A picture of Rhianna with her new pup... it's going everywhere with her, including shopping at Stella McCartney! I am not a fan of dogs as accessories, so I hope this pup is just very well loved and taken care of and not just more arm candy a la Paris Hilton.
btw- this is a NEW pup! as of 2009!
The Humane Society of the United States created the Dogs of Valor Awards to honor and celebrate dogs who have performed an extraordinary act of courage by heroically helping a person in need. Finalists for this year’s award, sponsored by PetPlan Pet Insurance, were chosen based on the significance and impact of their heroic actions.
The panel of celebrity judges, including Benji (with the help of her humans, Joe and Kathleen Camp), Ron Burns, Randy Pobst, and Judge David Young, will choose a Valor Dog of the Year and three Runners Up. The Humane Society wants to hear from you!
Cast your vote for your favorite heroic hound before the voting closes on Friday, May 15 2009 at 5 PM Eastern Time. The finalist who receives the most votes will be named this year’s People’s Hero winner!
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Click on this link to vote for your favorite! | ||||
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/dog_of_valor/second_annual/peoples_hero_award.html |
What had started as an attempt by Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village’s security force to get a few residents and their dogs off the lawn in Peter Cooper ended up in a physical fight that left one resident complaining of injuries and local dog owners feeling threatened.
According to a Peter Cooper resident who was involved, the fight between residents and security began last Thursday afternoon when three of his neighbors had their dogs on the grass, which is against complex rules.
Robin Weiss, 62, who is not a dog owner himself, happened to be walking home with a bag of groceries at that time when he saw a neighbor, Paul Strauss, arguing with a security officer, not far from 441 East 20th Street.
According to Weiss, the officer, Gregory Anderson, was accusing Strauss of trying to “sic” his rat terrier, Terry, on him and was pushing him, despite Strauss’ attempts to leave.
“They ripped Paul’s shirt off,” said Weiss of the argument. “It was a disgrace.”
Strauss later told T&V he had actually been getting choked with his own shirt, and it came off in the struggle. He declined medical attention and later said he was fine, though he said he did want to make a police report. A cop at the scene, however, “wouldn’t let me,” Strauss said. “She said, ‘nothing happened.’”
But something did happen, according to bystanders in the crowd which had grown at that point.
When seeing Strauss arguing with a security officer, Weiss stepped between the two of them. That’s when someone attacked him from behind, he said, sending him flying face first into the grass.
“I don’t remember it,” said Weiss, who found out he’d been knocked unconscious momentarily by another security officer after two girls who had been walking nearby asked him if he was okay.
“I said sure, I’m fine-I had no idea what happened.”
He was also handcuffed by a member of security, he was told, though he doesn’t remember that either.
Later, when a police officer arrived and asked Weiss if he was okay, he attempted to respond, “but I was incoherent,” he said. “It came out, blehhhhhh.”
Police told T&V they had no record of the incident.
Five days later, on Tuesday morning, the only evidence of Weiss’s contact with the ground was a yellow bruise on his right temple. Not having any medical insurance, he never went to a doctor. He said his neck still hurts and his head “isn’t right.”
“Every day I get more angry about what this guy did to me,” said Weiss, a former business attorney. “I have no idea who attacked me, but whoever it was is a criminal. I’ve been thinking a lot about what could have made his action proper-nothing. No one was screaming ‘help me’ or ’stop thief.’”
On Friday, Weiss complained to the security department and said the department’s chief officer, Bill McClellan, apologized for the officers’ behavior.
A spokesperson for Tishman Speyer told T&V Anderson has been relieved of patrol duties “pending the outcome of our review of the incident” and that “it would be premature to comment further until after we have concluded this process.”
While unsure exactly when or how the argument became physical in the first place, Weiss recalled McClellan mentioning that security had been having problems with some dog owners’ behavior around the complex.
“But,” he said, “I don’t have a dog.”
Dog owners petition for dog run
Ironically, critics of the dog-friendly policy enacted in ST/PCV over a year ago have complained that security hasn’t done enough to stop the actions of irresponsible dog owners like allowing their pets to bark continuously and not cleaning up after them.
But other residents who do own dogs said last week’s incident was proof that the community is sorely in need of a dog run.
Kathy Gross Compitus, who recently started a petition in the hopes of getting a dog run open in ST/PCV, said she believed a dedicated space for dogs would help soothe relations between those who are pro and anti-pooch.
“It would make things a lot better,” said Compitus, who recently earned her master’s in animal behavior and communication from CUNY. “I’ve had people yell at me for walking my dogs near the trees. One woman, if your dog steps on the grass, rings a cowbell out of her window, and she starts screaming, ‘Shame! Shame!’ I was like, lady, what are you doing? It’s 9 a.m.”
Compitus added that dog runs available at nearby parks aren’t the answer.
“Stuyvesant Park is only open certain hours. Tompkins Square is one of the most dangerous dog parks in the city. There are a lot of fistfights, like your dog looked at my dog funny. Madison Square Park is nice, but it’s kind of far.”
Her petition is online at www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stdogrun and her dog blog is at www.wigglypups.com.
Another petition for a dog run in ST/PCV, begun by Peter Cooper resident Howard Sloane, is also online, at www.pcvstdog.com.
At one point, Tishman Speyer had advertised a special area for dogs in the complex on its official website (www.pcvst.com), but according to Compitus, noise was the reason that plan was scrapped.
“I was told by security that where they wanted to put it, it would have echoed off the buildings,” she said.
Like many dog owners in ST/PCV, Peter Cooper resident Cliff Medney said he supports the idea for a dog run in the complex. And, despite what happened on Thursday, he feels the influx of dogs in the community has been mostly positive. For one thing, he said, it has spared many animals from having to be put down, like his own rescue dog, an Airedale named Abby. It has also brought neighbors together who might not have otherwise become friends.
“It’s had the unintended consequence of people getting to know their neighbors,” said Medney. If there’s a generation gap or an economic gap, all those gaps go away through dogs.”
He and his wife, Josana, are just two people in a group of dog walkers that meets every morning in front of 511 East 20th Street. On a typical morning, the “7:30 a.m. group” consists of about 10 people and their four-legged friends, all socializing outside. This often involves dogs on the grass.
“But if that’s the biggest thing going on in Stuyvesant Town or Peter Cooper, come on, get over it,” said Cliff.
That said, he agreed owners who don’t clean up after their dogs should be fined-or worse for repeat offenders. “There’s no excuse for that,” he said. “It’s disgusting.”
Naturally, the gossip this week amongst the 7:30 a.m. crew has been all about Weiss and security. One dog owner said she was once chased off the grounds by security for walking her dog on the grass.
“I don’t see them going after the cyclists,” she said.
For those of you in the Peter Cooper Village/ Stuyvesant Town community, we have great news - Wiggly Pups will soon be opening a docggy daycare! It will be located in the Gramercy Park area of New York City and PCV/ST dogs will receive an opening week discount...
The daycare should be opening this summer - in August. Please send us an email and let us know if you are interested and exicted about the opening! You can reach us at wigglypups@gmail.com
See you there!
News Release By Honda
New dog transportation features turn Element into the alpha dog of pet travel
TORRANCE, Calif., U.S.A., April 8, 2009 - New dog-friendly transportation concepts designed for the Honda Element add canine-specific enhancements to one of the most dog-friendly vehicles available, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced at the New York International Auto Show.
Developed specifically for the Element, the Dog Friendly™ components demonstrate the potential for a dedicated pet restraint system designed to meet the needs of dog owners. A finalized version of the 
Dog Friendly Element is scheduled to debut this fall. Major components will likely include:
· a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an elevated platform;
· second row and cargo area pet restraint systems;
· an extendable cargo area load-in ramp;
· a 12V DC rear ventilation fan;
· second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design (matches the bed fabric);
· all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern;
· a spill-resistant water bowl; and
· Dog Friendly exterior emblems.
“In an interesting turn of events, cars are now chasing dogs,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. “Factory integration of a cushioned pet bed, restraint systems and other components is intended to transform the Element into the ultimate dog car.”
The Dog Friendly equipment, engineered specifically for the Element, is designed to accommodate the transportation of dogs in the second-row passenger seats or in the cargo area. The restraint system concepts were designed and fabricated by Takata Corporation, one of the world’s leading automotive safety systems suppliers, exclusively for display on the Dog Friendly Honda Element concept vehicle. The restraint concepts are intended to complement the potential of the vehicle’s existing restraint systems by helping to protect the dog and helping to prevent injuries to other vehicle occupants due to an unrestrained dog impacting them in a collision. For convenience, a ramp is included to help dogs access the rear cargo area. The ramp stores underneath the bed platform and can be conveniently accessed when the rear tailgate is down.
“In-vehicle pet restraints should be part of every dog owner’s safe travel practices,” said Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “The expanded availability of manufacturer-based restraints and features can help elevate pet comfort and convenience for owners. Good ventilation and access to water on longer trips should also be primary concerns.”
The Element has long been recognized for its dog-friendly interior with an easy-to-clean urethane floor and expansive, flat cargo area (up to 74.6 cu-ft. with rear seats removed), wide-opening side cargo doors, low lift-in height, and accommodating dimensions for tall items. The consumer pet travel advice Web site, Dogcars.com, honored the 2007 Honda Element with its first-ever “Dog Car of the Year” award.
According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, Inc., 39 percent of all households own at least one dog with an estimated total U.S. dog population of 74.8 million. All pet purchases and related products and services comprise an estimated total market value of more than $43 billion (2008 est.).
Substantially restyled for the 2009 model year and available with new features, the Honda Element builds on its spacious and versatile SUV character with a more chiseled exterior appearance and a refreshed interior design. Three unique Element styles are available that range from the rugged and simple Element LX, to the more refined Element EX, to the sporty Element SC.
Powered by a 2.4-liter i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine, the Element is available with either a 5-speed manual transmission (standard) or an available 5-speed automatic transmission. Available Real Time 4WD™ can enhance all-weather traction. The interior provides seating for up to four people along with a cargo area that adapts to large items with its flip-up rear seats that fold flat, fold up and to the side, or can be removed altogether (64-plus seating arrangements). The Element EX has a water resistant urethane-coated utility floor that wipes down for ease-of-cleaning and seat fabric that resists moisture.
For 2009, all Elements incorporate significant exterior styling changes that include new front grille and bumper designs, restyled front fenders (now metal, previously composite material), a new hood design, squared wheel arches, and new headlight and taillight configurations. Interior enhancements include revised dashboard color combinations with titanium-look side linings, new fabric patterns, and enhanced switchgear designs and instrument panel meter graphics. The Element EX exclusively adds a new convertible center console with a removable cooler/storage box.
