Hey all, it’s raining cats and dogs and all other manner of animal life on me today, so I’m just gonna get right to it. Here’s the release:
Dogs, cats, guinea pigs, turtles, and maybe a barnyard goat or sheep are expected to gather at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Kisco this Saturday, October 3rd for the Annual Blessing of the Animals service.

Animals of every kind are invited to participate in the ceremony at St. Mark’s, which will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 3rd. (Owners should keep their pets leashed or contained for safety.) Participants are also welcome to bring pet photos and mementos to celebrate and remember the lives of their animal friends who have died. The service will include a procession of the animals and a prayer of blessing will be offered for each individual pet that attends.

Here, Emily Antes, Olivia Sullivan and Turner Williams bring their pets for blessing by the Rev. Eileen Weglarz at St. Mark’s Church.

The Blessing of the Animals service will be held outdoors in the columbarium garden of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 85 E. Main Street in Mount Kisco. (In the event of rain, the service will be moved into the parish hall.) Refreshments will be served to people and pets following the service.

For more information on Blessing of the Animals, or St. Mark’s other worship services, please visit www.stmarksmtksico.org or call 914-666-8058.

Seems September is big on being “the month” (where’s Paws&Claws Month I ask?) Nonetheless, while this contest’s press release is indeed a promotion for this association, the prizes are worth giving it a brief shout out. So here you go (in the meantime, anyone have any thoughts on pet insurance?)

From the release: This year, for the first time, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) launches “National Pet Health Insurance Month” in the United States.  The month-long program includes special contests, educational outreach, and documented research about better human health through pet ownership.
 
The National Pet Health Insurance Month includes a “Pet Owner Story and Pet Photo Contest”, as well as an opportunity to “Nominate your Favorite Veterinarian.”  The contest includes over $500 in prizes for the winning pet owner, and a special $250 donation in the name of the winner’s dog or cat to the pet owner’s favorite local shelter or rescue group. The prize for the winning veterinarian is a $500 educational grant, which can be used to attend a continuing education program, conference or convention. 
To learn more and enter, www.naphia.org/pet_health_month.htm

Me here…I just had to note, I find it funny that this group declared September “the month” but I didn’t get the release until the 24th…And yes, I’m a bit late, but that’s the way the kibble crumbles sometimes.

If you happen to be in, or feel like going to North Haven, Conn., next month…and of course if you have a pet…perhaps this event’s for you. It involves therapy animals (and you know how much I adore therapy animals.) News release is kind of long, so I give to you after the jump. Read more of this entry »

So it’s just as good a day as any to remind you that pets need their rabies shots. So if you haven’t done so, or are due, then please get going. Here’s one place that’s offering to help you out. This just in:

Drs. Howard Gittelman and Lisa Schenkel of Animal Medical of New City will host their second annual low-cost rabies clinic Oct. 17, with all proceeding benefiting the Hi-Tor Animal Care Shelter in Pomona.
“Rabies is a real issue, both locally and nationally, and our goal is to offer low cost vaccinations to those who are really in need while at the same time raising needed funds for the shelter,” said Dr. Gittelman.
The clinic will run from 1 to 5 p.m. at The Pet Nutrition Center, 115 E. Route 59 in Nanuet.
“We are happy to be hosting this clinic with Dr. Gittelman,” said Pet Nutrition’s owner Marty Fazio. “There is a need in the community and we will have the chance to help the shelter at the same time.”
Canine and feline vaccines donated by Merial will only be given by appointment. There is a limit of two pets per household. The cost per vaccination is $20 per pet. No walk-ins without appointments will be seen.
To make an appointment, call 845-638-3600 by Oct. 15.

Here’s a picture of Gittelman, Fazio and Mary DiNollo of Hi-Tor at last year’s clinic. Thanks for including the nice poster from The Journal News guys!

Stanley has smartly been snoozing all day in one of her favorite spots (it’s lousy here in New York fyi). But Cup, who greeted me this morning with two, um, intestinal issues, and therefore got no morning treats, has been talking and begging for love non-stop. Of course, that means I was only lucky enough to get one picture until she got all shy and took off. Nonetheless, I give you the Cupster…

Looking at the camera, cute bend of paw….she’s getting how to be a P&C model

And now, the true P&C poster girl….zzzzzzz.

On chair underneath dining table. Sigh, to be a cat in a loving home is not a bad life!

P.S. If you missed previous post and picture of Spike, you must go visit….trust me.

Got to see little Spike today at the gym after class with Diane. Oh my! He’s still doing great. He’s starting to open his teeny eyes. I tried to get a shot but he was all squirmy and it didn’t work out so well. But, look at the shot I did get!

YAWN! How beyond adorable is that! He’s in his carrier here. The little nipple things are attached to a warm piece of fabric to he can suckle, even though he doesn’t have a mom

And here you see how wee he still is. Today he is 12 days old!

Happy birthday Spike!

….even though they’re therapeutic at home. As promised, after yesterday’s post on therapy dogs shared by our friend ilb, here’s a peek at his personal pets. There’s Casey, a Yorkie who’s almost 2, and Leo, a 6-year-old Maltese. Here’s what ilb says about them:

“If you want to know why my dogs are not in the program, the answer is simple — they are too freaking spoiled! They do whatever they want… The last picture of Casey (he was 4 months), however, demonstrates another reason why. You tell me if you’d be able to look at his ears and yell at him if he pees wherever he wants!”

ilb, outstanding post material! Thanks again. All, I now give you, in order, Casey, Casey and Leo, and, as ilb puts it, Ears.

HA!! Yeah, I can see why Casey rules the roost (and the boat! dang you doc!)

You learn the most interesting things about people when you blog. For instance, I knew P&C’s new friend ilb2001 from Rangers Report is an avid fan (of the team, not just me But I’ve since learned he’s also a really cool dude who’s a doctor and a professor of clinical pediatrics. He wrote to me to tell me about a therapy dog program at one hospital where he works, New York Methodist Hospital in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Take it away ilb (we respect screen names here at P&C and the brother blog, fyi).

The program was developed by our volunteer department. The inpatient service takes care of sick children from the area, and it’s a busy place. The dogs and their owners involved are volunteers from the area. The dogs undergo around one year of special training so there are no incidents, because as you can imagine, kids tend to be a little rough with the dogs by showing their love.

The dogs have to be hypoallergenic breads. We have 4 dogs in the program, and it’s been a blast. You can not imagine what difference those animals made in the last 4 years. Suffice to say that we have even been able to use them for distraction in order to insert the most difficult IV lines!

The first 2 pics are of Tali. Tali is a 6-year-old Portuguese water dog and she’s been with us since day one. She actually was rescued by her owner from the shelter somewhere in Midwest, I believe. She was abused before, had some health issues. She is the most adorable thing and kids love when she jumps in their bed and just lounges next to them.

(Laurel here: I love Tali)

The second 2 pics are of Monty, a full-size pooddle. The sweetest thing. We also have a golden doodle and schnauzer. (Me again, Here’s Monty: I love him, too).

ilb, my friend, thanks for help on an excellent post. Everyone, check back tomorrow for his own dogs.

P.S. Sorry for the odd sizing on the pics. I’m still working my way around a new system.

Not that I willingly want to send anyone away from here, but this guy is doing something for a good cause, and you know I have a soft spot for that. So, enjoy the blog I’m going to tell you about, but come back here! (after all, you did learn about it at P&C). Take it away Sean:

Hello. My name is Sean McCormack. I am the founder of pawmate.com. Pawmate is a social networking site for Rockland County pets and pet owners. They are able to log onto pawmate.com and post pictures, videos, share stories, and chat with other pet owners. Pawmate.com will be hosting a Halloween costume contest this October. There will be many wonderful gifts for the top 3 winners! Pawmate will be donating $1 for every member who joins our site this October for Hi-Tor Animal Shelter.

The more people who sign up, the more money that goes to a good cause.

Sean McCormack
seanmccormack99@yahoo.com
www.pawmate.com

This next one takes place Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. at Historic Christ Church, 65 Washington Ave. in Suffern, which will host its 5th annual event, rain or shine. Here’s the release from the church:

Historic Christ Episcopal Church will host the traditional Blessing of our Pets with a short Communion Service and individual blessing on the front lawn of the Church.
Each pet will be named and blessed at the end of the shortened Mass. All are invited to attend. There is no fee but a donation of food or supplies for no-kill shelters is requested. The Offering and donated supplies will be given to RBARI, a no-kill shelter in our area.
All pets must be leashed and/or in carrier crates. Everyone is encouraged to place a small amount of food on the Altar to be blessed and taken home following this 20 minute, fun service.

P.S. Diane reports that Spike is doing well. Thanks for all your good thoughts in previous post.