From Now on "Like" us on Facebook!

From now on we will be continuing our blog posts on our New Facebook Page! "Like" us at http://facebook.com/bestfriendswhiteplains

Cat Adoption Day - December 11th

Best Friends is hosting an adoption day with Tuffy's Place on Saturday December 11 from 10am-3pm. If you or someone you know is looking for a new cat or kitten please stop by. Maybe you will find your next best friend!

Pets Deserve a Thanksgiving Feast Also

Don't worry about leaving your furry, four-legged family member at Best Friends while you are away for Thanksgiving. At Best Friends we cook a turkey every Thanksgiving so your pets can enjoy their own holiday feast, with a couple slices of turkey, some vegatables, and Iams biscuits for dessert.

Best Friends Pet Care offers "First Class Pampering"

Great feature by the NY1 Travel Reporter aired yesterday and is posted online:




http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/ny1_living/travel/128888/pet-hotel-chain-offer-first-class-pampering



Check it out!

$10 Puppy Grooming Special

Best Friends offers a $10 puppy grooming special for pups 6 months and younger! The special includes a bath with hypo-allergenic shampoo and an oatmeal conditioner, blow dry with our non-heated driers, a full brushout, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and trimming around the eyes, feet and privates if needed. A full body haircut would be an additional charge.

All puppies must be vaccinated for distemper and rabies as per their age requirements. To make an appointment call 914-997-0600.

Big Camper of the Week - Milo Rodriguez

Milo is a 3 year old goldendoodle. He is a happy go lucky boy as you can tell from his picture. He is new to the camp program and both he and his mom love it. Milo runs around and plays all day, which burns off his energy. His mom is happy because when he gets home he is tired and relaxed so she can also relax after a long day at work.

Little Camper of the Week - Tallulah Zimmerman

Tallulah is a regular camper and is a big cuddle bug. She loves to sit with her counselors and give tons of kisses. She also likes to play with her friends Emily, Layla, and Penny.

Pet Photo Day was a success!

Pet Photo Day with photographer Geoffrey Tischman was a big success on Saturday. We helped raise $325 for the SPCA of Westchester in Briarcliff. Thanks to everyone who participated. The photos came out great!

Puppy Training Classes Available at Best Friends

Pet First Aid and CPR

Adopt-a-Dog in conjunction with Greenwich Emergency Medical Service will be hosting pet first aid and CPR classes at 1111 East Putnam Ave, Riverside, CT on the following dates:
Thursday, October 21st
Tuesday, Novemeber 16th
Thursday, December 9th

The classes will be from 7pm-9pm. Class size is limited to the first 16 prepaid registrations Please go to http://www.adoptadog.org/ to register. Program fee $50.

For further information or private classes call Greenwich EMS at 203-637-7505 ext 1074.

Hounds on the Sound

New Rochelle Humane Society and Pet Rescue are hosting their annual Hounds on the Sound event in New Rochelle on Sunday October 3 from 10am-3pm at Glen Island Park. For more info check out their websites.

Puttin on the Dog

Adopt-a-Dog is hosting their 23rd annual Puttin on the Dog event in Greenwich, CT tomorrow Saturday September 23rd. For more info check out their website http://www.adopt-a-dog.org/ .

Pet Adoption Extravaganza!!

Looking for a new best friend? The SPCA of Westchester is having a huge adoption weekend on October 2-3 from 10am-3pm. Checkout their website for more info and for a list of adoptable pets. The event is sponsored by Best Friends Pet Care and there will be almost 200 pets for adoption!

Professional Pet Photo Day

Professional pet photographer Geoffrey Tischman will be doing pet photos at Best Friends in White Plains on Saturday October 30, 2010 from 9am-5pm. The sitting fee of $25 will be donated to the SPCA of Westchester and Geoffrey has discounted his photo packages for this event!

Appointments must be made, so call 914-997-0600 for more info or to schedule your pet's photo shoot.

To check out Geoffrey's work, go to http://www.tischmanpets.com/ .

How to Perform Dog CPR

Dog safety expert Melanie Monteiro demonstrates how to perform dog CPR on a webite called phetched.com. All dog (and cat) owners should know how to perform CPR on their pet in case of emergency. Click on the link to view the video.

http://phetched.com/?p=7313

If you would like more information on pet safety and CPR, you can contact your local American Red Cross.

50% off Retail Sale

Best Friends is holding their annual retail sale! From September 1 to September 29, all retail (excluding food and frontline) is 50% OFF.

Oodles of Doodles

Labradoodles (Labrador X Poodle) and Goldendoodles (Golden Retriever X Poodle) are very popular now a days. They can range from 20 pounds up to over a hundred pounds. They have the energy levels of labs and goldens with the non-shedding benefit of the poodle.

No matter what the size or color, most doodles love to play with other dogs. Here are 9 doodles currently boarding at Best Friends in White Plains. They are all having a blast with the group play sessions offered, especially the four hour play and stay option! For more information on socialization groups for your dog call Best Friends at 914-997-0600.

Pictured left to right: Eddy, Gracie, Kennel Manager Cisco, Rosy, Trainer Matt, Bogey, Bradley, Playtime Associate Jackie, Sydney, Windham, Playtime Associate Barbara Ann, Maggie, Bailey and Playtime Associate Sade.

Little camper of the Week - Fudge Crighton

Fudge is a Boston Terrier mix who recently returned to camp and we are so happy to have this little guy back. He is such a character! He loves to play tug of war, no matter how big the other dog is. He also loves chewing on the nylabones. Welcome back Fudge!!!

Cutest Couple - Maxwell & Penny

Maxwell, a husky mix, and Penny, an English bulldog are the best of friends. They met at Best Friends several years ago and their parents even schedule playdate outside of Best Friends to let these two love birds spend even more time together. 

Little Camper of the Week - Jackson Gersten

Jackson is a 1 yr old black and tan pugle (cross between a pug and beagle). Although we have many pugles in our daycamp, Jackson is the only one of his coloring. He is a very sweet boy and as you can see loves to play with the kong toys. Like many of our pugles, he loves to run around and wrestle but also loves his cuddling time with his counselor.

Cutest Couple - Rocky and Kendall

Rocky and Kendall are 2 young boxers that recently met in our Doggy Daycamp program. They fell in love instantly and love to play together. As boxer owners know, this breed is full of energy. Who else better to play with a boxer than another boxer? They wrestle all day long and wear each other out. It's a match made in Best Friends heaven!

Dangerous Foods for Your Dog

A writer for zootoo.com posted an article for pet owners about certain foods you should never give your dog. Here is part of the article.

Chocolate — Not So Sweet. The dangers of chocolate for pets have been well-publicized, and an increasing number of pet owners are savvy about this big no-no. Even in small quantities, chocolate can be fatal to both dogs and cats, so even if your pet has consumed a tiny amount, this is cause for alarm.

Be sure to “pet-proof” your home to make sure that any candy bowls or gift boxes are out-of-reach and securely put away, since even the smallest pets can find a way to get into toxic treats. If you live in a home with especially curious and crafty animals, you might consider investing in a locking garbage can to avoid any accidental raids on leftovers.

Trim the Fat. The wafting smell of cooking meat will bring any pet into the kitchen looking for scraps. But pet owners should think carefully before indulging whimpers and meows. Foods that are high in fat, such as cheeseburgers and French fries, can be as bad for pets over time as for their humans.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, scrumptious scraps such as these — or any other human food with a high fat content, such as gravy — can lead to life-threatening conditions such as pancreatitis.

Stomp Out the Grapes. Although many dogs seek out grapes and raisins for a natural treat, both foods have been linked to kidney problems, even renal failure. Even small amounts can cause serious reactions in animals, so keep your pets away from these tempting treats.

Crying Over Onions. The dangers posed to pets by onions are less well-known than the dangers from other foods, but the reactions that onions cause can be just as severe. In any form, onions can lead to anemia in both cats and dogs, so steer clear of feeding your pets any leftovers or scraps that contain even tiny bits of this food.

Healthy Alternatives. If you simply must indulge your pet with food from your own plate, consider options that are not only safe for your pet, but also provide health benefits. Foods like brown rice, lean chicken breasts, and oatmeal can help your pet maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity-related complications such as joint problems, cancer, and kidney failure. Sweet potatoes are also a vitamin-rich, safe alternative when your pet is begging to eat just a little taste of “whatever you’re having.”

Dog Wash at New Rochelle Humane Society

New Rochelle Humane Society is hosting their 10th annual Dog Wash on Sunday July 18th from 10am - 3:30pm at the shelter located at 70 Portman Rd in New Rochelle.

A Gaggle of Labs

Everyone knows that labradors are full of energy. A doggy daycamp program is great to help release that energy. The big dog camp at Best Friends in White Plains is full of energetic labs. Here are just a few.

Picture 1 - Top row: Center Manger Kelly, Sparky, Camp Counselor Joanna
Bottom Row: Bruno, Marshall, Summer, Sydney, Maximus

Picture 2 - L to R: Charlie, Camp Counselor Sarah, Max G. Kobe, Assistant Manager Lauren, Brewster, Sarah

Little Camper of the Week - Francine Arena

Francine is a French Bulldog mix who was recently adopted at the SPCA of Westchester's adoption extravaganza weekend in May. She has settled into her new home wonderfully and is a GREAT addition to our Best Friends family also. She loves playing with the other dogs and the staff. Who could imagine that this beautiful girl was sitting in a shelter a month ago?

Big Camper of the Week - Summer Perales

Summer is starting her third summer in Doggy Daycamp at Best Friends. She enjoys playing chase with her other lab friends and chewing on nylabones. She is a very active girl!

Little Camper of the Week - Zack Marino

Zack is a 2 year old Polish Lowland Sheepdog. He the only one of that breed that comes to camp and he is such a sweet boy. Currently Zack is enjoying his Play and Stay vacation while his parents are away. Zack plays all day in camp, his parents can watch him on our webcams while they are away and we send them photo emails, and at night Zack rests in his spacious two room suite.

Big Camper of the Week - Jack Bloom

Jack is an Australian Shepherd mix who loves to run down the slide of the jungle gym. He also likes to wrestle with his camp friends, play fetch and chew on the nylabones. He loves when his parents go away and gets to enjoy his "Play and Stay" vacation with his "best friends".

Miles of Donated Fur Help Clean Up the Gulf

According to an email sent to Best Friends Pet Care by Lisa Gautier, President of Matter of Trust, the fur collection to help with the oil spill in the gulf has been AMAZING!

She writes, "Thanks to all 45,000 businesses and thousands of individuals we have enough hair, fur, fleece and feathers to make more than 25 MILES OF BOOM! Over 10 miles has already been made by hundreds of volunteers! And it is being deployed in municipalities in Florida and Alabama now."

Thank you to all who have donated their pet's fur!

Little Camper of the Week - Giovanni Phillips

Giovanni is a 1 1/2 yr old Beagle who has a blast in camp. He also enjoys our Stay and Play package when his parents go away. Giovanni gets to play with his friends all day and then sleep all night in his spacious two room suite. He's one spoiled pup!

Big Camper of the Week - Pringle Welker

Pringle is a 2 1/2 yr old Lab who is all play! He is a silly boy who loves the jungle gym and to wrestle with his buddies.

Lost Dog

LOST DOG


Name is SADIE has white and black spots and is two years old.

REWARD CALL

914-815-5925

This posting was found on craigslist. If you can help, please do so.

Pet Adoption Extravaganza - May 22nd & 23rd

Best Friends Pet Care is sponsoring a pet adoption extravaganza hosted and held at the SPCA of Westchester in Briarcliff Manor on May 22nd & 23rd from 10am-3pm. Over 200 puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats will be available for adoption.

Join us to adopt a furry new friend now in need of a loving new home. Adoption fee includes spay/neuter, vaccines & microchip. For details, contact Lisa at 914-941-2896 x22 or by email at lisa@spca914.org. To view some of the pets for adoption click here.

Best Friends Grooming Salons Donate Dog Hair to Oil Spill Disaster in the Gulf

A non profit organization called Matter of Trust is collecting donations of clean hair and fur of all kinds to clean up the oil in the ocean. Hair is hydrophobic which means it repels water, it is also great for absorbing oil (greasy hair means that hair collects oil). So Matter of Trust has volunteers making devices called hair mats and hair booms out of recycled hair and nylons- which are then placed in the water to soak up the oil.

Best Friends is saving the dog hair they collect from the grooming salon and shipping it to the volunteers of Matter of Trust. If you would like to donate your dog's hair you can do so by either dropping off a bag of your dogs fur (it must be relatively clean) to Best Friends at 114 S. Kensico Ave in White Plains, NY or by calling 914-997-0600 and setting your dog up with a grooming appointment at Best Friends.

For more info click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwQOD_Ir2vQ

Wags and Whiskers Walkathon & Pet Fair

The SPCA of Westchester is hosting their annual Wags and Whiskers Walkathon & Pet Fair on Saturday May 1st at FDR State Park in Yorktown, NY, from 10am to 2pm. Enjoy a 2 mile walk with your 4 legged friend, music, games, refreshments, and vendor shopping. For more info or to register for the walk go to the SPCA website at http://www.spca914.org/

Pet First Aid Training

Your pet is an important part of your life. By knowing basic pet first aid, you could save your pet's life when an emergency strikes. Learn CPR, first aid skills, and how to recognize and respond to life threatening conditions through hands on practice with cat and dog manikins.

The American Red Cross in Westchester, located at 106 North Broadway in White Plains, NY,  is offering pet first aid classes on Saturday April 24th, Saturday May 22nd, and Saturday June 19th from 9:00am-1:00pm. Call 914-946-6500 x258 for details on how to register or visit their website : http://www.westchestercounty.redcross.org/

Big Camper of the Week - JD Jordan

JD is a 4 1/2 yr old Golden Retriever who loves to take advantage of Best Friends' Stay & Play program when his family goes away on vacation. JD gets to play all day with his friends in daycamp and then sleep the night away in his spacious two room suite. His favorite things to do in camp are chew on the nylabones, gets tons of loving from his counselors, and play with the kong toys.

Little Camper of the Week - Pudge Allan

The first picture shows Pudge, a Bassett Hound, on his very first day at Best Friends at 9 weeks old. He came to daycare several times a week until he turned 6 months and was able to get neutered. The other pictures are from today, Pudge's very first day in Doggy Daycamp! He finally gets to play ALL day long!

New Dog Obedience Classes Starting!

Puppy/Basic Obedience group class - Tuesday evenings starting April 13th from 7:30pm-8:30pm for 6weeks at $175

Puppy/Basic Obedience group class - Thursday evenings starting April 15th from 7:30 - 8:30pm for 6 weeks at $175

Puppy/Basic Obedience group class - Saturday mornings starting April 24th from 10am-11am for 6 weeks at $175

Advanced Obedience group classes - Saturday mornings starting April 24th from 11am- 12pm for 6 weeks at $175

For more information about the classes or to sign up call 914-997-0600.

Best Friends is Spotlighted at the NJ Super Pet Expo

At the New Jersey Super Pet Expo Danielle, the manager from our Windsor, NJ location was interviewed for the "How Cute is Your Pet" segment of The Cute Pet Gazette.   Check out her interview about Best Friends Pet Care.

Big Camper of the Week - Sedona O'Sullivan

Sedona loves to come to camp and play chase with all of her friends. She also loves to cuddle and dance with Jonathan the camp counselor.

Little Camper of the Week - Sammi Giannetti

Sammi started coming to Best Friends when she was about 3months old. She started in puppy playgroup then graduated into the Daycamp program. Sammi is a sweet little girl who has stolen all of our hearts.

Therapy Dog Evaluations

The Good Dog Foundation will be holding Therapy Dog Evaluations at Best Friends Pet Care located at 114 S. Kensico Ave in White Plains, NY on Sunday February 28th from 2pm-5pm. There is no cost to have your dog evaluated. For dogs that do pass the evaluation, registration for classes will be required to become a certified therapy dog. All breeds are welcome. For more information click here.

Little Camper of the Week - Kiwi Ferguson

Kiwi is a the life of the party. She loves to talk, talk, talk to all her friends. She is a high energy girl who loves to play with the kongs and will run all around the room with it in her mouth. Every few months Kiwi loves to be spruced up in our grooming salon.

Big Campers of the Week - Sarah& Brewster Marvel

Sarah is a black lab and Brewster is a yellow lab. They are a mother and son team who have totally different personalities. Brewster is full of energy and loves to play while Sarah is more laid back and enjoys to be pet and cuddled.

Big Camper of the Week - Bruno Kelley

Bruno is a chocolate lab and loves to play tug of war, chew on nylabones, and wrestle with his buddies. Bruno also likes to take advantage of our Saturday camp hours where he gets to play with other big and small campers together.

Little Camper of the Week - Lucca Miller

Lucca is a labradoodle who loves to play chase with his pals in camp. He comes to Best Friends and runs right to his camp room without a look back at Mom. He is so lovable.

Must read books for every dog owner

Here are some must read dog books for every dog owner by Elizabeth Wasserman for The Dog Daily. She is the great-granddaughter of Eric Knight, creator of the Lassie stories. Click the link for her recommendations. http://dogs.myfoxny.com/Happy/dog_books/index.html

Big Camper of the Week - Mookie Brotmann

Mookie is a happy go lucky lab mix who loves to play on the jungle gym. He is full of energy and is able to let it all out when he comes to camp. His big smile tells it all.

Little Camper of the Week - Lee Hurley

Lee is a handsome boy who loves to play with the kong toys. He frequently takes advantage of the stay and play package so he can spend the day with his friends and rest in his suite at night when his mommy goes away. Lee especially loves to play with all his fellow bulldogs in camp.

Greyhounds Need Homes

Many greyhound racetracks, including those in the Northeast, are closing due to the poor ecomony or new state regulations. As a result, hundreds of greyhounds are in need of new homes. NY Fox 5 did a story on the most recent greyhounds released from a MA racetrack to Greyhound Rescue and Rehabilitation. The 6 greyhounds shown in the story will be boarding at Best Friends Pet Care in White Plains until foster homes or their forever homes are available.

To view the Fox 5 story click http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/good_day_ny/100120-greyhounds-need-homes.

For more information about available greyhounds for adoption click http://www.greyhoundrescuerehab.org/.

Mark Your Calendars!

On Saturday February 13th, Best Friends in White Plains will be hosting a variety of different events. Professional Pet Photographer, Geoffrey Tischman, is doing photo shoot appointments from 9am-4:30pm. To schedule an appointment call 914-997-0600. There is a $20 sitting fee that will be donated to local shelter pets. Geoff has discounted his photo packages for this event.

There will also be pet adoptions held from Sandra's 2nd Chance (various breeds of dogs and cats) and Greyhound Rescue & Rehabilitaion.

The Westchester Dachshund Meetup group is meeting from 12pm-2pm and The Responsible Dog Owners of Westchester (all breeds) will be meeting from 2pm-4pm.

Pet Photo Day at Best Friends

Big Camper of the Week - Floyd Bernstein

Floyd is one of the newer campers but he fits in just great! He's full of energy and loves to romp around with his buddies. Floyd has also enjoyed our Stay and Play services. When Mom and Dad go away he gets to play all day in camp and then rest all night in his spacious two room suite.

Little Camper of the Week - Rockie Brown

Rockie has been coming to camp for a while and loves to play with the kong toys and chase her friends around. She is a sweet little girl.

Happy New Year - Little Camper of the week- Dixie McKinsey

Dixie might not look like a little camper on the outside but this sweet gentle girl prefers the little guys over the big ones. She has recently started Camp and has really blossomed into a great player and gives camp two paws up!

Happy New Year! First Big Camper of the year! Reba Ursaner

Reba is an energetic pup who is a poster puppy for why Camp is a great thing to resolve to do for your pet. Reba started out doing our puppy playgroup and graduated into Camp when she got spayed. Reba not only does Camp but also takes advantage of the great Stay & Play deals when boarding and has sported a new doo or two from our grooming salon.

Little Camper of the last week in 2009-Tallulah Zimmermann

Tallulah is a fun loving very playful poodle mix who started camp at the beginning of the year. She loves to play all day and can't wait to get to the door to get in and have fun.

Big Camper of the last week in 2009- Marshall Schwartz

Marshall is a sweet lovable 5 year old yellow Labrador who enjoys playing with his buddies and cuddles with the counselors. He goes to show that even a middle aged dog can have fun in Camp