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Shelter Pets of the Week: Ian and Iris

by Heidi Sutton - December 30, 2021

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MEET IAN AND IRIS!

This week’s shelter pets are bonded siblings Ian (black and white male) and Iris (grey female) —7-month-old domestic short hair mixes up for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter.

Ian and Iris were very skittish kittens when they came to the shelter through its TNR program. With lots of time and patience, they have learned to love people. Ian is a complete mush and will even let shelter vounteers dress him up. Iris is more adventurous than her affectionate brother, but loves to get some pets wherever she can. These two are like a pair of therapy cats — they are pure stress relief. They love to play and eat treats. These two are very attached to each other and would love to find a home together.

If you would like to meet these sweethearts, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with them in a domestic setting.

The Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Shelter operating hours are currently Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). Call 631-360-7575 or visit www.smithtownanimalshelter.com.

Ask the Vet: Holiday plant hazards for pets

by Matthew Kearns - December 23, 2021

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By Matthew Kearns, DVM

This year I’ve transitioned to all artificial holiday decorations but I do reminisce about the days of live trees, etc. For those that decorate with live plants/trees be careful. What looks good can be dangerous to dogs and cats. Below is a list of holiday plants that can be dangerous to pets.

Poinsettias: Poinsettias are beautiful and always remind me of the holidays. Luckily, they are not very toxic. They do contain a compound called diterpene esthers. This compound can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors but only in large quantities. Try to keep your pets away from poinsettias but the risk of toxicity is low.

Live Christmas Trees: A live tree is beautiful and smells great but can also release resins, or oils that can irritate a pet’s mouth and digestive tract. These resins accumulate in the water used to keep the try hydrated and pets tend to drink it. This can lead to ulcers, or sores in a pet’s mouth, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms can be quite serious causing dehydration and potentially leading to hospitalization for IV fluids and medications. The needles from the trees are sharp and can cause a mechanical irritation leading to the same symptoms.

Mistletoe: Pucker up buttercup if you’re around the mistletoe. Luckily, ingestion of mistletoe only causes mild gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea) and rarely needs attention by a veterinarian. If you do catch your pet near the mistletoe, make sure to give them a smooch before chasing them away.

Holly: Known as the “prickly plant,” holly will only cause symptoms associated with gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. This rarely needs treatment at the veterinarian’s office

Amaryllis: The amaryllis plant contains certain chemicals called alkaloids, and another specific chemical called galanthamine. The alkaloids cause irritation of the mouth, stomach and intestines which leads to drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. Galanthamine is a cholinesterase inhibitor. This chemical can lead to tremors and, in larger volumes, seizures. Luckily, both of these chemicals are in low concentrations in the leaves. The highest concentration is in the bulb which pets tend not to eat.

Lilies: Although lilies are not a flower that blooms around the holidays, they are commonly part of holiday bouquets. Not only can lilies cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, but also cause damage to the kidneys (cats are particularly sensitive to this). I would recommend being very careful in having lilies around during the holidays.

Most of the common plants described just cause an upset stomach so having live plants and trees is not extremely dangerous. However, I would caution using caution when bringing live plants in the household and restrict your pet’s access to them (as best you can).

I want to thank the readers of this column, as well as wish everyone a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. I would like to also thank Heidi Sutton, editor of the Arts and Lifestyle section, as well as all the staff at Times Beacon Record News Media for another great year!

Dr. Kearns practices veterinary medicine from his Port Jefferson office and is pictured with his son Matthew and his dog Jasmine.

Cold weather care tips to keep dogs safe during the winter season

by Press Release - December 21, 2021

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0-2 — Photo courtesy of America's VetDogs

December 21 marks first day of winter

America’s VetDogs, a Long Island-based national nonprofit that provides specially trained guide and service dogs to Veterans and First Responders with disabilities, is encouraging everyone to keep their dogs in top shape during the coming winter months. Despite the popular misconception, a dog’s fur coat is not enough to protect them from the elements. Much like people, dogs have varying degrees of tolerance when it comes to temperature extremes. Below is a list of care tips for dogs this cold weather season.

Be attentive to your dog’s body temperature and limit time outdoors.
Remove any sharp objects from your property before the snow flies as with snow on the ground, it’s difficult for dogs to see things like jagged rocks, sharp edged toys, even left-out garden tools.
Keep your dog warm, dry and away from drafts. Tile and uncarpeted areas may become extremely cold, so make sure to place blankets and pads on floors in these areas.
Provide plenty of fresh water. Your dog is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer.
Prevent frostbite on your dog’s ears, tail, and feet by not leaving them outdoors for too long.
Supplemental heat sources like fireplaces and portable heaters can severely burn your dog. Make sure all fireplaces have screens and keep portable heaters out of reach.
Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keep properly insulated. Short- or coarse-haired dogs may get extra cold, so consider a sweater or coat if it does not impede the use of a harness. Long-haired dogs should have excess hair around the toes and foot pads trimmed to ease snow removal and cleaning.
Towel or blow-dry your dog if they get wet from rain or snow. It is important to dry and clean its paws, too. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. A little petroleum jelly may soften the pads and prevent further cracking.
Don’t leave your dog alone in a car with the engine off and no proper precautions as the temperature in the car will get too cold.
Antifreeze, which often collects on driveways and roadways, is highly poisonous. Although it smells and tastes good to your dog, it can be lethal.
Rock salt, used to melt ice on sidewalks, may irritate footpads. Rinse your dog’s feet after a walk with a warm, damp cloth or towel and be sure to dry them off afterwards.
Don’t use over-the-counter medications on your dog without consulting a veterinarian. If you think your pet has eaten something potentially dangerous, call your veterinarian or a pet poison control center right away.
Dogs can be more susceptible to illness in the winter. Take your dog to a veterinarian if you see any suspicious symptoms.

Shelter Pet of the Week: Linx

by Heidi Sutton - December 17, 2021

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MEET LINX!

This week’s shelter pet is Linx, a handsome 2 to 3-year-old male German Shepherd who is currently up for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter.

Sweet Linx was taken in as a stray and never claimed. He is well mannered and housebroken but needs a GSD experienced owner.

He is ball and stick obsessed and loves to play. Linx is a good natured dog that needs a strong Alpha leader to follow and will only be happy in a home that can keep him physically AND mentally stimulated. He loves to combine play and learning. Linx would do best in an adult only home where he is the only pet.

If you would like to meet Linx, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with him in a domestic setting.

D. None of the Above: Walks to remember on cold nights in December

by Daniel Dunaief - December 16, 2021

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By Daniel Dunaief

Dogs need to go outside, regardless of the temperature. My dog, who has a thick coat of hair, loves the winter and is perfectly happy to linger outside, especially when it’s close to freezing. When the grass is covered with frost, he slowly lowers his right cheek and does a lawn dive, bringing the rest of his body piece by piece down onto the cold, wet surface.

Once he’s completely on the ground, he rolls onto his back, using the blades of grass and the water and ice to scratch his back, while snorting with delight. With the eye that isn’t pressed into the ground, he stares at me, waiting for me to give up the ghost on getting some exercise or coming back inside quickly. When I reach down to pet him, I can almost see him smirk as he wags his tail triumphantly.

This month, he and I have seen some unusual sights. When I see something unusual, I try to take out my phone, but my reaction time, and all the extra material in my pocket, makes that a largely ineffective effort.

Even when I do manage to take out the camera and point it in the general direction of something interesting, the pictures typically disappoint, because my dog who hates to move suddenly gets the urge to pull just as I’m snapping the photo, leaving me with a blurry image of the road.

A few days ago, we were at the top of our street at dusk, near one of my dog’s favorite places to poop. In fact, I can take him on a four-mile walk and, within a tenth of a mile of our home, he finds his favorite blades of grass, takes his usual tentative steps, turns away from me — he needs privacy — and does his business.

This time, though, just as he was approaching his familiar spot, a hawk passed by only a few feet from my head, giving me a chance to look him, and the object he was carrying, squarely in the eyes.

The hawk was holding a squirrel, which seemed especially odd to me given the relative size of the two animals. The squirrel wasn’t moving but was clearly alive. When I told my family about it, they were sympathetic to the squirrel.

A few days later, walking toward the other end of the block, my dog and I observed a blow-up Frosty on one end of a lawn and a blow-up Santa on the other rise slowly from the ground as air flowed slowly into them.

My dog, whose fear of unusual inanimate objects builds around Halloween and the December holidays, stood at attention and considered announcing his presence with authority to objects that can’t, and don’t, react to his deep bark.

Fortunately, he only pulled his lips back slightly and lifted his tail, allowing the neighbors to enjoy their dark, quiet evening without the sound of a panicked pooch on a poop walk.

A few minutes later, I studied the stars at a distance when a light appeared in the sky, flashed toward the horizon and disappeared. Never having seen a shooting star before, I was mesmerized.

When I returned and shared the story, my son, who doesn’t seem too keen on superstition but is clearly aware of pop culture, asked if I made a wish. Not wanting to pass up the opportunity for help from anywhere, I did. Maybe by next December, I’ll let you know if it came true!

Cayla’s Column: A holiday party for wildlife

by Cayla Rosenhagen - December 10, 2021

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By Cayla Rosenhagen

What do you get when you combine a fun, learning experience full of incredible creatures with a festive, homemade craft fair? Magic and fun for the whole family!

The festival took place at Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown on December 4. I arrived with my family a little after dusk, eager to see the rescue animals and browse the tents full of artwork and handicrafts. Vendors’ booths were spread out across the lawn, sparkling with colorful fairy lights and candles, and decked with festive garlands.

Smiling festival-goers walked around sipping hot chocolate, visiting the shops, and meeting the ambassador animals, accompanied by friendly and knowledgeable Sweetbriar volunteers. The upbeat music of local ska and pop-punk cover band Crisis Crayons contributed to the cheerful atmosphere.

Many of the vendors I met with sold nature-related goods and artwork. For instance, Audra Donroe is an art teacher and creator from Northport. Her vibrant and stunning display of work ranged from original artwork and prints to postcards and ornaments utilizing natural imagery such as owls and plant life. She grew up coming to Sweetbriar and has been vending for 4 years. “Any chance I have to bring awareness and support to Sweetbriar, I gladly do it,” she says.

I also visited a booth selling organic, homemade elderberry syrup. It was run by the business’s founders, Connor and Tommy, aged 7 and 9, and their parents. I spoke with their mother, Michelle Biddle, who explained that elderberry is a natural remedy for cold and allergy symptoms.

Other vendors included Once Upon A Favor, who were selling irresistibly aromatic bath bombs, soaps, and candles, and Beast Makers, who sold one-of-a-kind jewelry and occult items made out of ethically sourced animal bones and antlers.

Throughout the event, volunteers from the Center gave presentations about some of the animals who are permanent residents there. Guests met Opal the Virginia Opossum, Seven of Nine the Barred Owl, Stitch the Red-tailed Hawk, Nebula the Barn Owl, and more. Sweetbriar provides care for over 100 animals. For many of them, Sweetbriar is their forever home as they cannot be released back into the wild due to their injuries.

According to Sweetbriar’s program coordinator, Veronica Sayers, the Holiday Party is an annual event that has taken place for around 40 years. Veronica explained that vendors pay a fee to take part in the event, and the proceeds go towards food and other vital resources for the animals Sweetbriar rehabilitates and cares for.

The event itself was free for visitors, although donations were appreciated. If you are interested in donating to help support the Center’s work and the animals in their care, please see their website for more details on how to do so. Other ways to show your support include spreading the word about Sweetbriar and attending their upcoming events. These include the Owl Prowl on December 9, weekly yoga classes, and the Superheroes of the Sky raptor event on January 1st.

Come visit Sweetbriar and be mesmerized by the incredible animals yourself! The Nature Center and Preserve at 62 Eckernkamp Drive in Smithtown are open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, please call 631-979-6344 or visit sweetbriarnc.org.

Cayla Rosenhagen is a local high school student who enjoys capturing the unique charm of the community through photography and journalism. She serves on the board of directors for the Four Harbors Audubon Society and Brookhaven’s Youth Board, and is the founder and coordinator of Beach Bucket Brigade, a community outreach program dedicated to environmental awareness, engagement, and education. She is also an avid birder, hiker, and artist who is concurrently enrolled in college, pursuing a degree in teaching.

Shelter Pet of the Week: Whisper

by Heidi Sutton - December 9, 2021

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MEET WHISPER!

This week’s shelter pet is Whisper, a 7 to 8-month-old medium haired bundle of fur currently up for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter.

At first, Whisper seems like a shy cat, but once she trusts you, she is affectionate and sweet. She would do well in a quiet and calm home. This sweetheart spends most of her day hiding, but when she interacts with people and cats, she is friendly. She would likely also do well with a calm and gentle dog.

If you would like to meet Whisper, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with them in a domestic setting.

Photo of the Week

by TBR Staff - December 5, 2021

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Photo of the Week Fred Drewes — Photo by Fred Drewes

MANTIS SHOWDOWN

Fred Drewes snapped this most unusual photo in early November of a female praying mantis with Mount Sinai Harbor in the background.

He writes, “I spotted the praying mantis on the railing of my deck. The mantis seemed to linger, perhaps chilled by the early morning coolness. The Fisher Price worker has been part of my ‘stuff’ reminding me of my adult children’s favorites toys of 40 or so years ago. On a whim, I placed the worker on the rail next to the mantis and took this photograph. Much to my surprise the mantis seemed to ‘chat’ for a while before taking off to look for a proper mate.”

Send your Photo of the Week to [email protected].

Shelter Pet of the Week: Angel

by Heidi Sutton - December 2, 2021

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MEET ANGEL!

This week’s shelter pet is Angel, a 8 to 9-year-old blue nosed pit bull female who has been at the Smithtown Animal Shelter for several years. Angel loves all people and food above all! She is a very dominant dog and cannot be in a home with other animals. Angel is smart and strong willed and needs a strong alpha as well as structure. She loves to meet new people and make them laugh. This tomboy wants a home to call her own this holiday season.

If you would like to meet Angel, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with her in a domestic setting, which includes a Meet and Greet Room.

Shelter Pets of the Week: Samson and Delilah

by Heidi Sutton - November 25, 2021

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This week’s shelter pets are Samson and Delilah, up for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter. Samson is an 8-year-old, neutered male, boxer pit mix. Delilah is a 10-year-old spayed female pit mix. These two were abandoned in a park after their mom passed away. They are both gentle and love people.

Delilah has chronic dry eye and skin allergies and will need a home that can manage this. These seniors love each other. Samson is simply addicted to Delilah, she is less bonded but loves him in her way. Delilah is dominant and does not enjoy other animals. Samson submits to her well and knows his boundaries. These love bugs deserve to spend their golden years in a loving home together, however, if that is not possible, the shelter will separate them for the right home.

If you would like to meet these sweethearts, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with them in a domestic setting.

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