Looking Forward To Every Day with Meatball By Her Side
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Sloane Finn and her Bernese Mountain Dog Meatball are almost inseparable. In fact, we often see the two of them at Fox Meadow Tennis Club where Sloane hits a mean paddleball and Meatball waits patiently just outside the court fence.
Sloane got Meatball as a puppy from a breeder in Ohio in December 2019. She was told that Bernese Mountain dogs are known to be very smart, sweet and affectionate and Meatball fits the bill. Sloane says Meatball is easygoing and likes her to scratch his belly and his back when he sits at her feet. Though his size can be intimidating he’s a baby at heart and loves his squeaky toys.
The two usually go to the dog park every morning so he can play with his friends and run around. She also take him on walks as much as possible. When Sloane is working at home, he lies a few feet away from her, either sleeping or keeping a look out for delivery people. He's very easy going. Meatball’s other happy places are the trail at Twin Lakes and Idaho where he enjoys walks along the Snake River path.
Sloane says Meatball is protective of her. When another dog approaches her Meatball quickly inserts himself between her and the other dog. However he’s not as tough as he looks. He likes to play and has a big boy bark, but if another dog starts to charge, he runs away. Meatball is Sloane's support and companion and she looks forward to spending every day with him.
Feature your dog as the Pet of the Week on Scarsdale10583. Email us at PetsofDale@gmail.com.
Penny: A Pandemic Cavapoo
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- Written by Katy Goldman
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Meet Penny, an adorable 2.5 year old cavapoo (50/50 Cavalier and Poodle). Penny is a pandemic dog, having joined the Blatter family in September 2020. The initial plan was to bring a dog to their family when they bought their first home in 2015, but those plans changed when the Blatters welcomed twin girls in 2016!
Given that the Blatter family consists of mom, dad and four young kids, they knew they wanted a smaller, kid-friendly dog. Penny fits the bill perfectly and is friendly, affectionate and so good with the kids. She is adored by all who meet her, including the mailman!
If you walk past the Blatter house during the day, you will see Penny’s little head peeking out from their bay window. She is likely barking at other dogs passing by or at the leaves blowing in the wind.
Nothing makes Penny happier than taking long walks around her Heathcote neighborhood. Penny has three younger siblings in Scarsdale and loves meeting up with them!
Here is a fun fact about cavapoos – they carry a fading gene. When the Blatters got Penny, she was the color of a penny! Now she is more blonde, but they love her even though her coat no longer matches her name!
Penny can be mischievous! She knows she is supposed to sleep on her dog bed at night, but always sneaks onto her mom and dad’s bed quietly while they are sleep. She also prefer to sleep in, usually belly up snoring away! She loves to snuggle and doesn’t like to be alone.
If mom and dad are out for the evening, you’ll often find Penny sleeping with one of their four children (Morgan 11, Logan 9, Avery and Emily 6).
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Pet of the Week: Ollie to the Rescue
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- Written by Katy Goldman
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Rescue dog Ollie joined the McCabe family in Fox Meadow in February 2021. After a wonderful 13 years with their previous Australian rescue dog Scout, the family knew they wanted to save another life. They searched for months and made several unsuccessful applications on Petfinder.com to adopt a rescue dog. Ultimately, daughter Maddie who is 13 years-old came across Ollie online.
Then known as Di Er, Ollie was rescued from China where there is an inhumane dog meat trade. There, sadly, dog paw soup is a delicacy. Ollie and his brother were rescued from the rear of a restaurant, while awaiting their slaughter. The small rescue organization cannot be named due to concerns of it thwarting their rescue attempts. Suffice to say, they do a wonderful job of saving many dogs from China and finding them homes in the US and Canada. Ollie spent 5 months in Canada with a foster family before coming to Scarsdale.
Despite his rocky start to life, Ollie has settled in well with his new family. He is very loving, enjoys neighborhood walks and is always ready to play with one of his many stuffed toys. Girls Sydney (9) and Maddie (13) enjoy dressing him up. He is incredibly protective of his new home and family and has recently taken to shredding up the mail when it comes through the door! The vet has estimated him to be around 2-3 years of age but is unsure of his breed. She suspects Ollie’s two missing teeth are due to his treatment in China.
Dogs are wonderful companions who quickly work their way into our hearts. So many are in need of a home and the family encourages others to adopt from a shelter or rescue group. Anyone who is interested in learning more, can reach out to Jennifer McCabe at PetsofDale@gmail.com.
Interested in featuring your pet online? Contact us at PetsofDale@gmail.com.
Pet of the Week: Harper Helps Herself
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- Written by Katy Goldman
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Meet Harper Tuber Handwerger, a 6 1/2 year old English Yellow Labrador Retriver. She has been a gentle, loving, strong, capable and FOOD OBSESSED dog since the beginning. She was named after singer Ben Harper.
Harper loves to be outside and is often taken for long walks in the woods. She searches out all bodies of water she can find - no matter how big or small, clean or dirty. When given the chance, she will wallow like a hog and dunk her head in the mud! You can also find Harper walking the streets of Fox Meadow. She will always lay down if she sees another dog, even from afar. She is more comfortable with smaller dogs as she finds them less threatening.
Harper is very protective of her mom, dad and two big brothers. She will not go upstairs in the house until everyone is settled at night. Once everyone is upstairs, Harper will make her way there and start in her mom and dad's bed, fighting for a spot between them. She finds herself being sequestered to the foot of the bed.... Ultimately, Harper works her way downstairs and sleeps on the couch snuggled in blankets.
Much to her family's disbelief, Harper often jumps up to the kitchen table and snatches food -- silently! She somehow never moves a plate or silverware. When she is caught, she puts herself in her crate knowing that should not have stolen food. Her family laughs because Harper's crate is her happy place and they have not found a way to reprimand her!
Local delivery guys are loved by Harper. Be it the postal worker who comes with a treat, the UPS guy whose gloves she tries to steal, or the crossing guard who also gives her treats, Harper doesn't tire of putting herself out there. She always remembers who gives her time and treats.
Feature your pet in the Pet of the Week column. Email us at PetsofDale@gmail.com.
Facilitating and Maintaining Friendships With Doggie Playdates
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- Written by Andrea Seiden
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Scarsdale families understand that playdates are a wonderful opportunity for moms and dads to get to know other moms and dads while their young children make friends of their own. With the right activities and a few well-chosen snacks, everyone enjoys a fun, relaxing afternoon with friends – relationships that may last a lifetime.
But, what happens when the children go off to the Scarsdale Middle School, high school or college and moms don’t have an excuse to sit in the backyard or around the kitchen table with a their posse of friends anymore?
Sloane Worth, a Greenacres resident for 18 years and real estate agent from Houlihan Lawrence, shares that she and her friends now arrange playdates for their dogs. Instead of toddlers playing Simon Says or Tag in her backyard, Sloane’s caramel red Austrian Labradoodles, Whiskey (3-years old) and John B (still a puppy), play fetch and tug of war with their doggie pals. Supervised backyard fun allows the dogs to get the exercise and socialization they need to thrive. “I have had as many as seven dogs chasing a ball in the backyard,” says Sloane. If you don’t mind a little poop and digging, a doggie play date is a great excuse for pet owners to connect over a cup of coffee or glass of wine.
Whiskey and John B love each other as if they were littermates and can spend hours in a park or big yard with or without their neighborhood friends. Originally Labradoodles were bred as therapy dogs, so when Whiskey and John B aren’t chasing each other, they love to cuddle together in a cozy, living room chair. Sloane confides that her Muppet look-alikes on occasion have been known to get into mischief. “They crave eating paper towels and tissues. We are not quite sure how they swallow down the Charmin, but usually what they eat today comes out tomorrow,” Sloane says with a chuckle.
Sloane and her family are frequently seen walking Whiskey and John B on Kingston, Brite, and Huntington. “Walking a dog is a great way to meet your neighbors,’’ Sloane tells us. Going on she shares, “But having a doggie play date is a great way to make friends.”
