, the one Anna would like to remember Olive with.

Posted by Chris at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Confirming previous rumors that my neighbor's Boxer Romeo has the hots for Isis, the German Shepherd down the street, I offer this photo.

For this shot, Romeo protectively moved just a little ahead and stayed ready on all four paws, while Isis chilled in the back with a big grin.

Posted by Chris at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

William from the Friends of St. Nicholas Park sends along an email asking for help in finding a lost dog:

Hey all,

This note below is from a dog owner who frequents St. Nick's Dog Park. She has lost her dog Olive and needs help trying to get her back. I have included her information if anyone sees Olive. Attached is a photo of Olive. Thanks

"My beagle Olive and I are sometimes visitors to the St Nicholas Dog Run. Now Olive is lost. She is a tri-color beagle, 13 or so inches, weighs about 28 lbs, 2.5 years, very sweet face. Very friendly, but shy around children - loves treats. She went to a different dog run today up at Ft Washington Ave and 173rd Street. She was wearing a blue collar with small daisies and has an AVID chip. She got frightened and managed to sneak out and run away. It was about 2 pm today (Monday April 2nd)."

If you have any information please contact Anna Pettersson at:

Posted by Chris at 09:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Decked out in her jogging attire is Isis, a white German Shepherd rumored to be the love interest of neighborhood Boxer Romeo.

Although I had never seen her, Romeo's humans told me about a certain German Shepherd pup he goes crazy for, and I happened to ask this dog's owner if she is the one when spotting her on the street. Yes, she is the one.

Posted by Chris at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In these dark days before the arrival of Animal General to South Harlem, we have only Vet My Pet events at Petland.

I am giving ample notice of the Sunday, April 29th Vet My Pet day at Petland on 117th St and Lenox Ave to absolve myself of having missed posting on the Sunday, March 25th date. (I was a little distracted preparing the words I gave at the Kazakh New Year's concert, which, btw I am not posting on here, as I don't know how the performers and dignitaries I met would enjoy being on a site that largely chronicles animals peeing in, and people crapping on, my apartment.)

The event, which runs from 2 to 4pm Sunday, April 29th, offers three vet packages for dogs and cats whose titles seem inspired by a Chinese take out menu: Happy Puppy/Kitten ($45), Happy Dog/Cat ($45), and Happy Dog/Cat Plus ($61). The Happy Family multi-pet package is not listed, but if you stick around long enough, I am sure at least one pet will serve up a poo poo platter. Speaking of which, bringing a stool is recommended. For more info, call 914-557-6812.

And as an addendum, if your pet is showing any signs of illness or change in behavior, and you have fed your little companion any of the 3.8 trillion types of food produced by Menu Foods, please do not wait until April 29th to seek vet care. For solid coverage of the Menu Foods pet poisonings, read Poop City.

Posted by Chris at 11:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Bianca is a beautiful American Staffordshire Terrier Cheryl and I met in Central Park. Like many energetic dogs, getting a profile shot can prove to be a difficult task, so we are settling for the arial photo.

Cheryl kept commenting on what a great coat Bianca has, and her human said that if we think she looks good, we should his other Am Staff, who looks like Pete the Pup from the Little Rascals.

Posted by Chris at 07:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here we have Boomba, a dog I spotted over a block away for his striking resemblance to a pup I had for a mere five days last December. Yes, this here Boomba looks much like Parkway, a rescue dog I sought to adopt until finding out that Cheryl's cat allergies are nothing in comparison to her dog allergies.

I keep meaning to post on the yet-unblogged-about five days of the pooch, but an uncontrollable pain wells up each time I remember having to let go of the best dog on earth.

Parkway, thou, he could probably care less. Those five days were but a mere layover on his ride to pure bliss. He is now an hour and a half outside of the city living a constant life of dog Disneyland.

Posted by Chris at 10:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Gothamist today reports that pet food company Menu Foods is recalling over 80 brands it produces, including Iams and Eukanuba canned and foil pouch products. Pet owners are warning that their animals have been vomiting and suffering kidney failure. At least ten pet deaths have been reported so far.

Gothamist commenters tell of dehydration and long, expensive vet visits. One commenter recalls how her infant daughter had been notorious for getting into the cat food until recently and asks "I wonder how many other little kids have had a bite of this poison, or how many broke senior citizens for that matter..."

To see a list of all recalled products, visit the Menu Foods website. Additionally, the company designated two phone numbers that pet owners can call for information: (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708. If calling, be warned, a commenter on Gothamist tells of being on hold for more than a half an hour.

In the photo is Cimbi, in her evening toilet-paper bathrobe, eating a dinner not made by Menu Foods.

Posted by Chris at 10:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Continuing the theme of small Harlem dogs, we have Maxie Girl posing for the lens. Maxie is a clam and friendly Lhasa Apso whose tail gives her emotions away.

Posted by Chris at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A few Harlem Fur readers have wrote in to ask if the nabe and its dog runs are friendly to smaller dogs. It is, for both the streets and the Morningside and St. Nicholas dog runs, as they have sections specifically for small dogs. The Marcus Garvey Park dog run is a toss up, and those with any dog should check it to see who else is inside before entering.

If the question is based on the frequency of large dogs featured here, that is probably due to a slight personal Fur preference coming through.

So, to help even the score of featured Harlem Hounds, we present Bugzy, a camera hound / Chihuahua mix. Bugzy can be seen around the nabe with his admiring human, Halstead broker Danni Tyson.

Posted by Chris at 07:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Harlem Fur could not have picked a better first 365 days to be in existence.

First, we had Posh Paws open, and with it Harlem had high-end pet products. Next, Morningside and St. Nicholas Parks made great steps in local dog run creation, giving our canine companions an off-leash place to smell each others' rear ends. Then, Animal General let us know that it is seeking to expand into the hood, and with it will come quality vet care.

Now, Uptown Hound has opened a storefront on Adam Clayton Powell and 121st Street, offering dog walking, pet sitting, grooming, behavior training, bespoke William Wegman Crypton fabric pet beds, and- what few ever imagined Harlem would be home to- DOG YOGA! Yes, Harlemites can now take yoga classes with their dogs.

Owner Jen Cox has more energy than most dogs, and used it to run through a sample of her current customers:

- Milo, 6-month old Boston Terrier/Beagle mix, who is also part lovable crazypot. Milo is, in my opinion, a reincarnated ninja who uses a technique I like to call "death by ball", wherein he makes you throw him the fuzzy ball until you pass out from exhaustion, then he kills you by jumping up and down on your chest in a vain attempt to make you get up and throw the ball again. Genius.

- Peedee, a 4-month old Westie who is cute beyond belief, but who will also kill you (his technique is death by lick)

- Truman, a 1-year old Cairn Terrier (or, Terrorer, you can be the judge. His favorite food is rubber balls.)

- Molly, a 14-year old Yellow Lab (who won't kill you ... unless you have a chicken bone in your pocket)

- And, my dog, Louis, a Collie/Great Pyrenese mix, who really couldn't care less about you or anyone else. And this makes us love him the most. It's always the one you can't have ...

We have Louis in the top photo, and walk-in customers Janell and Pebbles right below him.

For those who are in the area this Tuesday, March 13th, Jen will be interviewed by the BBC at 4pm for part of a program on Harlem entrepreneurs.

Store hours are Tuesday thru Sunday, 12pm to 7pm, and Monday by appointment only.

· Uptown Hound [Official Site]

Posted by Chris at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)

It's strange how a sensible good time leaves me fumbling for a way to write about it.

Cleaning up the St. Nicholas Park dog run this past weekend was just that, good honest fun. A bunch of people from the neighborhood got together and picked up trash, built some mesas, and spread mulch so that their dogs can have a place to run around and be dogs. And to show appreciation, Mike brought coffee, Vaneik and Julia brought donuts, and Shawn brought water.

Yet since Saturday I cannot seem to write anything about the day.

I suppose this is because the normal inspiration was not there: no one was an ass or did anything ridiculous, and none of the dogs peed on each other, the attendees or the donuts.

There was one point where I could have shot a photo of four people carrying a huge log and gave it the caption "excited for a new place to sit, the guys sport some wood," but I was having too much fun carrying buckets of mulch to go for the camera.

(The photo comes courtesy of photographer Carola Polakov, who can be reached at 917-507-4278 for dog, cat and human portraits.)

Posted by Chris at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm often interested to see the search engine phrases that brought people to Harlem Fur. Aside from finding out what drew people to this site, it gives a particular insight into other people's curiosities.

Trying to find out where The Black Donnelys was filmed? Here is one location.

Is Zoma everything the reviews make it out to be? We had an enjoyable dinner.

Is there an Aphrodite Cleaners nearby? Ummm, yeah.

And then you get stuff like this: "condom digestion of dogs." I am guessing here, but did Fido find a treat he was not supposed to have?

Condoms in the photo above courtesy of Harlem State Senator Bill Perkins from his recent inauguration ceremony at Harlem Hospital.

Posted by Chris at 04:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

First, the bad news.

UPTOWNflavor reports that the Sugar Shack closed. Boo. The Strivers Row place once "the site of impromptu gatherings, first dates, comedy shows, poetry readings and down and dirty dancing," is now home to an open lease sign. Moan.
· Closed - Sugar Shack [UPTOWNflavor]

Then, the medium news.

Jeremy from City Specific stops by the reformed women's prison cum condos and checks out one of the few Manhattan residences that opens directly onto the side walk. He ponders boob-flashing recidivism. (Photo is of an actual 10 MMP bedroom from which boobs may be flashed.) This would be a great post if it was not for this text: "I stopped by a part of Harlem I haven't visited as much in the past year, and which I probably won't be seeing much of anymore after Saturday..." What the hell, this is right near the Fur! Are you snubbing us? Come on man, we just washed the cat.
· 10 Mount Morris Park West [City Specific]

Now, on to the good news.

Today, Central Park's Bethesda Arcade is re-opened. It's not Harlem exactly, but Central Park serves as our collective backyard, so it makes a valid entry. After a $7 million renovation, the intricate, custom-made tiles are restored to their original glory. Given the weather today, the Intelligencer points out that, luckily, it is one of the few places in the Park one can enjoy in the rain.
· Central Park Restoration Delivers Ornate Detail, Potential Nookie [Daily Intelligencer]

Tomorrow, the Friends of St. Nicholas Park will be moving wood chips to prepare for the dog run's new permanent entrance, and they need your help. Stop by beginning at 11am. It's a great chance to meet your neighbors.
· Woodchip Workday at Dog Park Scheduled for March 3rd [Friends of St. Nicholas Park]

And an ongoing story we are sure to watch, Curbed highlights coverage by Dwell and Joyce Cohen on David Alan Basche and Alysia Reiner's green Harlem townhouse renovation. The acting couple's new home will have a bunch of environmentally conscious stuff and four dual flush toilets. Oh please, oh please, oh please invite us to the housewarming. Please.
· Going Green (and Going Zen) in Harlem [Curbed]

Posted by Chris at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

This six-week old Burmese Mountain Dog looks and acts just like a giant stuffed animal. A word of caution to anyone who meets Uller on the street- any time spent in his presence will make you want one.

Posted by Chris at 05:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

What could be better than a huge pile of new wood chips for the St. Nicholas Park dog run? Lets try a new permanent entrance.

Contract work will begin soon to install the new permanent entrance to the run. To make way for the improvements, the Friends of St. Nicholas Park need your help this Saturday, March 3rd from 11am to 4pm to move the wood chips.

Tools, water and coffee are on the house. Bringing gloves is recommended.

For more information, or to answer your questions, check out the Friends of St. Nicholas Park blog.

Posted by Chris at 11:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Winston is a two year old Harlem French Bulldog who likes to step out dressed in black. Although he was making a solo run when I met him, he has three siblings at home to keep him company.

Posted by Chris at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Chupe is a beautiful, gentle pooch Cheryl and I ran into outside Karrot on 117th. He has a striking coat of reddish and chocolate colors. His human, who adopted him five years ago from a shelter, said he is probably a mix of Rottweiler and Mastiff.

Posted by Chris at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This is the type of pet-rification Harlem Fur was born to post on.

Animal General called me recently not to check up on Cimbi, as they do even for their healthy patients, but to ask if I knew of storefront space in South Harlem for an expansion of their practice. I don't, but maybe someone reading this does know of 1,700 animal-friendly sq feet in the nabe.

You may remember that back in May I was bemoaning the lack of veterinary services in South Harlem. After seeing long lines each day the Petland on 117th Street and Lenox Ave held a Vet My Pet event, I checked Switchboard.com for vets in the area to see what options are available. Here is what I found:

For the vets closest to us, Switchboard returned Henry M. Fierman, DVM at 250 W 108th St (212-864-3631), who is 1.5 miles to the South, the 145th Street Animal Hospital at 454 W 145th St (212-234-8087), which is 1.8 miles to the North, and Oliver's Dog & Cat Clinic at 2232 1st Ave (212-348-7070), which is 1.6 miles East... This leaves a huge section of Central Harlem without a vet close by.

Cheryl and I take Cimbi to Animal General at 87th and Columbus, which is 2 miles away- not that much further away than the other vets. Also, being that it is close to the 1/9 stop at 86th Street, it is much easier to get to than vets requiring cross-town travel.

But more than travel convenience brings us to Animal General. After the first visit, Cheryl and I knew that the doctors and clients at Animal General really care about pets. As we were waiting for Cimbi to have her first check-up, a woman in the lobby explained that a beloved neighborhood dog was in for surgery, and residents from the block like her were stopping by at different times to keep the pooch company. I thought, 'why can't we have a place like this in our neighborhood?' Now we soon will.

· Animal General [Official Site]
· Filling Harlem Vet Void, Petland On 117th St. To Hold Two More Vaccination Days [Harlem Fur]

Posted by Chris at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)

The ASPCA and partner organizations are going city-wide with a month-long pet adoption celebration that includes a countdown to Valentine's Day this weekend. (I know this is kinda late in the posting, but hey, cut me some slack as I reintegrate into life.) This is a great opportunity to spin Valentine's Day to co-workers: "Oh, I have a new life partner. We've already moved in together."

For those of you reading this right now, run. You have about an hour and seven minutes to get to the Commerce Bank at Broadway and 94th Street (1/9/2/3 to 96th) for the nearest-to-Harlem weekend adoption site.

For those of you reading this in the near future, hope is not lost. The North Shore Animal League will be at the Petco on Broadway and 92nd Thursday, February 15th, and Thursday, February 22nd, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m both days (also 1/9/2/3 to 96th).

And for those looking to give a dog a bone outside of the Harlem area, on February 13th, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Leashes and Lovers is hosting a "For the Love of Your Dog" Valentine's Eve Party, an exclusive, dog-friendly private event. Location is Crash Mansion, 199 Bowery (at Spring). For those without a pooch, dogs are not required, and the ASPCA will be on site with adoptable canines. Woof woof.

· I Love NYC Pets [ASPCA]
· For the Love of Your Dog Party [Leashes and Lovers]

Posted by Chris at 02:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Homer, the happy Golden Retriever above, was ready to greet everyone who passed by Saurin Parke Cafe while his human ducked inside for coffee to go. A five-year veteran of Harlem, the shiny-coated pooch seems fully accustomed to the nabe's ubiquitous redevelopment.

Posted by Chris at 07:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Harlem residents and region-wide Schnauzer organizers Corris and her pup Roxie let us know that Sunday's Schnauz-a-thon was Schnauz-tastic. Roxie writes:

We had about 35 Schnauzers in attendance and they all romped and played in the sun, while their owners gathered for friendly conversation and cordial introductions. The dog days of summer are long gone, but we gave out free dog sweaters in preparation for the upcoming Fall/Winter playdates we host outdoors. Schnauzers also went home with tasty carob candy bars. All the goodies were donated by Jennifer and her Schnauzer Benny, owners of The Dogs Business; she bakes wonderful dog treats and creates doggie birthday party kits in her home in Brooklyn.

In the photo above are Assistant Organizer Savannah with her dog Quincy (on left) and new member Stephanie with her dog Angel (on right). More photos of the day are up on Corris' Schnauzer MeetUp site. In addition to the MeetUp link, Corris included a link to New York City Schnauzers on their new station. It's hilarious. Serious, it's people like Corris who brighten my day.

In case anyone with a Schnauzer (or Schnoodle) missed Sunday's romp in the park, Corris ads an addendum to Roxie's Sunday review with October happenings, which are waiting for you after the jump.

Continue reading "Schnauzer-fest 2006 Post-Schnauz Recap" »

Posted by Chris at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Harlem Schauzer organizer Corris and pup Roxie will be hosting The NYC Schnauzers Playgroup this Sunday, October 8th in Washington Square Park. Doggie sweaters will be given to attendees while supplies last.

For more information on the free event, check out Corris' MeetUp page.
· NYC Schnauzers Playgroup [MeetUp]

Posted by Chris at 05:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My second day taking the 12:02 train out of the 125th Street Metro North station in Harlem results in a second dog sighting. This is Maggie, who shortly after taking this shot on the platform, was northbound.

Posted by Chris at 01:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When taking Metro North to Westchester today, I spotted not just one, but two traveling pooches at the 125th Street Harlem stop. They were not together, but did take the opportunity to say hello in the usual sniffing way that dogs enjoy.

Rosie and her big eyes, top, are seen when looking south bound. Kip and his smile, bottom, are seen looking north bound.

Posted by Chris at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Just a reminder that the St. Nicholas Park dog run fundraiser is tomorrow. The event is being held in Friends of St. Nicholas Park President Shawn's brownstone.

Although rumor has it checking out Shawn's brownstone alone makes the event well worth it, attendees should know that the dog run will benefit both park goers and neighborhood residents with four and two feet.

I stole some time last Saturday to help clear brush around the dog run and learned that it will be a place for dogs to run free and be dogs, and more. Obviously, when dogs have a place of their own to be off leash and romp around, concerned park goers will not have to worry about aggressive behavior from uncontrolled pets. This will help with park safety. Dexter, the dog in the photo, is certainly excited, as he was helping clear brush himself.

What I didn't realize is that just the run being cleared will help with safety in other ways. We were clearing out brush and undergrowth around the future dog run to provide a safety-enhancing line of sight for visitors. The brush we were clearing was littered with drug paraphernalia and some condom wrappers (no bodies though, and someone did recap a needle that was there). Additionally, the park lamps in the area were aggressively smashed out, and a pair of sneaks hung from a tree limb. (The Community Officer at my precinct let me know that a hanging pair of shoes signals that drugs are sold at that spot.)

The area is obviously being used for nefarious purposes. The dog run will put an end to that.

Check out the invite here.

Posted by Chris at 12:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Friends of St. Nicholas Park will be having a second cleaning for the new dog run this Saturday at 11am. The location is just to the West and North of the 135th Street entrance. The last cleaning drew a fun, involved crowd.

Also with Friends of St. Nicholas Park, there will be a fundraiser on the 16th for the new dog run.

Morningside Park Dog Run's new fencing is in!!! There will be an opening ceremony for the fencing, but I don't know when. I have been checking the website, but have not seen anything yet.

St. John the Divine Feast of St. Francis on October 1st. I cannot wait. Apparently and inordinate amount of pets are brought, and the result has to be hilarious.

5th Annual My Dog Loves Central Park fair on October 14th. I don't know what this is, but it sounds good. Check out the PDF flyer on the website.

Posted by Chris at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lady's Owner Not That Much Of A Tramp After All

Josh gives this update on the pooch whose owner was contemplating pulling his version of a Helena "Gala" Diakonova on his dog, Lady, and it is a good resolution:

An update on Lady:

Though unable to find a new home for Lady, her owner's wife (in Puerto Rico) has convinced him to take the dog with him when he returns to the island from New York.

So...hopefully a good home awaits Lady. My belief is that though her owner isn't a real dog lover, and didn't care much what happened to his pet once he left, he does treat her well--she appears well fed, and is friendly toward people, suggesting she hasn't been abused.

Thank you to everyone who helped with suggestions and cross-postings in search of new families for Lady (which can be removed now). Please forward this to anyone whose email I may have left off with my thanks and the news that they can stop trying to find a new place for Lady.

It's good to know there are so many people out there trying to help the four-legged in need.

I encourage anyone interested in a new pet to adopt from rescue shelters instead of going to a breeder (a huge percentage of animals in shelters are pure-bred, so your chances of finding the specific type of animal you want are high). If you can't permanently take in a new pet, consider fostering an animal until such a home can be found.

--Josh

Cimbi Has Play Dates Lined Up

Our neighbor, Jane, will be out of town this weekend and has asked that Cheryl and I watch her cats Butchie and Alice. We happily agreed, as Cimbi had a great time visiting when we last watched the pair.

Cimbi, as we have found, likes hanging out with dogs. However, we were concerned about how she would jive with cats. Inter-species play time allows each animal to to be king of its evolutionary branch, but cat and cat action could produce territorial complications.

Cimbi did just fine, Butchie was interested, and Alice really didn't want anything to do with her. Was that because Cimbi is a younger woman? Hiss, hiss. Spat, spat.

Nonetheless, Butchie and Alice must be excited too. They will not sit still for a photo, hence the blurriness.

Cat Boarding Recommendations Wanted

A reader writes:

I'm a loyal harlemfur.com reader who moved to harlem a few months ago. I have a quick question for you. My partner's family is visiting us next week and we need to board our cat (the family is very allergic). Do you have any reccomendations for a place that will take care of my cat?

Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.

The only time we boarded Cimbi, she came back nervous, exhausted, and, we swear, a different color (hence the neighbor cat sitting swap we started). And this was from a place we decided upon after a lot of research. Cheryl and I are hard pressed for strong recommendations.

Lizz from NY City Pets says that Animal General boards for patients, and that The Dog House might also be a good option.

Anyone have any favorites to pass on to Prada and her owner?

Puppy Quest 2006

Will Cheryl and I adopt this puppy? (He will not sit still, hence the blurriness once again.) The much un-blogged about puppy quest may see resolution with an expedition to Pennsylvania this weekend.

This puppy's dad is a beautiful dog who finished his championship at 12 months of age and was not just a winner, but Best of Winners, at Montgomery, the biggest terrier show in the country.

And, his dad's owner is Danish; some of my people hail from this land. I recognized the accent right away.

Cimbi better appreciate the lengths we go to for her.

Camera Hound

And to wrap up with blurry pet shots, here is Churro.

Churro, a 14 month old puppy Cheryl and I ran into on Manhattan Avenue, could not contain his excitement over being on Harlem Fur.

Then again, who can?

Posted by Chris at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Friends of St. Nicholas Park, Columbia University students, and neighborhood dog lovers cleared out a space in in the park for a new dog run this weekend. A sweaty team of dedicated people cleared brush and cleaned up errant debris to ready the spot on 135th Street. Friends of St. Nicholas Park President and proud parent of a Shepherd mix, Shawn, has been working on getting this run off the ground for some time.

The run's creation complements an ongoing betterment of the park. The park stairs on 135th Street recently underwent a million dollar renovation, and $750,000 more has been allocated for additional park improvements.

Those funds, however, are for the park as a whole, and not specifically for the dog run. The Friends of St. Nicholas Park are seeking donations of wood chips and fencing. They are hoping for wrought iron, to keep with the look of the park. (Sound familiar?)

To raise the money needed for materials that are not donated, the friends of the park are holding a fundraiser on September 16th. Check back on the Barking Lot for information on the upcoming event. In addition to helping out neighborhood dogs, you will also get to see Shawn and his partner's brownstone.

More Treo-quality photos of people and pets after the jump.

Continue reading "St. Nicholas Park Gets A Dog Run" »

Posted by Chris at 12:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Pet-rification takes root on 114th Street as small dogs and big dogs alike will soon be able to enjoy new, permanent fencing at the Street Morningside Park dog run. Black fencing that compliments the park's wrought iron railings and accents replaces the pervious chain link construction. The new fencing looks much better that it's grey predecessor.

The J.M. Kaplan Fund made the new fencing possible with a $10,000 grant. In addition to the new fencing, the NYC Parks Department will re-grade the run twice a year and supply wood chips.

Watch the Morningside BARC site for the date and time of the run's upcoming re-opening celebration.

And, for those dogs who wish to look their best as they strut back into the run, Posh Paws is having a sale on all dog clothing.

Posted by Chris at 12:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Lizz from NYCityPets put up a posting today that is worth reposting here. The text is from an email a reader sent to her.

Animal Lovers-

Lady is a 5-year-old Rottweiler currently living in New York City. Her owner intends to move to Europe at the end of the month-at which point he plans to destroy her! Apparently he doesn't even want to pay to have a vet do it, but just plans to take her out to the country and kill her himself. He is making no other arrangements for the dog, but is okay with someone else finding her a new home. This is where a friend and I have stepped in.

Lady is a little shy, but quickly warms to new people and loves to go on walks. She's relatively small for a Rottweiler-only about 55-60 pounds. She's sadly gotten used to life in a small city apartment, but a little more room and daily walks would certainly bring joy to her life (and yours!)

I don't know how Lady reacts to other pets or small children, so I wouldn't recommend her for a home with either (though she might be just fine). She's perfectly heathy as far as I know, but she would need a checkup and updated innoculations. I checked with Eastside Veterinary Clinic and found out that the checkup and routine rabies shot she needs together cost about $55. I don't know yet whether or not Lady has been spayed.

If you are interested in Lady or know someone who might be, please send an email.
Hopefully with a little networking this dog can be saved!

-Josh

Posted by Chris at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Cheryl and I have been considering adopting a second pet to keep Cimbi company. We have been concerned that, being a very active and playful cat, she is lonely during the day.

The brick-being-dropped-on-our-heads evidence supporting our concern happened this weekend. Cheryl and I shut all of the windows and turned on the radio, something we usually do before leaving, and then sat quietly on the couch for a moment. We were not leaving, but rather taking a moment to vegetate after a long bike ride. Cimbi must not have known that we were still in the apartment, and began a deep, sad howling like nothing Cheryl and I had heard before. Once we called to her, she immediately stopped and came bouncing over.

Now Cheryl and I feel awful every morning when we leave.

Before adopting another pet though, we would like to see how Cimbi would react to having a friend with her all day. She has wanted to play with pit bulls she saw in the park, came over with a curious expression when Romeo the boxer puppy stopped by, and had a good time sniffing Bonnie, a chihuahua neighbor. Although all of Cimbi's meetings with other animals were good, they were short visits.

So, being the season for vacations and out of town weddings, Cheryl and I are making this offer: if you have a well behaved dog or cat who you would like someone to watch instead of boarding them while away, Cheryl and I are up for hosting. Of course, we would want an initial visit to make sure the two small animals get along, and hunting dogs like Honey are out of the question. Nonetheless, this is a great way to avoid sending your companion to the kennel.

If you are interested, drop us a line at:

Joyce's Offer

Joyce, the Hunt columnist for the Times real estate section, is offering a homemade cat toy to the writer of the best poem on the subject of moving. Beat poets take note, Joyce is insisting that the poem must rhyme and scan.

Cheryl and I want to let all cat owners out there know that of all the toys Cimbi has in her toy box, since being given one of Joyce's homemade toys, she has ignored all of the others. We assure you, any time spent on a poem for submission is time well invested.

Entries should be sent to:

Posted by Chris at 12:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Morgan is a 10 year old Harlem Golden Retriever. Morgan, who his professional photographer human says is a bit camera shy, gave us this nice profile shot.

You can catch Morgan playing at the dog run in Morningside Park.

Posted by Chris at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I am getting quite good at finding what I want in Harlem. When Cheryl asked on Sunday where we could get wheat grass to aid our cat's digestion, we tried Karrot on 117th Street between Frederick Douglass and Manhattan Avenues.

Karrot is a small health food store featuring wheat grass, mambo juice, and Jim's Organic Coffee. I passed it when taking Romeo to the Morningside Park dog run.

Have grass it does. Carlos, the gregarious owner, said that when opened, he had a sign out front that read "Best Grass In Harlem." People would walk by, look around, stick their head in and ask things like "do you have that Thailand stuff?"

What we wanted is a little more legitimate. Karrot offers wheat grass shots, both solo and in mambo juice, and the grass itself sold in sizes from a quarter sheet to a full sheet. Carlos said the quarter sheets are popular with cat owners in the area. We took a quarter sheet, which is more than enough for Cimbi.

BONUS: Karrot has flyers for the Hudson Street Proud Pet Parade this Saturday, June 17th at 2pm. Looks like it is something for dogs, so no outting for Cimbi. To register, email cruizroberts@gmail.com or call 646-678-5372. Three top dogs will be crowned. There is a $20 admission fee.

Posted by Chris at 09:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Harlem saw two great openings this weekend, and Harlem Fur was kinda there.

Bonus: If you read to the end, you can find out how a free bag of Innova cat food, courtesy of Posh Paws, can be yours!

Minton's Playhouse
Minton's Playhouse was a raging success on Friday. The jazz was hot, the joint was packed, and the drinks were surprisingly well priced. I know most of this because I took photos like the one below.

I will be posting more shots from Friday night at Minton's on Flickr. Take a peek by clicking on the photos in the right-hand side bar. I have a shot of Mr. Earl Spain, the jazz impresario who did what Robert DeNiro could not and re-opened the birthplace of be-bop. The first person to point out Dean, my co-op's president, wins a Posh Paws logo food lid.

Posh Paws
Cheryl and I made our first purchase at Posh Paws on Sunday. We bought Cimbi a blue Flexi-Mat pet bed for the windowsill. The attractive and durable fabric is machine washable and dryable, which makes it ideal for cleaning before our allergic friends come over.

Cheryl and I also met the owners, Doris and Helen, two warm people who are very knowledgeable about companion animal supplies.

Please don't think Cimbi will eat just any cat food, or Cheryl for that matter. Previously, we tried giving our animal Greenies, as we ended up with 20 or so sample bags from a cat show at Madison Square Garden. Neither the cat nor Cheryl showed any interest in them. Not knowing what to do with the remaining bags, we gave them out to Trick-Or-Treaters last year while keeping straight faces. (We didn't live in Harlem then.) Cheryl is sitting next to me right now saying, "don't worry, it wasn't malicious... the kids couldn't get sick... and if they read what it was before eating it, they could give it to their pets."

Now for the good part, how a bag of Innova cat food, courtesy of Posh Paws, can be yours. If you are a Harlem resident, send a photo or two of your cat with a brief bio and a memorable anecdote to editor [at] (no spam) harlem fur [dot] com. I will post your kitty on Harlem Fur and mail you the bag of food. Please specify regular or lite food.

Posted by Chris at 07:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

As mentioned before, I am ecstatic for Posh Paws' opening this Friday. Having a well-stocked pet store with high end products fills the supplies part of South Harlem's void in companion animal services.

Of the other two missing parts, veterinary care and grooming, the Petland on 117th and Lenox is helping with the former by hosting two more Vet My Pet companion animal vaccination days: Sunday, May 28th and Sunday, June 25th, from 2pm to 4pm each day.

Cheryl and I take Cimbi to Animal General at 87th and Columbus (212-500-5815), and out of curiosity, I checked on Switchboard.com to see if there were any vets closer.

For the vets closest to us, Switchboard returned Henry M. Fierman, DVM at 250 W 108th St (212-864-3631), who is 1.5 miles to the South, the 145th Street Animal Hospital at 454 W 145th St (212-234-8087), which is 1.8 miles to the North, and Oliver's Dog & Cat Clinic at 2232 1st Ave (212-348-7070), which is 1.6 miles East. For comparison's sake, Animal General is 2 miles away, which is not that much of a difference. This leaves a huge section of Central Harlem without a vet close by.

And speaking of missing pet services...

NYCityPets is wondering where all the cat websites are. Although not strictly a cat blog, Harlem Fur offers HuntGrunt. Anyone who can teach a cat to use the toilet should be nominated for everything.

Or, maybe the people at this weekend's Empire Cat Club show know.

Posted by Chris at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This Friday will not only be the re-opening of be-bop's birthplace, Minton's Playhouse, but it will also be the opening of Posh Paws pet store on Frederick Douglass and 114th Street. I am ecstatic.

As a great example, Cheryl and I had to get on the subway to find usable cat litter after 7pm in 2003. Petland, on 117th Street between Lenox and 5th Avenue, was the only place in Central Harlem that carried Feline Pine litter, and its 7pm closing time made it virtually inaccessible during the week. One night when we could not wait until the weekend to refill the litter box, I broke down and purchased a bag of Hartz pH, the only thing offered at three different delis. The stuff gave off enough dust in the apartment to give us both sore throats by the morning. I can't imagine what it did to the cat.

When we moved back to Harlem late last year, I was happy to see that Fine Fare on Lenox and 116th now carries both Feline Pine litter and a large selection of Fancy Feast flavors with gravy, Cimbi's favorite. However, I am more happy to know that Posh Paws, which will carry Wellness, Innova, California Natural and many more products, will be open at the week's end.

Now, all we need is a good vet and groomer.

Posted by Chris at 11:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The Petland at 56 West 117th Street (212-427-2700) is holding a Vet My Pet event on Sunday, April 30th from 2pm to 4pm. They will have vaccination packages for dogs, cats and ferrets. Ferrets are asked to arrive between 2pm and 2:30pm.

Of course, for the animals' safety, Petland is asking that all dogs be on a leash and all cats be in a carrier. I am guessing they expect the event to be well attended, as Petland is asking owners to bring a stool.

Posted by Chris at 11:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

About a week ago I took my cat and Scott's dog to the park for a cat versus dog in the park comparison. The basic conclusion was that outside of central Park's Great Lawn, the cat stands a good chance of being eaten, and Scott's dog is nuts (in a good way), and further research on the dog end of things was needed.

So I ran into my neighbor in the elevator a few days ago as she was coming back from walking her and her boyfriend's one-year-old Boxer. After the obligatory exchange of hellos, I quickly asked between floors if I could walk her dog and we agreed on Sunday.

On Sunday I stopped by, and within the first five minutes found Romeo sitting on top of my head nibbling my ear, serious. Although this did not bode well, Romeo snapped to attention as soon as we were out of the apartment.

Continue reading "Cat Vs. Dog In The Park: A Dog- Romeo" »

Posted by Chris at 08:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Okay, I will have to use the indefinite, not the definite article, when talking about the dog-time part of the comparison. No "The," as not all dogs are alike.

I originally set out to compare time in the park with our cat and our friend Scott's Brittany Spaniel . Her name is Honey. Not only did I throw an unfair variable into this experiment by taking the cat to Marcus Garvey Park and the dog to Morningside Park (specifically the dog run), but I now realize the dog is also a variable.

This is because Scott's dog is nuts.

Continue reading "Cat Vs. Dog In The Park: A Dog- Honey" »

Posted by Chris at 11:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

One of the reasons Cheryl and I want a dog is that we can take the dog to the park. However, we already have a pet, the cat, so I want to compare cat-time in the park vs. dog-time in the park to see if we are not simply overlooking an opportunity we already have. (In case you do not read ahead, we are not missing any current opportunity.)

Continue reading "Cat Vs. Dog In The Park: The Cat" »

Posted by Chris at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)

Our desire for a dog started when we realized that our cat needs a friend. Cheryl and I both love furry little animals, but our furry little animal, Cimbi the cat, hates us.

Continue reading "A Dog: Why This Will Solve All Of Our Problems" »

Posted by Chris at 12:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)