Kittehs

Found these little boys on a walk with Mylo. I think they thought he was their mama cause they ran right up to him. The vets over at Williamsburg Animal Clinic, checked them out and said they were both healthy considering they spent the first few weeks of their lives on the street. They are on antibiotics and are getting friskier and more kitten like every day! If you know anyone who is interested in a furry companion send us an email!

Congratulations to BDR's Running Champ!

Mandy just completed her 5th marathon, yep that's right her 5th! We are so happy for you here in Brooklyn! miss you!

Dog Days and Sweet Treats!

I found these awesome frozen goodies at Muddy Paws my favorite neighborhood pet store! Made especially for dogs so they're a lot safer for their stomachs than regular ice cream!

Mylo is chowing down on Yöghund's organic blueberry/vanilla bean flavor.



YUM!

and if that wasn't cute enough:
More puppies eating ice cream

Weekend with Boo

I got to spend the weekend hanging with the sweetest Labradoodle in town. His name is Boo Radley, but we thought he looked like Falcor.




Isn't he cute?

DEER VS. DOG

US played a great game vs. Slovenia today!

Have a great weekend!

My busted ankle inspires pet first aid 101

Thank you to everyone for all the good wishes! This note totally made my day! :)

A recent brush with the side walk at Cooper Park has forced me to take a break from running the dogs for a while. Getting a little bored hanging on my couch with Mylo, I was inspired to read up on my animal first aid.

Mandy and I were both certified with the Red Cross of NYC in Dog and Cat First Aid back in October, which was not only informative but a lot of fun as you can probably tell from Mandy's earlier post. As with most things in life, being prepared is half the battle.

The American Red Cross Dog and Cat First Aid book is a must have for any pet owner! It is well written, has a really good index and great photos.

The Red Cross has a list of what you should include in your Pet first aid kit. I assembled mine by myself but you can also buy a pre-packaged dog first aid kit from almost any pet store. You can also ask your vet for a list of what should be in your kit.

Here is a list of some important info that I tapped to my fridge, in my phone and with Mylo's medical records in case of an emergency.

Williamsburg Animal Clinic 760 Grand St. Brooklyn, NY 11206 (718) 302-2420

Dr. Orlando Diaz

If anyone is looking for a Vet in Williamsburg, I really love Dr. Diaz. He is great with my dog and I know a lot of our clients take their dogs to him too!

Veterinary Emergency Referral Group (open 24 hours)
318 Warren Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 522-9400

Animal Poison Control
(888) 426-4435

Ambuvet

1-800-262-8838

Which is a pet ambulance. They estimate a 25 minute arrival time within Manhattan and a 35 minute arrival time in the outer boroughs, but since they cannot use a siren and cut traffic like a ambulance for people, arrival times cannot be guaranteed. They can give a more accurate estimate when you call and are forthright with their availability.

NYC American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals (ASPCA)
212-876-7700

Humane Society of New York
212-752-4842

The Red Cross of Greater NY

http://www.nyredcross.org/?nd=home

information on first aid classes, first aid kit checklist and other valuable articles about keeping your pooch safe.

Emergency info for NYC Pets (this website has a lot of really useful information)

http://www.squidoo.com/nycpetemergency

Enough for now...time to Ice and elevate!

Helping a Lady in Distress

The idea of Brooklyn Dog Runners had been floating around in my head for a long time before it ever came into fruition. I had just received my Master's Degree but no fitting job prospects were coming my way. My boyfriend at the time was pushing for me to start the business but I was dragging my feet. I was fairly confident that a business woman, I was not. I got my degree in education and had plans to be a teacher and lead the youth of New York to academic enlightenment, not become an entrepreneur. The idea of the dog running business was, for a while, a sore subject for me. I was certain that starting a business was a money driven path and that was not me.

With further prodding from my then boyfriend, now good friend and the addition of my amazing partner Julie- I began to see things differently. In the planning phases I realized there was an abundance of opportunities for us to help our community in our work. Many of our first clients were dogs from shelters who had some issues with aggression, hyperactivity and dominance. After even just a few running sessions they seemed better, their owners were impressed and I was impressed too because we were helping people. We wanted to do more. We organized a donation drive for the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC) and began to volunteer for them, running shelter dogs whenever we could.

Sometimes, now, when people ask me what I do and I say, "I run dogs" they look at my with an expression of "not a real job." Let them think that. Running is an activity that makes dogs happier, which in turn makes their owners happier and creates life long relationships between pets and owners that keeps pets off the streets and out of shelters. At Brooklyn Dog Runners we support our local animal shelters and we advocate for all kinds of pets. This is what my job is and I love it. Last Thursday I had the opportunity to prove it.

While out with Cocoa and Diego, some of our tiniest clients, we came across a New York Animal Care and Control Box under a tree in the rain. The box was soaking wet. Cocoa and Diego sniffed around it just long enough for me to think to myself, "What if there is something in there?" I crouched down and looked through the holes in the side. No movement but an abundance of fur. I couldn't believe it. I opened one flap at the top of the box and there before me was a huge calico tail. Immediately I stepped back and assessed the situation. I was scared because the box was incredibly still. What if the resident of the box was dead? Then something else occurred to me. What if the resident is not dead but also scared and lying still so when I open flap number two it has the element of surprise and can pounce? I stood there and looked up and down the street, hoping for back up but it was just me. I secured Cocoa and Diego's leash in my hand, ready to run if trouble jumped out at us and slowly opened the second flap to find this sweet face.

Inside the box the little kitten was matted and sitting in a pile of food that had been carelessly tossed in. The box was a soggy mess and any attempt to move it would have made it disintegrate. I couldn't figure out what to do. I had two dogs with me already. I didn't know how friendly the cat was to pick it up and take it to safety. The thought of jogging away crossed my mind but was immediately dismissed. Leaving the cat was not an option. Then it dawned on me, I, me Mandy, was uniquely qualified to help this cat. It was my job. It was a job I wanted and so I went to work.

I got Julie on the phone, explained the situation and she agreed to come and meet me with reinforcements. While waiting for her help, two gentleman stopped and offered to get me a dry box from their apartment to transport the cat. Julie arrived with a pet carrier (yeah) and a bit of sliced chicken for out newly rescued friend. She took the dogs, I took the cat and set out for BARC to try and find a safe place for the little one to stay. After a long visit with the wonderful, helpful, practical and kind people at BARC I found out the cat had been adopted just two weeks before, was 100% healthy and although could not stay at BARC because there was no room, could be returned to the city shelter. The cat was microchipped and an attempt was made to contact her owners but that was a week ago and I still haven't heard anything.

My new little lady kitten friend never made it to the city shelter. I took her home and she's been here ever since. I've made it very clear to her that although she is lovely she can't be my cat, I already have two (can we say, cat lady). My roommates however, are very taken by her and want to keep her for themselves. She's getting lots of food (she's all skin and bones right now) and even more attention and admiration from the house mates. Crockpot and Tobias, my two cat boys, were a little weary of her but have finally accepted her into their boys club only asking she pay her dues with some wrestling and chasing. A happy end to a sad story.

Now for the message. Please don't adopt/buy/acquire a pet unless you are absolutely positive you can take care of it. If you do find yourself in a situation where you have a pet you can no longer care for ask for help! Try and find friends or family to take them. Ask your facebook/twitter/myspace community to help you out and find the pet a home. Ask for someone to foster your pet until you are better equipped to take care of them. As a last resort, surrender your animal to a "No Kill" shelter so they can have another chance at finding owners who can care for them. Here are some places to go in the New York Area.

Animal Haven, Manhattan
The North Shore Animal League, Long Island
BARC, Brooklyn
The Humane Society of New York, Manhattan

Although this story recommitted me to the mission and passion of my job it should have never happened. No one should ever leave a member of their family, new or old, out on the street. If you agree with me, please take the time to visit some of the shelter sites above or look for shelters in your neighborhood. You can donate or volunteer at these shelters to help them save more animals. Help a pet and happy running!

Advice from the Pro's: Running your Dog this Winter

Some great pics of Mandy and my adventures in the snow storm this week! Although I am keeping my fingers crossed that this is the last snow of winter here in Brooklyn, I have been getting a lot of questions about running in the winter with your pooch. Better late than never. Running in the winter and snow is really a lot of fun~ I promise! Generally, if your dog can run with you in warm weather they can run in winter conditions as well. Some breeds are obviously better suited for winter due to their natural fur coats, but even if your dog doesn't sport a thick coat it doesn't mean Rex is stuck indoors. Take our adorable running pal Conrad(pictured above) in his sporty K-9 Top Coat. This brand is great! It's ideal for winter running cause it's lightweight and breathable and protects from the snow. When looking for the right jacket for your dog consider the following: the dog breed, the age of the dog (older dogs are more sensitive to cold weather), the weather conditions and how long you expect to be out on the run.

Whether you are running or walking with your dog, especially in urban areas, keep in mind that salt and chemical agents that are used for melting ice can irritate paws. A layer of petroleum jelly applied before a walk will provide protection, but make sure to check periodically for rock salt, gravel, or anything else that can get lodged between the toes or paws. You can purchase booties made especially for dogs at most pet stores (see the adorable purple PAWZ on our friend Conrad!) They’ll keep your dog’s paws warm and safe from the gravel and salt. For dogs who just won't wear the booties, my little Mylo included, Musher's Secret is a great option. Designed in Canada for sledding dogs this wax protects from salt, chemicals, ice build-up and hot pavement!

Lastly, keep in mind that your own mood can affect your pets. Dogs pick up cues from us, and if you are blue during the winter months, your pet may reflect your behavior. So do your best to stay warm, healthy, and happy as you maintain your pets’ health this winter.

New Year. New Friends. New Races.

Sometimes the New Year takes a couple of weeks to kick in, am I right? Only this morning, in the dwindling days of January, did it suddenly hit me. Happy New Year Mandy! 2010 is off to a really fantastic start with possibility and excitement and, of course, lots of running. We have new clients to welcome. We have a race for dog and owners alike to start training for. We have some fabulous dog friends who have been helping us out with media appearances. The future is bright and hopefully can keep us warm until April.

In January we met Cocoa and Diego. Cocoa is a lovely lady Chihuahua and Diego is her charming roommate, a Chihuahua/Jack Russell Terrier mix. Don’t let their size fool you. They can run almost three miles and still want to play when we get them back to the house. Cocoa is not only a runner but also a gymnast. During appointments, she can often been seen walking gracefully on her hands with back paws overhead. It is pretty amazing. Another new friend, who happened to have been featured in a Daily News article about BDR, is Conrad (pictured above). This handsome guy is a pit bull/boxer mix, a dedicated athlete and quite a sweetheart when he wants to be. Conrad has been known to run up to 5 miles in one appointment. When he’s in the zone, nothing can distract him. We are particularly proud of Conrad this month for being such an excellent spokes dog in both the Daily News article and an upcoming interview for Brooklyn Independent Television’s Sector B: The Business of Brooklyn. We’ll make sure to share the episode when it airs in February. Thanks for your wonderful help Conrad!

A new year and a new race season stretches out before us. Yesterday I got my official guaranteed entry to the 2010 ING New York City Marathon after completing the NYRR’s 9 + 1 program. I can’t help but feel my being a New Yorker will somehow be further cemented by my participation in this race. Yeah!

This of course is not the only race I’m looking forward to this year. On May 15th Dog Run Dog will be hosting a 5K run in Prospect Park for, wait for it…dogs and people. I hope some of our clients can put all their hard work to the test and run this race. Dog Run Dog is a young company dedicated to organizing 5K and 10K races for dogs and their owners. Brooklyn Dog Runners will keep you posted about the details of the race as they arise but for now please check out the Dog Run Dog website and their blog to read about the amazing work they are doing creating fitness opportunities for dogs and people alike. I’ve got to round up a dog friend for this race since I don’t think my cats will be interested.

2010 looks gorgeous. Julie and I can’t wait to see what trouble Brooklyn Dog Runners gets into this year. Keep warm out there and happy running!