Spring is days away, and...

Spring is days away, and the excitement is real.Enjoy those walks with a new pet: Mar 19-20

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Who is ready for spring? As the snow has melted away, think of how letting your pup out can affect the grass around you. Not only you — but your neighbors — if they should stray off the path.

Most homeowners let their dogs use the backyard as their own personal toilet. After a winter of such potty practice, when the snow melts, you’ll find your lawn speckled with unsightly yellow patches. First off, what causes these patches?

The concentration of nitrogen in the dog’s urine depends on the type of dog, its sex, and what the animal eats.

Female dogs also tend to cause more damage than males because they squat and urinate in one concentrated patch, whereas the males spray their urine over larger areas. Diets high in protein can increase nitrogen concentration in the urine since protein breaks down to release nitrogen compounds.

So, how do we prevent this? You can start by changing your dog’s diet. Feed the dog food with lower protein content so there is less protein and subsequently less nitrogen in the urine.

There are other options. Aside from changing your pup’s diet, there are vitamins and nutrients that can help.

We are always grateful to the volunteers who organize pet events every week in and around the borough, send out announcements, hold fundraisers, help with supplies, clean cages, feed animals, make sure the pet’s medical needs are attended to and so much more. All of this is done without pay, all for love, and behind the scenes.

SICAW’s pet events in and around the borough are listed below, along with local places to eat with your dog and dog-friendly parks on Staten Island. Click through the photos above to meet the lovable dogs and cats up for adoption this weekend.

ADOPTION EVENTS

Mar. 19

SICAW will be at PetSmart, 1525 Forest Ave., from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Louie’s Legacy will be at PetSmart, 1525 Forest Ave., from 11 a.m to 3 p.m.

Mar. 20

SICAW: Bricktown Commons Petco, 165 Bricktown Way, Suite 1C, on Sunday from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Louie’s Legacy will be at PetSmart (Flatiron) - 1107 Broadway Ste. 101, New York, NY 10010 11 a.m. to 3 p.m

Pitbulls and Addicts

We’ve been working with Pitbulls and Addicts for some time. We’d like to share an adoptable that is looking for a good home. Summer, who was abandoned, was rescued by our friend, Mike. She is loving, kind, a true companion, a service dog, and deserves to be appreciated. Check her out here.

GIFTS FOR ANIMAL LOVERS

Stellar Villa is a New York City-based artist who recently raised over $11,500 for pet shelters after she single-handedly created 1,252 custom pieces of art of people’s pets over the course of 21 days. Now, she is working to create ongoing partnerships with local animal shelters to continue raising money. If you’re looking for a gift for a dog lover, check out Stellar’s work.

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Flagship’s Dog Club is temporarily suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak but will .

Do you love dogs? Do you love beer? Then fetch a cold one at the Flagship Brewing Co.’s Dog Club. The club will meet every Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Flagship Brewery taproom, 40 Minthorne St., off Bay Street.

The Flagship’s Dog Club is for that special breed of dog and beer lovers who can bring their (well-behaved) pups to the meetings. Once a month, there will be a guest speaker to talk about their own specialty or knowledge regarding the welfare of their treasured, loyal friends.

For more information, visit https://www.restaurantji.com/ny/staten-island/the-flagship-brewing-company-/ or call 718-448-5284.

ONGOING

1.Low-cost or free spay and neuter: The ASPCA’s free and low-cost mobile spay and neuter van travels throughout the five boroughs in every neighborhood.

Low-income pet owners in the five boroughs with proof of public assistance, such as welfare, Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), disability, food stamps, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or public housing qualify for free spay/neuter services for their cat or dog. If you have a pit bull, pit-bull mix, or certain large breed dogs, it’s also free.

For exact times the van will be in your area as well as pre-visit instructions, visit aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter, or call 877-SPAY-NYC (877-772-9692).

2.Apply for a dog license. Save time and postage by applying online. For an application or more information, visit nyc.gov/doglicense. View the flyer in the gallery above.

HOW TO CONTACT LOCAL RESCUE GROUPS

ALFRESCO DINING WITH YOUR DOG

Alfresco dining is temporarily suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

· Angelina’s Ristorante, 339 Ellis St., Tottenville, 718-7-2900

· The Burrito Bar, 585 Forest Ave., West Brighton, 718-815-9200

· Ciro Pizza Café, 862 Huguenot Ave., Huguenot, 718-605-0620

· Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn, 4254 Arthur Kill Rd., Charleston, 718-984-1202

· Shake Shack, Staten Island Mall, 2655 Richmond Ave., New Springville, 929-529-0513

· Silver Lake Golf Course, 915 Victory Blvd., Silver Lake, 718-442-4653

Call ahead for reservations. For more information, check out NYC Dogs in restaurant rules.

DOG-FRIENDLY PARKS

· Allison Park, off-leash area, the field at the end of the trail bordered by Prospect Avenue, Sailors Snug Harbor Cemetery, and the pond.

· Amundsen Trail, off-leash area, between Amboy Road and Hylan Boulevard.

· Arthur Von Briesen Park, off-leash area, lawn area, mid-park on the right side.

· Bloomingdale Park, dog run, Maguire Avenue behind athletic fields closer to Ramona Avenue.

· Clove Lakes Park, off-leash area, the open field above picnic area near Royal Oak Road, and Rice Avenue.

· Clove Lakes Park, off-leash area, Brookside Avenue between Alpine Court and Kingsley Avenue (lawn area).

· Clove’s Tail Park, off-leash area, lawn area, corner of Victory Boulevard and Little Clove Road.

· Conference House Park, dog run, Clermont Avenue, and Massachusetts Street.

· Cozzens Woods Park, off-leash area, Page Avenue between Hylan Boulevard and Amboy Road.

· Crescent Beach Park, off-leash area, Tennyson Drive, and Glover Avenue. Located in the meadow area leading to the beach.

· Evergreen Park, off-leash area, Greaves Avenue, and Evergreen Street.

· Father Macris Park, off-leash area, lawn beyond ballfield.

· Ida Court Playground, dog run, Ida Court between N. Railroad Street & Drumgoole Road East

· Lemon Creek Park, off-leash area, the bottom of Seguine Avenue at Johnston Terrace; just below playground.

· Siedenburg Park, off-leash area, Greaves Avenue, and Evergreen Street

· Silver Lake Park, dog run, Victory Boulevard below the pavilion, across from the Parkview Apartments.

· South Beach Park, off-leash area. Note: On sand after Labor Day and before Memorial Day.

· Willowbrook Park, off-leash area, Archery Range Field.

· Wolfe’s Pond Park, dog run, to the left of Cornelia Avenue.

For more information with rules and regulations, visit nycgovparks.org/facilities/dogareas.

BEACHES AND BATHING FACILITIES

Dogs are not allowed to enter any bathing facilities, including New York City beaches. However, from Oct. 1 through May 1, leashed dogs are allowed on the sand and boardwalk at Midland Beach and South Beach.

Leashed dogs are allowed on the boardwalk/promenade at Midland Beach and South Beach.

For more information with rules and regulations, visit nycgovparks.org/facilities/dogareas.

PET POISON HELPLINES

If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, contact the Pet Poison hotline at 855-764-7661 or petpoisonhelpline.com, or contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 or aspca.org.

As the seasons change, keep in mind the plants that are poisonous to animals: https://www.rover.com/blog/poisonous-plants/

TO REPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY

To report an incident of animal abuse, call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

To contact an environmental conservation police officer or report suspected violations, contact the DEC Law Enforcement Dispatch Center at 844-DEC-ECOS (844-332-3267) or dec.ny.gov/.

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