Choosing the Right Puppy

Giving an unwanted puppy or grown dog the o pportunity to come and live in your home is a humane act that might win you the reward of a loving and loyal companion.

Shelters perform a noble service in the face of widespread animalneglect and abandonment, but the livesof the canines that live there are still oftentimes deplorable. Typically overcrowded, shelters can’t in any way offer animals the benefits of a loving home.

Puppies in shelters often can’t mingle with others of their kind, which is the way that nature intends for them to learn how to be dogs. They may have to relieve themselves in the same areas where they sleep and eat. All in all, they have little access to warmth, touch, or meaningful communication.

Such circumstances can really tug at your heart when you look at a puppy or dog in a shelter. But therein lies the  danger, because the decision to adopt should never be madeimpulsively-especially when emotions are running high. You won’t be doing yourself or the animal any favors if you rush into a situation that’s untenable, And a puppy or dog that’s returned to a shelter has even less of a chance at happiness – or of finding another home – than it did before you adopted it.

Finding the puppy or dog that’s right for you, one that you can wholeheartedly share your home and life with, will most likely require more than one trip to the shelter. Though it is your heart that will make the relationship a loving one, it is your head that will have to weigh all the  options and make a clear decision. Even  if you feel movedto compassion for a puppy in poor health, or one with a  lot of social challenges, the task of actually caring for such an animal maybe beyond your resources. S’mply put, the best puppy to choose is the one that you’ll never bring back. Given that there are thousands more unwanted dogsthan there are placesto house them, taking your time in finding the one that you’ll keep will benefit all involved.

DOGGY HISTORY LESSONS

Dogs are nowadays considered the best friends for human beings, since many people in our society consider owning a dog adopting him in their homes as another member of the family. But their origins can be traced back in time by matching their DNA with another species known as grey wolves.

Many features that exist in wolves can be found in dogs’ traits as well, such as it is for instance the way they howl. Another behavioral pattern is the way they work in pack where one is chosen to be the leader and the others to follow him. Not to mention that dogs use to mark their territory the same way wolves do.

Going back in time we find wolves to be very agile hunters working also in team, the same way human hunters do. Maybe in the beginning (15,000 years ago) men hunters have taken one of these wolf cubs by their shelter and once separating it from the team, it became mostly a tamed wolf losing the features that develop mostly in wilderness.

Although this cub has grown by human race it might still present the features of a wild wolf once it gets back to the previous existence. But in time, with the breed losing its origins, the aggressiveness got lost being replaced by a more obedient wolf species. This explains the fact that 9,000 years ago, dogs used to be the guardians of livestock as soon as these started to be domesticated by human beings.

This fact is known because many cave paintings have been discovered dating around 4,500 years BC representing livestock guarded by humans next to dogs. Saluki (meaning ‘noble’) breed is probably the oldest breed known in history since Egyptians adapted it as their hunting dog. This one is similar to the greyhound breed, a lean and very agile type very popular with the ancient Egyptians.

Jews and Muslim consider this breed also quite unique although they do not agree with any other dog breed if not being a Saluki. The reason is because they see dogs as animals presenting rabies which was a big problem on those times.

Another proof of dogs’ existence throughout historic times is their presence recorded with Greek people around 5th century. In those times Greeks have resorted to the help of 50 dogs to guard the fortress in Corinth while it was under siege. In this way dogs proved to be quite useful in defending the fortress for which behavior they were presented with life pension and silver collar to mark their devotion.

When Romans started to rule the world, they used to carry their dogs with them while traveling and during their conquering expeditions. Once they settled in a specific corner of the world, their digs started to breed with the dogs living in the region. Over time, dogs started to be that rare of a species that only the nobility could afford buying them and owning by their domains.

Adopt a pet, a good New Year’s resolution

Adopting a pet can be a great New Year’s resolution, because you will be giving a new opportunity for a living does not deserve a life of neglect and indifference. In return you will receive the warmest affection and may even help you achieve some of the most popular resolutions are proposed many start of each year.

According to Domestic Animal Services Lee County (LCDAS), pets can be part of your New Year’s plan, helping for example to get fit, lose weight and your health care by becoming your partner in work and fellow sufferer. There are many dogs in shelters willing to walk, jog or run each day with you.

Another advantage as demonstrated by several investigations is that contact with animals has many health benefits. What better way to reduce stress that the company of a devoted pet. As if this were not enough, pets are a great way to bring families together, and walking the dog, is also a good way to meet new people.

Get Involved

Dear DDOA Supporter:

On Wednesday, October 6, 2010, the Downtown Dog Owners Association (DDOA) made a presentation in support of off-leash privileges on the Big Lawn in Battery Park during off-peak hours to Community Board 1, Financial District Committee.

Our power point presentation illustrated the benefits of off-leash hours to our community.   The DDOA also submitted a proposal to CB1 which recommended that CB1 create a task force drawn from all interested parties (the Battery Conservancy, Department of Parks & Recreation, the DDOA and members of the community at large) to consider a number of issues, and to establish a six-month trial period of off-leash activity on the Big Lawn during early morning hours. At the end of this six-month trial period, the task force will report back to the CB1 with its recommendations.  The specific details of the proposal submitted can be found on the DDOA website at www.nycdowntowndogs.org.

Even in the absence of a Department of Parks & Recreation representative at the meeting, the DDOA is very pleased to report that the CB1 committee voted to approve the six month trial period and the formation of a task force.  The committee’s resolution will now be presented, discussed and voted upon by the entire Community Board 1 on October 26, 2010.  It is our sincere hope that the Parks Department will consider and permit a trial period and give responsible dog-owners an opportunity to demonstrate that off-leash privileges can work in Battery Park.

It is now more important than ever that the community show their support by attending the October 26th meeting which will be held at:

New York City Police Museum
100 Old Slip, (Btwn Front and Water Streets)
Time:  6:00 p.m.

And we need more support letters addressed to Community Board 1. Please email it to us.

Letter to New York City Department of Parks and Recreation

Letter to New York City Department of Parks and Recreation

Mr. Adrian Benepe
Commissioner, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
The Arsenal, Central Park
830 Fifth Avenue
New York NY 10065

Re: Formalization of Off Leash Courtesy Hours in Battery Park

Dear Mr. Benepe,

I write this letter on behalf of the Downtown Dog Owners Association and also at the recommendation of the Financial District Committee of Community Board #1 in Manhattan. We want to schedule a meeting with the Parks Department to discuss our request that the off-leash policy that was codified in 2007 by the New York City of Parks and Recreation, is granted to dog owners to allow their dogs to play off-leash on the Large Lawn of Battery Park.

We are part of the growing community around Battery Park that enjoys the space for its beauty, its history, and its proximity to our homes. In the early morning, the park offers a quiet, friendly scene that is deeply appreciated by dog owners. Other than Battery Park, there is no place to exercise dogs in the Financial District.

We are a loyal and respectful constituency of the park. For the last decade we have had an informal understanding with the Battery Conservancy to allow our dogs to play off-leash in the early morning. The dogs are friendly and obedient, and do no damage to the lawn. Dog-owners not only remove their petsʼ waste but also remove a considerable amount of litter as well as dead rats and squirrels.

The benefits of an off-leash policy for Battery Park are consistent with those that the Parks Department has seen in other city parks: off-leash play results in less aggressive dog behavior, the parks become safer during off-leash use, and the community is brought together. We also understand that the off-leash policy was unanimously supported by the New York City Board of Health and confirmed by the New York State Supreme Court in 2006.

Our hope is to meet with you in the next week to discuss our request. Please let me know if you have time available this week, the week of July 19 or the week of July 26.

Sincerely yours,
Downtown Dog Owners Association