Introduce your pet to an adoptable sibling. May 17-18

Contrary to popular belief, cats and dogs can become best friends with the proper introduction. Patience is key to ensuring your cat is comfortable with the new addition.

Before bringing a new puppy home, assess if your cat can handle the change, especially if it is older or has health issues. Stress can worsen these conditions in cats.

If you decide to move forward, you should be prepared. Establish separate zones for each pet with essentials like food, water, toys, and resting areas. Initially, barriers like playpens and baby gates should be used to keep them safely apart.

Meet Azur…

Start by letting the animals get used to each other’s scent. Rub a blanket on one and let the other smell it. Then, allow them to see each other through a barrier like a gate. Keep the puppy on a leash for the first face-to-face meeting in a neutral room, with a helper handling each pet. Reward calm behavior with treats and end on a positive note.

Go at the pace of the least comfortable pet and initially keep sessions short. Neutral behavior is the initial goal – it may take weeks or months before they are entirely at ease. Signs they are ready to be alone unsupervised include friendly interactions, taking turns at play, mutual grooming, and resting calmly near each other.

The same gradual, structured introduction process applies when bringing an adult dog into a cat’s home—just go even slower and use extra caution. With patience, most cats and dogs can coexist peacefully, and hopefully, they can become best friends.

This is Nisha…

Adoption Events

May 17

• Louie’s Legacy will be at PetSmart, 1525 Forest Ave., from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m
• Louie’s Legacy will be at PetSmart, (Woodbridge) – 863 St. Georges Avenue, Woodbridge, NJ 07095, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m

Special Event: Dogs Walk on Boardwalk

Broad Street – Red Bank, New Jersey, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Join us and the Red Bank Animal Welfare Committee at Red Bank’s Dog Walk on BroadWalk event with some of our incredible adoptables! Come say hello to our volunteers, learn about fostering and adopting and meet a few of our own adorable adoptable animals looking for a forever home.

May 18

• Louie’s Legacy will be at PetSmart, (East Brunswick) – 300 State Route 18, East Brunswick, NJ 08816, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m
• Staten Island Animal Hope Rescue will be at Petco, 165 Bricktown Way, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Animal Care Centers of New York City is open for adoptions of dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and rabbits at 3139 Veterans Road West on Monday and Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For general information on adopting from ACC and other community-based programs through ACC, go to www.nycacc.org

You can also come into ACC to register and purchase a NYC license for your dog from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Gifts for animal lovers

Julie Forlenza, a former teacher at I.S. 7 and PS 62, and manager at Woof and Tails Lodge , took action after Hurricane Ian to help animals in shelters. She is the owner of Black Dog Portrait. Her passion for helping animals is exceptional. Check her out on Facebook or Instagram.

Stellar Villa is a New York City-based artist who recently raised over $11,500 for pet shelters after she single-handedly created 1,252 custom pieces of art of people’s pets over 21 days. Now, she is working to create ongoing partnerships with local animal shelters to continue raising money. If you’re looking for a gift for a dog lover, check out Stellar’s work.

Sophia Di Meglio wrote and illustrated A Big Life for Buddy, a children’s book that offers a lighthearted look at an exceptional dog and teaches children about growing older, belonging, and the fact that loss is a natural part of life.

Hiking trails

Dog Friendly Parks

· Allison Park, off-leash area, the field at the end of the trail bordered by Prospect Avenue, Sailors Snug Harbor Cemetery, and the pond

· Amundsen Trail, off-leash area, between Amboy Road and Hylan Boulevard

· Arthur Von Briesen Park, off-leash area, lawn area, mid-park on the right side

· Bloomingdale Park, dog run, Maguire Avenue behind athletic fields closer to Ramona Avenue

· Clove Lakes Park, off-leash area, the open field above picnic area near Royal Oak Road and Rice Avenue

· Clove Lakes Park, off-leash area, Brookside Avenue between Alpine Court and Kingsley Avenue (lawn area)

· Clove’s Tail Park, off-leash area, lawn area, corner of Victory Boulevard and Little Clove Road

· Conference House Park, dog run, Clermont Avenue and Massachusetts Street

· Cozzens Woods Park, off-leash area, Page Avenue between Hylan Boulevard and Amboy Road

· Crescent Beach Park, off-leash area, Tennyson Drive, and Glover Avenue. Located in the meadow area leading to the beach

· Evergreen Park, off-leash area, Greaves Avenue and Evergreen Street

· Father Macris Park, off-leash area, lawn beyond ball field

· Ida Court Playground, dog run, Ida Court between N. Railroad Street and Drumgoole Road East

· Lemon Creek Park, off-leash area, the bottom of Seguine Avenue at Johnston Terrace; just below playground

· Siedenburg Park, off-leash area, Greaves Avenue, and Evergreen Street

· Silver Lake Park, dog run, Victory Boulevard below the pavilion, across from the Parkview Apartments

· South Beach Park, off-leash area. Note: On sand only after Labor Day and before Memorial Day

· Willowbrook Park, off-leash area, Archery Range Field

· Wolfe’s Pond Park, dog run, to the left of Cornelia Avenue

For more information with rules and regulations, visit nycgovparks.org/facilities/dogareas.

Dogs cannot enter any bathing facilities, including those at New York City beaches. However, from Oct. 1 through May 1, leashed dogs are allowed on the sand and boardwalk at Midland Beach and South Beach.

Leashed dogs are allowed on the boardwalk/promenade at Midland Beach and South Beach.

For more information on rules and regulations, visit nycgovparks.org/facilities/dogareas.

PET POISON HELPLINES

If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, contact the Pet Poison hotline at 855-764-7661 or petpoisonhelpline.com, or contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 or aspca.org.

As the seasons change, keep in mind the plants that are poisonous to animals: https://www.rover.com/blog/poisonous-plants/

TO REPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY

To report an incident of animal abuse, call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

To contact an environmental conservation police officer or report suspected violations, contact the DEC Law Enforcement Dispatch Center at 844-DEC-ECOS (844-332-3267) or dec.ny.gov/.