Much A-Doo_

Yes, and in at least one case I mean that quite literally.

But, don't have time to go into detail about it right now, so will just give little "caps":

First, the good news: New York Tails Magazine was in the New York Times! This is why I, Mistress Chilli Chinchilla, write this blog--because Diane is often criticized as being much too quiet and shy about her own accomplishments. But she is very proud of New York Tails magazine, and, especially, the people who run it (she is just the secretary) as evidenced here:

Tales of Pampered Pets and Humans on a Leash --

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/nyregion/28dogs.html

Okay, I'm not crazy about the title, but reporter Lily Koppel was very generous with her time and of course in the article, for which we thank her! Lily has a lot of sh*t going on in her life, too -- the paperback version of her runaway book, "The Red Leather Diary" comes out Jan. 20th and then its off on a nationwide book tour after that. Check it out--it's the intriguing, true story of a dumpster, a diary, and the dreams of a young woman in the 1930s.

Now for some real sh*t:
--I'm not kidding; one of the most buzzed-about pet books on the street right now is
New York's Poop Scoop Law: Dogs, Dirt, and Due Process by Michael Brandow. Mr. Brandow first starting pooping, er, popping up on dog chat boards and here and there in New York, and suddenly he was on national television and this week is a guest columnist in the New York Times' "The City" section. The discussion, to which you can contribute to and ask questions, is quite spirited indeed. Check it out here:

New York's Poop Scoop Law (History of, Controvery Over, etc.)


http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/ask-about-new-yorks-dog-scooping-law/#comment-231875


It is everything you wanted to know (and in several cases didn't want to know) about dog poop on the streets of New York. Some of it gets very...descriptive, shall we say.

--Dogs on a Train--NOT: The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has always been a little vague as to whether one can transport pets on the subways and buses. The general rule seems to be that so long as the animal is securely contained in a carrier, or, if a service dog, on a leash, it's all good. Now when I say 'service dog' you automatically thought of a guide dog, didn't you? Aye, there's the rub with this one. Woman says she is disabled, but not visibly so, and claims she and her very large dog were kicked off a train (and a bus before that) very rudely:


http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/01/04/2009-01-04_woman_sues_for_10m_for_being_denied_subw.html

This does raise a number of interesting points. First, it may compel the transit authority to outline what/when/etc. a dog, cat, or otherwise can be transported on a public bus or subway. Again, usually if it's a little Chihuahua or Yorkie ('pocket pooch' they are sometimes called) in someone's carrier and they happen to pop their head out, no prob. Same with a cat. But this is a big dog, and not a seeing eye dog.

The conundrum: Who is to tell this lady she is not disabled and could not function in daily life without this dog's escort? (Certainly not me.) On the other hand, there is the real potential (it's already starting) for everyone to start calling their dog/cat/etc. a 'service animal', which then puts them under Federal protection in the Disabilities Act, and an unintended consequence is discrimination against the disabled by landlords when trying to rent an apartment, etc. (Of course they won't say it's because they are disabled, but rather, don't want everyone to use the disabled clause in order to have a pet. Hey, this is New York -- we all go to psychiatrists!)

A Little Birdie Told Me
There's still trouble a'brewing at the Animal Medical Center on East 62nd and East End Avenue. Right before the New Year's holiday the hospital abruptly shut the doors to it's exotics department--one of only a few places in the city, nay, the tri-state area, where one could bring their parrot, ferret, and, of course, Chinchilla. (Hence there is a vested interest in this for Mistress Chilli.) The head of the department, Dr. Katherine Quesenberry, left a message on her machine just before New Year's saying the Exotic department would be no more and those that were concerned should write to the CEO, etc. She's since changed her message (likely told to change her message) to simply the Exotic department has been "dissolved as of January 2nd" and to call the main switchboard occasionally to see where she herself has landed, most likely at another vet practice in Manhattan. Those looking for their pet's medical records should call the main switchboard at 212.838-8100 and ask for Medical Records.

However, AMC is loathe (really loathe) to admit the exotic department is gone. Yours truly called their communications department, again, to ask what was up. All we keep getting told is the hospital is 'very hopeful that [we] can continue to give exotic services here' but exotics were now only seen on an emergency basis. When asked where people should go in the interim, we were given a brisk 'yes, there are other exotic animal doctors in the city' but were again told "they hope to continue...yada yada yada." Disturbing to me is their reluctance to give the names of some of the exotic vets in the area; I can understand not wanting to support your competition, but hey, if I'm (Mistress Chilli) is sick, there are not a lot of doctors qualified to see me.

Luckily, I have been going to the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine on Columbus Avenue and the 80s on the Upper West Side for several years now. and they are fabulous. From Nurse Lorelei Tibbetts to Dr. Linda Pesek, to the always courteous and professional staff, to the bunnies up for adoption in the front and the aviary in the window--I can't say enough about them. They took care of my late husband, Speedy, who lived to the ripe old age of 14, with such gentle care and gave him at least another year to live. And when he passed they sent me the most wonderful, hand-written condolence card. The tops. So if you're in a pinch and need a bird, ferret, chinchilla, reptile, etc. doctor (especially birds) I highly recommend CAEM based on my own experiences.

Another doctor in the area people swear by is Dr. Anthony Pilny, who used to work at CAEM until some involved drama that I never could quite get to the bottom of couple years back. He's now practicing at Veterinary Internal Medicine and Allergy Specialists on the Upper East Side a couple of days a week and at the Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers which is in lower Westchester, just above the Bronx border. There are also several excellent vets on the Island and elsewhere in Westchester, so not leaving those out on purpose, but those are the two I can suggest to you off the top of my head.

From City To State
New York City's League of Humane Voters is now going statewide, focusing on broader state-wide animal issues and legislation. Director John Phillips made the official announcement today but it's been an open secret since at least November when the LOHV had it's annual Gala (which raises big bucks for the organization each year.) Gossip on the street had been that all was not well in the state of the LOHV, with power struggles, upheavals and accusations of monetary mismanagement afoot. I asked John about it but he just chalked it up to growing pains, ie, when you grow you'll have your supporters and your detractors, that it's a strong organization with many successful people, etc., etc. I asked my "critical" source to be a bit more specific so let's see the answer I get, if any. (I should disclose that Mistress Chilli has been a member of the LOHVs for some time now and is regularly a part of the "Host Committee" (read: I help sell tickets) of the annual Gala.)


Good Girl -- Very Good Girl
Also wanted to acknowledge on this day (Tuesday, January 6th) the memory of someone who was very special and instrumental to many in the NYC dog world, Robin Kovary. Several had suggested she'd like nothing better than a donation to an adoption group in her name; sounds like a good way to start off the New Year. Hope you've met your friends at the Rainbow Bridge and are enjoying eternity with them, Robin. I didn't know you personally but have heard of the legend.

Okay, if you've made it this far (whew--I congratulate you--because I almost didn't) then you deserve to go out on a high note with a little treat. Veterinary Pet Insurance just came out with the 'Top Dog and Cat Names of 2008'. Interesting side note, according to them, is that some of the very same names are tops among human baby names on file with the Social Security department! (Humanizing our pets much?) (Just set you up for a debate for another day.)


Top Dog and Cat Names 2008 per Veterinary Pet Insurance Group

Dogs Cats

1. Max 1. Max

2. Bailey 2. Chloe

3. Bella 3. Tigger

4. Molly 4. Tiger

5. Lucy 5. Lucy

6. Buddy 6. Smokey

7. Maggie 7. Oliver

8. Daisy 8. Bella

9. Sophie 9. Shadow

10. Chloe 10. Charlie