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11/06/2022 – LI-DOG Howl-o-Ween Pawty 2022Final

This entry was posted in Dog-Friendly Events Event Archive and tagged 2022 Costume Contest LI-DOG Howloween Pawty Nov. 6th Off-Key Tikki on by

LI-DOG’s Dog Costume Pawty a Barking Success!

BY SAM DESMOND

Leia, Obi Wan and Their Ewok bulldogs. Best Pet/Pet Parent Duo Winners. Photo Credit: Feng Sherri Hsiu

Frankie the Pilot and his Pilot and Flight Attendant Parents

Jr. Pilot Frankie with his Pilot and Flight Attendant Parents, 1st Place Best Pet/Pet Parent Duo

Jurassic Bark Dinosaurs and Scientist Parents Best Pet/Pet Parent Duo Winners

Good boys and girls performed tricks for treats and competed in close match-ups for best costume on Sunday, November 6th at Off-Key Tiki in Patchogue at the Long Island Dog Owners Group’s (LI-DOG) Howl-o-Ween Celebration.
With nearly 100 people in attendance (and almost as many four-legged party goers), the event celebrated all things wonderful about the holiday and canine companionship. “When we see dogs at an event like this, it shows that they’re an important part of people’s families and that people feel they belong in public spaces,” said LI-DOG President Ginny Munger Kahn.

As a testament to the greater Long Island community’s love of dogs, there were over 20 generous gift baskets donated for Howl-o-Ween raffles from businesses all over Nassau and Suffolk. This included an anonymous donation of a Grand Prize of a three-night getaway to Myrtle Beach at a condo.

Other notable donations included: a hand drawing of your dog by artist Alan Meschkow; his wife Gail donated a hand-knit sweater for your dog and matching hat for you;
IHOP in Oceanside donated once a month pancakes for a year, plus there were several wine donations and beautiful hand-painted wine glasses.

Click on the Sponsors Collage (below) to see a full list of business and individual sponsors.

Of course, the biggest supporter of the event was Off-Key Tiki, which has been sponsoring fundraising events for LI-DOG for nearly ten years. In that time, hundreds of canines have fallen in love with the “beach” area and fire pit while surrounded by live music. The puppers generally sit and enjoy the ambiance much like being at home on the couch with the TV on. Each year, Off-Key Tiki has provided free hot dogs and hamburgers for the human attendees (much to the envy of their four-legged companions). This year, Off Key Tikki also donated gift certificates for the top three contest winners.

Music and announcements were provided by MC Mike Kaplow (himself a husky aficionado) who played a variety of music from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s throughout the event.

And proving what a democratic gathering Howl-o-Ween is, there were dogs of all sizes and breeds attending the party. “There was quite the diversity of small, medium, and large dogs, who were well-behaved and greeted new people and new dogs in a comfortable way,” said  Munger Kahn.

The main draw of the event though were all the adorable dogs in costume. “It was unbelievable the creativity and care people put into their costumes,” said Munger Kahn.

Three contests were held: two Costume Contests, plus a Tricks for Treat contest.

Chocolate Labradoodle Best Tricks Winner

Best Tricks Winner Oliver

The winner of the Tricks for Treats contest was Oliver, a chocolate-colored Labradoodle, who proudly wore his 1st Place medal the rest of the event. “It was the originality and the interaction between presenter and dog we were looking for,” said Judge Alan Meschkow. “With Oliver and his presenter, you could just see how good the eye contact was and how bonded the handler and the dog were,” Meschkow said. Coming in a close second was Cosmo, a Corgi, with Bulldog Riley coming in a close third.

 

 

With 29 contestants, it was fierce competition for the two costume contests showdown–Best Pet and Best Pet/Pet Parent duo.

 

Best Standalone Pet Winners Harley and Cassie Photo Credit: Joann Garguola

The winners of the Best Standalone Pet Costume contest were: 

First Place – Harley and Cassie, the Magician and his rabbit

Second Place – Percy, the T-Rex

Third Place – Gidget, the Unicorn.

 

 

 

 

Jr. Pilot Frankie in His Plane Photo Credit: Diane Mezz

The winners of the Best Pet/Pet Parent Duo were:

First Place – Jr. Pilot Frankie with his parents Mike and Lucy, pilot and flight attendant (in a remote-controlled airplane!)

Second Place – Toby & Clover, the dinosaurs, with Dena and Bryan, Dr. Sattler and Dr. Hammond from Jurassic Park

Third Place – Lexi, Phoebe and Coco as Ewoks with their parents Sherri and Nick as Leia and Obi-Wan

 

 

 

 

Yorkie 911 Volunteer and Pup Photo Credit: Diane Mezz

Rescue organization Yorkie911 came with several of their adoptable pups and Bond Vet, the animal hospital and veterinary services outfit, came to hand out freebies and goodies for the dogs.

There was a paw print printing booth where people could stamp their pups’ paw on a sheet of paper and then make flowers or other designs around the paw print. For additional canine posterity, there was also a photo booth where people could pose their dogs.

 

 

More than a dozen volunteers were also on hand to set up, welcome guests, sell raffle tickets, and judge the contests.

This was LI-DOG’s most important fundraiser of the year, noted Munger Kahn. The money raised supports LI-DOG’s work to get more access to LI parks and beaches for dog owners and their dogs. Right now, LI-DOG’s main campaign is getting access to non-swimming NYS beaches.

 

 

“We want to congratulate all the winners of our raffle baskets and our contests,” said Munger Kahn.

Paw Print Organizer and Winning Raffle Basket Winner Nikki

Raffle Basket Winner and Paw Print Booth Organizer Nikki

Raffle Basket Winner and His Pup Photo Credit: Joann Garguola

Raffle Basket Winner and Her Dog Photo Credit: Joann Garguola

“The event was a lot of fun and we want to thank everyone, including our amazing volunteers, who joined us with their dogs and made it happen!”

To see all the photos of people and their pups enjoying our Howl-o-Ween Pawty, check out LI-DOG on Facebook and LI-DOG on Meetup. Feel free to tag yourself and your dog!

 

 

Sam Desmond is a Contributing Editor to the Long Island Advance, The Suffolk County News and several other Long Island newspapers. She can be reached at: snd.scribe@gmail.com.

08/26/2022 – Long Island Pet Expo

This entry was posted in Dog-Friendly Events Event Archive and tagged Dog Fashion Show Dog-Friendly Event on by

Picture of girl kissing dogLong Island Pet Expo in the Park

September 17-18 2022, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

 (Rain dates October 1-2 2022)

Tanner Park, Copiague, Long Island
(Google Maps)

 

 

Join in on the fun and excitement when the Long Island Pet Expo comes to beautiful Tanner Park right on the picturesque Great South Bay. Highlights include:

Dancing with your dog demonstrations. Diana Frohman and her Performing Golden Retrievers perform “Freestyle,” the sport of dancing with your dog, a wonderful display of communication and relationship between dog and handler, set to music.

Maximum K9 Service will showcase and demonstrate advanced obedience; scent detection, featuring their certified bomb detection dogs; tricks training; and Schutzhund, an advance working dog sport which includes obedience, dumbbell retrieval and protection work.

Dogsloversdays Lure Course (Saturday Only). Your dog will have a blast running the lure course. Your family dog can let loose and be a star as they have fun running the agility lure course. A fee will be charged.

Canine Fashion Show & Parade for all Participants on Saturday.

Long Island Parrot Society-See the beautiful parrots and learn about the LI Parrot Society.

There is also an outstanding venue of products and services pertaining to pets, pet lovers, and families, including rescue and adoption groups.

The Pet Expo in the Park is held in conjunction with the Long Island Family Festival sponsored by the Copiague Chamber of Commerce. FREE ADMISSION AND FREE PARKING. LEASHED PETS ARE WELCOME.

For more information visit:  Long Island Pet Expo in the Park | Family Pet Shows

.08/26/2022 – Long Island Pet Expo

This entry was posted in Dog-Friendly Events Event Headline Archive on by

Long Island Pet Expo in the Park

September 17th and 18th, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

(Rain dates October 1st and 2nd)

Tanner Park, Copiague

There’s something for everyone at The Long Island Pet Expo in the Park: Demonstrations; a Lure course for your dog; a Canine Fashion Show & Parade; and just plain enjoyment.  You and your pets can be part of the fun and excitement. For details, check out Long Island Pet Expo in the Park! 

Petition Response

This entry was posted in Uncategorized on by

 

No Dogs Allowed Sign

Photo Credit: Joann Garguola

 

Over 2,500 People Sign LI-DOG’s Petition to Lift the Dog Ban on New York State’s Long Island Beaches!

 

***Dropbox link at bottom of release with photos***

 

Get the Petition

 

Get the LI-DOG Beach Petition Press Release.pdf

 

March 8, 2021, Huntington, NY – More than 2,500 people have signed a petition launched Jan. 29th by the Long Island Dog Owners Group (LI-DOG) to lift the ban on dogs on New York State’s Long Island beaches! The Lift the Dog Ban on NY’s Long Island Beaches petition on Change.org received more than 1,000 signatures over its first weekend and then doubled to over 2,000 signatures within 10 days of launch. The petition has also generated dozens of supporting comments from Long Islanders and other New Yorkers. (See Highlights of Comments below.)

The petition is the result of years of complaints from Long Island dog owners about lack of access to Long Island’s primary recreational resource. Long Island is surrounded by miles of public beaches, but the vast majority of this public land is off limits to people with dogs. The New York State Office of Parks, which manages 14,000 acres of Long Island parks that have shoreline access, prohibits ALL access to NYS beaches on Long Island to people with dogs.

The petition states that denying access to so much recreational space to dog owners who pay taxes, which support this public land, is unacceptable. People should be allowed to bring their dogs to designated dog-friendly beaches.

The petition makes clear that LI-DOG is not asking for access to big, well-known public beaches where there are lifeguards and people sunbathe and swim during the summer. Dog owners are asking for access to non-lifeguarded beaches and shoreline areas appropriate for people with dogs. LI-DOG President Ginny Munger Kahn noted that there are long stretches of beach beyond lifeguarded areas where people could walk their dogs on-leash, just as the National Park Service allows at Fire Island National Seashore from Labor Day until March 15th. Moreover, there are bayside and Sound beaches where people don’t swim that would be appropriate for people with dogs.

The petition asks New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York State elected officials to lift the dog ban on LI beaches and work with LI-DOG to designate appropriate beaches for people with dogs.

NY’s ban on dogs on NYS beaches impacts tens of thousands of Long Islanders. Estimates are that 457,000 Long Island families have dogs. Those numbers have likely increased substantially as approximately 12.6 million households nationwide took in pets from March to December last year, according to the American Pet Products Association.

The pandemic highlights that access to public parks and beaches is critical to the health and well-being of people and their pets. In his State-of-the-State address in January asking for $440 million for public parks, Gov. Cuomo noted, “the ability to safely recreate outdoors will remain a critical complement to public health measures for months.” However, New York State has closed off thousands of acres of public land to Long Islanders with dogs at this critical time.

It’s time for Gov. Cuomo and elected officials to lift the ban on dogs on Long Island beaches. Public officials should work with LI-DOG to designate appropriate beaches and shoreline areas for people to take their dogs for exercise and recreation.

LI-DOG’s petition has generated dozens of supportive comments from Long Islanders and other New Yorkers. Check out all the great comments below:

Margo K., Port Washington, “As a taxpayer and dog owner it is ridiculous that I can’t walk my dogs on most Long Island beaches. My taxes support lots of public lands I don’t use like golf courses, tennis courts, sports arenas, etc. My taxes support the health & maintenance of the beaches so I should be allowed to walk my on-leash dogs on the beaches. And it shouldn’t be a poop issue, as I always pick up after my dogs, unlike numerous people who leave trash.”

Linda M., North Babylon, “I live and pay taxes in an area with vast beaches, yet cannot bring my two well behaved dogs to the beach! That needs to change.”

Tricia R., Massapequa, “I would love to enjoy outdoor spaces with my dog on public lands I pay taxes on! It is so vital, now more than ever, to enjoy the freedom that outdoor spaces provide and to enjoy them with our pets that we see as family! Long Island is particularly an unfriendly dog region and yet nearly every household has a dog…These old policies and laws need to be updated!”

Eileen D., Long Beach, “Long Island is an island, surrounded by shoreline with beaches. There must be a way to share some of the NYS controlled beachfront with dog owners and their dogs. Other states do it so NYS can figure out how to do it too…Please help us enjoy our dogs at the beach legally, safely, and fairly for all concerned.”

Gail P., Centerport, “Dogs are family and we taxpayers should be allowed to bring them with us to quiet beaches.”

Michael R., Merrick, “With so much beach on the Long Island Sound and ocean sides there must be areas opened up for dog owners.”

Judy D., Holbrook, “…The image of dogs running on beaches, splashing in the waves, even catching a Frisbee are iconic to American culture, yet the reality is denied to so many Long Islanders. It’s time to change that.”

Honi R., Baldwin, “Dogs do so much to improve our mental and physical health. Spending some time on a beach with them is good for both mind and spirit. Dogs should be allowed certain hours of the day and definitely off season. They certainly keep the beach cleaner than a lot of humans.”

Melissa S., Smithtown, “My dogs are part of my family. We have been looking for dog friendly places to retire because Long Island is one of the worst places to be…We are beach lovers and would love to share these moments with them. The [f]act that I cannot walk my dogs on a beach that is EMPTY most of the year is really ridiculous.”

Bonnie A., NY, “I love taking my dog for a walk on the beach. I am a responsible dog owner and always clean up after my dog.”

Carol G., Hampton Bays, “Long Islanders are responsible pet owners and tax payers and should have the option to walk their dog on a beach. Dogs are an integral part of family life on Long Island.”

William R., Port Washington, “It’s estimated that there are 459,000 dog-owning households on Long Island, yet NY State prohibits ALL access to New York State beaches on Long Island to people with dogs. This is wrong and must be changed.”

John D., East Northport, “I live near the North Shore beaches and would love to bring my dogs with me when I walk along the sound.”

Barbara W., New Hyde Park, “Because it’s shameful that responsible dog owners with their dogs are not allowed!!”

Michelle H., Great River, “Responsible dog owners should have beach access”

Theresa S., Levittown, “I have 2 dogs that love the water and I would love to just take a nice walk on the beach with them. I always have poop bags with me and if everyone cleans up after their dogs there should not be an issue. Long Island seems to be the worst place in the country when it comes to places dogs can go.”

Richard V., Syosset, “Long overdue!”

Sherri P., Patchogue, “It’s the right thing to do!”

To see the petition, go to Lift the Dog Ban on NY’s Long Island Beaches on Change.org.

Dropbox link with photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s4au7znf6rghsuf/AAAkk7ulWrwoQERFlHaMy_Kha?dl=0

Photo Credits: LI-DOG or Joann Garguola, LI-DOG

Friends of Long Island Dog Parks, which does business as The Long Island Dog Owners Group, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to public parks and beaches for Long Island dog owners and their dogs. Since its founding in 1998, LI-DOG has worked with elected officials and parks officils to open 10 dog parks and dozens of dog-friendly parks and trails around Long Island. For more information, go to www.lidog.org.

# # #

beachpetition

This entry was posted in Latest News Article on by

 

Photo Credit: Joann Garguola

Lift the Dog Ban on New York’s Long Island Beaches!

 

Let People Bring Their Dogs to the Beach

 

Sign the Petition NOW!

 

The Long Island Dog Owners Group (LI-DOG) has launched a campaign and online petition to get access to New York State beaches on Long Island. Long Island is surrounded by hundreds of miles of beaches, but the vast majority of this public parkland is off-limits to people with dogs.

The New York State Office of Parks manages 14,000 acres of Long Island parks that have shoreline access. Yet, NYS prohibits ALL access to New York State beaches on Long Island to people with dogs! LI-DOG’s petition on Change.org asks NY Governor Andrew Cuomo and NYS elected officials to lift the ban on dogs on LI beaches.

Denying access to so much recreational space to dog owners who pay taxes that support this public parkland is unacceptable. For many people, walking, running and playing with their dogs outdoors is their main recreational activity. People with dogs have the right to enjoy public parks and beaches just like hikers, bikers, joggers or anyone else.

New York’s ban on dogs on NYS beaches impacts tens of thousands of Long Islanders. It is estimated that 457,000 Long Island families have dogs. Because of New York’s longstanding, outdated policy, these families can’t take their dogs to the beach for exercise and recreation. Veterinarians, trainers and animal behaviorists agree dogs need exercise and socialization for their health and well-being.

The pandemic highlights that access to public parkland is a basic right and need—whether you have a dog or not. During the pandemic, attendance at Long Island’s public parks and beaches soared as people sought safety from the virus and freedom from isolation at home in outdoor spaces. In January, Gov. Cuomo said in his State of the State message that “the ability to safely recreate outdoors will remain a critical complement to public health measures for months,” but Parks officials on LI have closed off thousands of acres of public land to people with dogs.

There is no reason New York State officials cannot find ways to accommodate people with dogs on its Long Island beaches. Parks systems around the country, including those on the East End of Long Island, have found ways to allow people with dogs to enjoy beaches. Long Island dog owners are just as responsible as dog owners in other areas of the country.

Let’s Be Clear: LI-DOG is not asking for access to NYS beaches where people swim and there are lifeguards during the summer. LI-DOG is asking for access to non-lifeguarded beaches and shoreline appropriate for people with dogs.

It’s time for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York State elected officials to lift the ban on dogs on Long Island beaches. Denying access to this major public recreational resource to taxpaying citizens is unacceptable.

The Office of Parks should work with LI-DOG to update its policies by designating appropriate beaches for people to take their dogs for exercise and recreation.

Let people bring their dogs to the beach!

What You Can Do NOW: Sign the Petition on Change.org to Lift the Dog Ban on New York’s Long Island Beaches! Show elected officials how much support there is for allowing people to bring their dogs to the beach.

Share the petition with your friends, family and other dog-loving Long Islanders. Share the link on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The hashtags for our campaign and petition are #DogFriendlyLIBeaches and #LIDogFriendlyBeaches. Feel free to add your own!

Once we reach our initial signature goal, we’ll go for more. The more signatures we get, especially from Long Islanders, the more likely we’ll get what we’re asking for—more access to beaches on Long Island!

Don’t forget, let people know WHY you’re signing the petition and what access to beaches means to you and your dog. Comments from individuals are a powerful way to strengthen our message!

We’ll provide updates on the petition, how we’re doing, and next steps soon. Feel free to get in touch with us at lidog_news@yahoo.com.

Thank you for supporting our campaign and online petition!

08/06/2020 – Volunteer LI-DOG Website Assistants Wanted

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ComputerDog volunteer Logo 

Volunteer LI-DOG Website Assistants Wanted!

 

Would you like to volunteer to help keep LI-DOG’s website as the go-to site for Long Island dog owners looking for fun places to go with their dogs? If yes, and you know the basics of the Windows, MAC or Linux operating systems and how to work with WordPress, we would like to hear from you!

We are looking to build a small team of volunteers who can assist our webmaster. A successful team member should be able to learn, with webmaster assistance, how to install and work with a virtual server like Wamp, Mamp or Lamp. This will allow the volunteer to run, experiment with and modify a copy of the lidog website on their own computer. In addition, the volunteer should have, or be willing to acquire, a rudimentary knowledge of HTML, CSS, PHP and SEO.

Our webmaster will assist any volunteer in becoming proficient in the various areas. If you are interested, or know someone who would like to help LI-DOG, email us at admin@lidog.org! Thanks!

.03/16/2020 – COVID-19: INFORMATION FOR PET OWNERS

This entry was posted in Latest News Headline Archive on by


picture of sick dog
Photo © Michael Pettigrew

COVID-19: INFORMATION FOR PET OWNERS

The CDC and the American Veterinary Medical Association have published information concerning the effect of covid-19 on pets. Click on the links below to view these important documents.

AVMA on Covid 19 and Pets

SARS-CoV-2 in Animals

COVID-19 and Animals Frequently Asked Questions

Managing People With COVID-19 in Home Care Who Have Pets

If You Have COVID-19 and Animals