Petopia

Urban Resource Institute (URI) Opens PALS Place

The Urban Resource Institute (URI), the nation’s largest provider of domestic violence shelter and support services, opened the country’s first entirely pet-friendly DV shelter of its size, called PALS Place.

The shelter is a seven-story emergency shelter in Brooklyn that will house up to 100 survivors and their pets. The shelter is specifically designed and outfitted for survivors and their families to heal together with their pets in the same apartment, and includes safe pet play areas, a grooming station, and unique therapeutic programming centered on the human-pet bond (more detail in press release below).

Currently only 3 percent of domestic violence shelters in the United States accommodate pets – yet more than 70 percent of DV victims report their pet was either threatened, harmed, or killed by an abuser. URI is committed to reducing barriers to DV services through inclusive shelter and programming.

With PALS Place, URI’s PALS (People and Animals Living Safely) Program is now offered in a total of six facilities across New York City, providing more than 100 survivor-pet co-living apartments.

Here is the press release:

 

Urban Resource Institute Opens Country’s First Entirely Pet-Friendly Domestic Violence Shelter, Helping People and Pets Escape Abuse Together

 

PALS Place is designed and outfitted for survivor-pet co-living, providing apartments, dedicated grooming and play spaces, and unique programming to allow people and pets to heal together in safety

 

New York – October 30, 2018 – Urban Resource Institute (URI), the largest provider of domestic violence shelter and support services in the country, today announced the opening of PALS Place, a seven-story emergency shelter in Brooklyn. PALS Place is the first-ever domestic violence shelter of its size in the country specifically designed and outfitted for survivor-pet co-living, providing 30 one- and two-bedroom apartments where up to 100 survivors, whether individuals or families, can heal together in safety with their pets. As an entirely pet-friendly facility, the shelter provides dedicated spaces for pet grooming and play as well as unique animal-centric programming to help residents of all species thrive.

According to research cited by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 70 percent of domestic violence victims report that their pets were either threatened, harmed, or killed by an abuser. However, only about 3 percent of domestic violence shelters in the United States accommodate pets, forcing individuals and families to make the nearly impossible choice of abandoning their pets to enter shelter, or remaining in an unsafe environment and risking further abuse. In fact, 48 percent of domestic violence victims stay in abusive situations rather than leave their pets behind.

“URI’s core mission is to provide compassionate and comprehensive services that benefit all victims of abuse, including historically underserved victims, and reduce barriers to seeking existing resources,” said Nathaniel M. Fields, president and CEO of Urban Resource Institute. “By providing survivors of abuse with co-living options that keep people and pets together, PALS Place marks a significant milestone in URI’s ongoing commitment to addressing service gaps through innovative programming and approaches to ending cycles of abuse.”

URI established the PALS (People and Animals Living Safely) Program in 2013 and began retrofitting existing URI shelters with pet-friendly elements, creating New York City’s first-ever co-living program of its kind. Celebrating five years of PALS, the newly designed and constructed PALS Place represents the next step in URI offering innovative services for New York City’s most vulnerable populations.

As URI’s first-ever entirely pet-friendly shelter, PALS Place will feature unique programming centered around the human-pet bond. Specific programmatic elements include:

Residents – Twice per year, PALS residents will have access to a short-term group session about human and animal healing. Quarterly, residents will be invited to attend recreational activities, such as a facility-wide barbecue or a trip to a local animal shelter. These events will incorporate tips for animal care, information about resources available for pet families in New York City, and introductions to the animal welfare profession. Special guests will be invited to these sessions, including therapy animal teams, professional dog trainers, and other animal care workers.

Survivors and pets living in PALS Place will have access to a dedicated pet grooming room complete with a pet ramp and professional-grade stainless steel tub that can be adjusted to higher and lower levels to accommodate both large and small pets. Periodic visits from groomers and/or veterinarians will be scheduled to provide care for pets in residence.

Children – Animal-focused programming will be integrated into childcare provided at PALS Place. Once per month, PALS staff will join childcare staff to provide educational sessions on safe interactions with animals and how to care for pets. Special guests will be invited to these sessions, including therapy animal teams and local educators. Once per quarter, children will be invited on a field trip into the community to learn about zoo animals, farm animals, and local wildlife to foster an appreciation of the natural world.

Staff – PALS Place will employ over 30 administrative, clinical, and operational staff trained in creating a healing environment that helps adults, children, and pets recover from trauma and prepare for independent living. This includes staff training on animal body language and offering ongoing professional development opportunities like tours of local animal shelters or presentations from animal welfare experts. Every three months, staff will be invited to share their ideas for improving and expanding PALS Place programming via survey. They will provide ongoing support of PALS families, including coordinating free pet medical care courtesy of the ASPCA and identifying pet-friendly housing options for survivors after shelter.

From a construction and architecture standpoint, every aspect of PALS Place is designed to be as welcoming, safe, and healthy as possible for families and pets adjusting to life in the shelter. This includes painting hallways non-white colors that are calming to pets’ eyes and installing Crane Composite Fiberglass reinforced wall panels and in-apartment wainscoting to maintain a durable and hygienic space free of stains, scratches, and smells.

PALS Place also has several communal areas for residents to assemble and engage in recreational and therapeutic activities, including an outdoor rooftop and an indoor recreation space with computers. A community room with a kitchen provides opportunities for residents to socialize, hold celebrations, and participate in educational workshops. Additional amenities for individuals and families include an on-site laundry room and secure outdoor play area for children. Heights Advisors, a community real estate developer focused on strengthening local communities by creating housing with access to social services, was URI’s partner in the construction of PALS Place.

To encourage the exercise, play, and bonding time that is vital to pets’ health during times of transition and stress, an outdoor “Pet Haven” play area is located on the property. The Pet Haven features a play structure and padded grass that creates a safe and resilient playground environment for pets and children alike. PALS supporter Purina will provide each resident with a welcome kit containing pet food, treats, toys, and critical supplies like water bowls, collars, leashes, litter, and litter boxes.

URI first announced the development and construction of PALS Place during a jointly-hosted panel discussion (full video here). The panel included national experts in the domestic violence and animal welfare spaces discussing the often misunderstood role pets play in abusive situations and how to create an ecosystem of services to protect families, individuals, and pets experiencing abuse.

URI’s PALS program now spans six facilities located throughout New York City, providing more than 100 pet-welcoming units for domestic violence survivors and their pets. To date, URI has welcomed over 130 pets into its residences, including dogs, cats, turtles, birds, guinea pigs, lizards, and fish.

For more information about URI’s services and to donate to support the mission of PALS, please visit http://www.urinyc.org.

About Urban Resource Institute

Urban Resource Institute (URI) is a leading non-profit organization that provides comprehensive, holistic, and supportive social services that aid and empower New Yorkers in times of crisis. URI’s programs provide care for survivors of domestic violence, individuals with developmental disabilities, homeless families, and other at-risk populations, allowing them to live in safety and recover from trauma in both residential and non-residential settings. With deep community relationships and a flexible, innovative approach to program development and service delivery, URI is uniquely equipped to provide solutions to the challenges affecting New York City’s most vulnerable populations. URI merged with the Center Against Domestic Violence in 2018, the first licensed provider of domestic violence shelter in New York. With nearly 80 years of combined experience, the organization is the largest provider of domestic violence residential services in the country, with the ability to shelter over 1,000 individuals, including survivors and their families, on any given day. For more information, please visit www.urinyc.org.

About Heights Advisors

Heights Advisors is a community real estate developer, serving as the lead investor for more than $1 billion in real estate projects, and an investment management firm. The firm is currently overseeing more than one million square-feet of ground-up development and residential conversions in New York and Philadelphia.

Pillars of Heights Advisors’ mission is to provide development with social impact, a commitment to strengthening local communities by creating critical housing with access to much needed social services, and engaging with community partners. Heights Advisors is particularly proud of the 41-unit (30 apartment) domestic violence shelter in Brooklyn built from the ground-up for Urban Resource Institute to house people and their pets. It is the first domestic violence shelter of its size in the country built for co-living. The firm is building an expanded animal shelter to house the nonprofit Brooklyn Welfare Coalition’s Brooklyn Cat Cafe.

 

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Cats Can Help Fight AIDS Virus

Scientists at Israel’s Technion Institute are learning more about the human AIDS virus from discoveries made researching the feline equivalent (FIV). They have uncovered a protein that is resistant to treatment. Breaking this resistance will help fight human AIDS.

 

A mechanism that may serve as the foundation for resistance of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), the virus that causes “feline AIDS,” has been discovered by a team of researchers from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa.

FIV is caused by viruses very similar to the AIDS-causing HIV-1 virus, which currently affects millions of humans. The feline AIDS disease is transmitted between cats, primarily via saliva, and causes a breakdown of the immune system along with the inability to fight off infections, diseases and development of cancer. The disease typically affects male street cats, which tend to fight and bite one another.

Though immunodeficiency in cats does not infect humans, it is a popular subject of research due to its ability to benefit cats and its many parallels with the AIDS virus.

Assistant Prof. Akram Alian and Meytal Galilee from the Technion Faculty of Biology recently published their findings in PLOS Pathogens.

The study uncovers how FIV proteins can undergo minor modifications that enable them to develop resistance to drugs, while preserving protein function, a phenomenon not yet observed in HIV-1. Although FIV and HIV are highly similar, the FIV protein is resistant to drugs that can inhibit the same protein in HIV-1, which has puzzled scientists until now.

The study also revealed that the FIV protein forms a closed pocket that blocks the drugs from effective binding.

“We hope that our discoveries will pave the way toward the development of drugs that will ‘break into’ this pocket, thereby enabling the drugs to inhibit FIV from multiplying,” said Alian. “Of course, due to the parallels between FIV and HIV, we assume that the discovery will also assist in combating AIDS.”

 

https://www.israel21c.org/discovery-in-feline-virus-could-help-better-fight-aids/

 

 

Prepardness Tips For Pets in an Emergency in New York City

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

Evan Dunbar, Professional Dog Trainer and CEO of Full Contact K9 offers his expertise regarding a common dog behavior. The following article is his opinion. Any questions regarding this content should be directed to Evan.

Eating grass is a common behavior displayed by many dogs. After eating grass, many dogs regurgitate the grass back into the yard. This seemingly pointless exercise takes place in back yards all across the country throughout the spring and summer. So, why? And is it harmful? These questions plague dog owners. 

Reasons Dogs Eat Grass

The truth is that there's no way to know exactly why dogs eat grass. Researchers have their theories, but only the dogs know for sure. Some of the most common theories include:

Nutritional Deficiency

Many believe that dogs will seek out foods that provide nutrients they need. This instinctive behavior helps keep dogs healthy and prevents deficiencies. Grass is high in fiber and some other nutrients that your dog may not be getting through everyday meals. Dogs that are not getting the right type of nutrition may experience weight problems, low energy, skin problems, behavioral changes, dull coat, changes in thirst and other symptoms. Watch for these signs and take your dog to the vet if you notice these problems.

Relief for Gastrointestinal Upset

Another possible reason that dogs eat grass is because they want to vomit. Maybe your dog ate something he shouldn't have, or maybe your dog has a stomach ache. Your dog may want to vomit because emptying the system is known to soothe the stomach.

Boredom

Some dogs may eat grass out of simple boredom. When there's nothing else to do, eating grass is a way to pass time. Watch your dog's behavior in the moments leading up to grass eating. What is your dog doing? Does your dog look engaged? Purposeful? Aimless? Listless? Your dog's mental state and body language may give some clues regarding his or her reasons for eating grass. 

If your dog is eating grass from boredom, try engaging your dog in a fun activity. Throw a ball, have a cuddle or go for a walk. If your dog really wants to eat grass, your dog may find time to stop during your activity and eat the grass anyway. If this happens, you'll know for sure it wasn't boredom that was driving your dog's actions.

Grass Is Tasty

Your dog may like to eat grass, just like you like to eat brownies or chips. If your dog enjoys the taste or texture of grass between his teeth, well, who are you to stop him? 

Eating grass is not bad for your dog, provided that your dog does not eat grass that has been treated with pesticides or fertilizers, and provided that your dog does not accidentally eat a toxic plant from your yard. For more information about dog wellness, talk to your pet's vet. If it bothers you that your dog eats grass, talk to an expert or seek professional dog training. 

In the mean time, if your dog eats grass, you can relax a little knowing that your dog is just like other dogs. He's doing what dogs do. 

 

 

The Pet Parent Checklist for Natural Disasters

June marks National Pet Preparedness Month. Hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme heat and unexpected weather patterns bring unique risks to our four-legged family members. So, how can pet parents keep their furry family members safe?

Pet Parent Checklist for Natural Disasters

1.     Have the proper ID: Pets should be microchipped AND have an ID tag on their collar.

2.     Post a “Pet Inside” safety sticker on your front door or window to alert first responders to the presence of a pet in the house.

3.     Stock up on survival gear: Create an emergency kit.

4.     Know where to go: disaster shelters may not be able to shelter pets. Scout pet-friendly hotels or ask friends if you and your pet can stay over in an emergency.

5.     Be prepared: accidents and ailments can occur at any time, especially during chaotic events like an earthquake or flood.

The Acupuncture Vet

There is something called Veterinary Acupuncture which is acupuncture for pets. Acupuncture may be defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to produce a healing response. Each acupuncture point has specific actions when stimulated. This technique has been used in veterinary practice in China for thousands of years to treat many ailments. The Chinese also use acupuncture as preventative medicine.

Acupuncture is used all around the world, either along or in conjunction with Western medicine, to treat a wide variety of conditions in every species of animal. Clinical research has been conducted showing positive results in the treatment of both animals and humans, and the use of acupuncture is increasing. Acupuncture will not cure every condition, but it can work very well when it is indicated.

In New York City, there is an acupuncture vet that makes house calls. Here is his story:

Dr. Jeff Levy knocked gently on an apartment door on the Lower East Side of Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon. “I knock lightly because dogs can get upset if you knock loud, or with a cat, it might run under the bed,” said Dr. Levy, a veterinarian who specializes in acupuncture, exclusively by house call. This house call was for Harpo, a 10-year-old toy fox terrier with a liver tumor that was diagnosed a year ago as terminal and untreatable.

“They told me to just keep him happy for his last couple of months,” said Harpo’s owner, Jess Caragliano, 36, who heard that Dr. Levy, 61, could help provide palliative care during Harpo’s last few weeks. She had him begin weekly acupuncture treatments, and while a year later Harpo’s prognosis has not improved, outwardly he is energetic and thriving, said Ms. Caragliano, the founder of a music marketing company.

 

Dr. Levy, a certified veterinary acupuncturist, assists with rehabilitation and pain management for pets whose owners want to avoid medication or surgery. He also gets referrals from other vets who have been unable to help a pet with traditional medicine.

Nervous or aggressive pets are often more cooperative in familiar surroundings, said Dr. Levy, who treats many older or debilitated cats and dogs that are too fragile, physical or emotionally, to travel. Acupuncture can make pets with cancer more comfortable by stimulating points in the body that help with pain relief, or increase energy, the immune system and appetite, said Dr. Levy, who sat beside Harpo on a rug and inserted a red tipped needle into the top of the terrier’s head.

This is a calming point, explained Dr. Levy, where the yin energy pathways converge. He then inserted a needle between the dog’s shoulder blades, a yang energy point that was “sort of like turning up the thermostat.” Another needle just beyond the last rib would affect the kidney, which “houses the fire of life — it’s like a pilot light,” and can help with arthritis and mobility issues, he said.

Typically, pets fall asleep soon after the needles are inserted. Harpo, a high-energy dog usually excited by visitors, did just that, despite the ambulance sirens and car horns outside. He gave a reflexive yap at some footsteps in the hallway, then put his head down and napped soundly.

Dr. Levy grew up in Mill Basin, Brooklyn, and became interested in veterinary medicine as a child after seeing his pet dachshund, Mushroom, suffer from chronic back problems. Dr. Levy travels with a thick bag, or sometimes several, stuffed with medical records, equipment and acupuncture needles. He typically charges $195 for an initial visit and $150 for each follow-up.

After visiting Harpo, Dr. Levy took a bus and three trains to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to visit Nana, a 14- year-old shepherd mix that collapsed in July and became immobile. Nana’s owner, Vanessa Soderstrom, 40, said that a veterinarian told her, “When the big dogs go down, they don’t get back up, and that I’d have to put him down.” But after a few acupuncture treatments by Dr. Levy, Nana began walking again, she said. Dr. Levy made preparations to put needles along the dog’s back. Observing from the sidelines was Ms. Soderstrom’s Chihuahua mix, Tiny Tony, a pet world celebrity with more than 41,000 Facebook followers.

Dr. Levy is no stranger to celebrity, having treated Mick Jagger’s cat as well as dogs for the likes of Lou Reed, Joan Rivers and Marvin Hamlisch, he said. “Some people like to rub shoulders with celebrities — I like to rub muzzles with their dogs,” said Dr. Levy.

 

 

 

 

Pet Information for Emergencies

Anything can happen nowadays and you will want to be as prepared as possible for any emergencies - including those for your pets. The American Kennel Club offers pet owners valuable advice through a pet emergency planning guide. Here is more:

Disasters and the unexpected can happen.  Being prepared ahead of time is essential during an emergency to be sure everyone, including your pets, are cared for.  Complete your Pet Emergency Planning Guide now, so if disaster strikes, you and your pet will be ready!

Create an easily portable & waterproof tote with emergency supplies and provisions that you can easily access from your home or grab-and-go if you need to evacuate.

1. Food, Water and Meds: Fill waterproof containers with a week’s supply of food and medications; remember drinking water, too!
2. Necessary Supplies: Bowls, extra leashes, and collapsible carriers or crates, cat litter/pan and a manual can opener, favorite toy or treats.
3. Organize your pet’s information – and keep this guide and checklist!
   • Photo and description of your pet, as well as any proof of ownership.
   • Microchip number – be sure to verify your pet’s microchip enrollment information with AKC Reunite at 1-800-252-7894.
   • Veterinarian contact information along with your pet’s medical and/or insurance records.
   • Feeding schedule information.
4. Easily readable map with potential evacuation routes highlighted.
5. Blanket, flashlight and batteries.
6. First Aid Kit, a helpful tool for both humans and pets.

Review the materials in your emergency supply tote and all plans and preparations on a regular basis.

• Check expiration dates on your emergency supplies.
• Are your packed materials seasonally appropriate.
• Have planned evacuation routes changed due to construction or other reasons?
• Is your pet’s microchip record current?
• Assess your flashlights, batteries, drinking water, emergency gasoline, blankets, non-perishable food items.

The Safest Place for Your Pet is to be With You

At the first mention of a pending disaster, take action!

• Ensure all pets are wearing collars with securely fastened, up-to-date identification.
• Check your pet emergency supplies are accessible and easily portable at a moment’s notice.
• Call ahead to confirm emergency shelter arrangements for you and your pets.
• Bring pets inside so you won’t have to search for them if you need to evacuate quickly.

If evacuating:

Never leave your pet at home.  Most evacuations last only a few days, but sometimes you may not be able to return to your home quickly.  Your pet should wear a collar with its rabies tag and identification at all times and have a sturdy crate or carrier for transport.

• Call 800-252-7894 confirm your pet’s microchip has your current contact information, or confirm online using our online records system.
• If you plan to go to a hotel, call ahead to confirm your pet is welcome.

Download a PDF of our Pet Emergency Planning Guide

Disasters and the unexpected can happen.  Being prepared ahead of time is essential during an emergency to be sure everyone, including your pets, are cared for.  Complete your Pet Emergency Planning Guide now, so if disaster strikes, you and your pet will be ready!

Keeping Pets Safe When It's Cold

The East Coast is in the middle of a bomb cyclone and pet owners should be aware of the dangers. As tragic reports emerge of animals succumbing to the cold after being left outside, The Humane Society of the United States urges pet owners to keep all animals indoors during cold weather. 

“Dogs, cats and horses depend on our care, especially during life-threatening cold snaps. Take the animals in, or somehow provide a safe environment for them,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS.

The HSUS also urges citizens that witness animals being left outside to contact their local law enforcement agency to report the concern. Animals left outside are at risk of hypothermia, frostbite and death. Many counties and jurisdictions have cold weather care ordinances in which owners are at risk of facing fines criminal charges if their pets are left outside.

Read about 5 ways to protect your pets this winter here.

Pet Therapy

Therapy pets are a welcome addition to patient care for anyone with a need for comfort and companionship. There are several excellent organizations who provide pet services specifically for seniors including a program through the National Council for Aging that has just produced the National Council for Aging Care's guide on Pets for Seniors

Here are a few others:

Pets for Seniors – Therapy Dogs of Boulder County

therapydogsbouldercounty.com/articles-and-links/pets-for-seniors/

Home→Articles and Links→Pets for Seniors. Pets for Seniors. National Council for Aging Care's guide on Pets for Seniors. ©2017 - Therapy Dogs of Boulder ...

Seniors and Pets | Aging In Place

www.aginginplace.org/seniors-and-pets/

Are you wondering how you are going to care for your pet as you age in place? Are you ... This guide will help you decide on the best choice for you. ... Senior dogs and cats are better for the elderly because they are more calm, quiet, and less ...

Senior Citizen Benefits | NCOA - National Council on Aging

https://www.ncoa.org/economic-security/benefits/

Get our guide to benefits for seniors ... them pay for prescription drugs, medical care, food, or heat for their homes. ... Senior SNAP Participation Visualization.

Missing: pets

Senior Pets: Caring for Our Aging Dogs and Cats | CVMA | California ...

https://cvma.net/publications/press.../senior-pets-caring-for-our-aging-dogs-and-cats/

September is National Senior Pet Health Month, a time when California veterinarians urge all pet owners to be aware of the signs of aging. Common ailments ...

 

Be Extra Careful in Your Choice of Pet Food

This just in from ConsumerWorld.org:

Bad Stuff Lurks in Some Pet Food

The Clean Label Project tested over 900 pet food products of 74 brands for dangerous levels of environmental and industrial contaminants. They have divided their finding into the 10 best and worst rated products in each category of dog and cat food.

Check this list for the top ten and top bottom products.