Pandemic and Pet Care - Leave The Grooming To The Professionals

During these harsh times of being quarantined perhaps maintaining your own hair, beard, or pet’s hair are the least of your worries. However, we have seen a growing trend of people taking on their own self-grooming as well as taking on the grooming of their pets. Transform Tuesday with your pet at home is not a new social media challenge or a DIY video you should take part in. Grooming should be left to the professionals.

Groomers are trained to handle most pets even the bad-tempered ones. The whole grooming process will be more relaxing and less stressful for your pet when in the hands of professionals. Your pet knows the dreaded word bath and will run away as soon as they hear the water running. Professional groomers have been trained to comfort your pet when they are being groomed. Pets can sense if their owners are nervous while trying to cut their nails or hair and this will cause them to become unruly. Accidentally cutting your pet can cause them to become anxious when they return to professional grooming and lead to bad behavior when they return to the grooming table. 

Professional Groomers are equipped with the right tools and resources to give your pet a full and comfortable grooming. Having access to Demating tools, that is easy on the skin when detangling small mats. Force dryers, which allow groomers to see down to the skin to check for anything abnormal on the skin. In addition to the proper shampoo and conditioner specifically for the care of animal hygiene. Grooming your pet at home using your own shampoo is not worth clogging up your drain or irritating your pet’s skin. And let’s not forget all the hair particles that will be floating around for months later. Professional groomers are equipped with all the resources, including toothpaste, proper brushes, clippers, non-toxic balm for paws, styptic powder, etc. Drying a dog seems easy, right? Just let them run through the house and wipe up against the sofa or bed comforters. Wrong, it is an intricate process that when done wrong can lead to ear infection, cracked skin, or fungus growing between the paws or armpit. The actual hair trimming also takes vigorous attention to detail and can be painful or dangerous when tried at home. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR US

Please leave the actual grooming to the professionals. Continue to care for your pet by working on the basics. It is important to brush your pet at least once a week and more often depending upon the length of hair, type of coat, and breed. 

Clean their sanitary, ear wax, brush their teeth, and make sure the crust is wiped from both eyes. We may not be open for operation here at Furry Pawz & Clawz Pet Salon, but we are happy to answer any questions you may have via email, Instagram, or Facebook. 

PUPPIES

As the Pandemic and Stay at Home orders continue, we have noticed a trend of people taking on the new responsibility of pet ownership. Please do not groom your new Puppies. The basic care listed above is ok but anything else will scare them and cause behavioral issues later on while being professionally groomed. However, it is very important to engage in basic care regularly to desensitize them to the grooming process. Weekly brushing helps with shedding and prevents mats from forming that will need to be cut out later.

We hope everyone is doing well and is staying safe. Your Furry Pawz & Clawz Team is always here to help, please reach out.

Featured On SNL

On Thursday, November 1st we received a phone call in which we were in disbelief.

It was Jonathan Groom, the location manager for Saturday Night Live. He was interested in using Furry Pawz & Clawz Pet Salon for a comedy skit with Leslie Jones, a comedian on SNL.

At first, we thought it was a prank but twenty minutes later Mr. Groom and his crew pulled up in a black van and about ten people got out to see our shop and discuss ideas for the comedy skit. At that moment we knew it was legit.  Of course, we were super excited and very honored to be chosen. 

The crew started to set up on Friday, November 2nd and they transformed our shop into a cat paradise. The cutest kittens were brought in, a bunch of scratching post, fun kitty toys, fluffy beds, pet carriers, and awesome decals were used to spice up the place. They did an amazing job and not only were they very professional they were all so pleasant to work with. The staff was super respectful of our space and very friendly. This made the whole experience that much more enjoyable.

Please make sure to check out the SNL skit with a quick scene of our shop. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdNNjCHGixE

Something You May Not Know About our Team Member

Did you know that Mikaela Barbour at Furry Pawz & Clawz Pet Salon is a talented illustrator?

Mikaela, a native of Brooklyn, NY is an illustrator and pet lover. Her love for pets shows through her artwork. She has created pins, charms, and printed artwork in the style of anime. She is only twenty years old and she has been an inspiration to the Furry Pawz team. To be so young, working on your craft and starting your own business doing what you love is just amazing and we could not be more proud of her.

We first met Mikaela in December of 2016. She came in as a volunteer and picked up on everything very quickly. She is very smart, well mannered, loves fluffy dogs and orange cats, and is just a beautiful person.

Mikaela has an Etsy shop online known as, Mono Paws. Her artwork is cute, edgy and heavily inspired by her love for monochrome color schemes and animals, but is not limited to such themes. She also has a YouTube channel with her best friend/business partner Alexandre Kemp. This joint brand is known as, Ghost Kiss Studio. On her channel you will find live art drawings and posted illustrations.

She has started a project through Kickstarter to try and raise money for crafted pins that she has created. If you would like to help support her project please do so before Tuesday, March 6th.  You can click on the link below.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2027536942/doggo-date-enamel-pins-shibaes

Please be sure to check out her “Mono Paws” merchandise on Etsy 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/monopaws

And her joint brand “Ghost Kiss Studio” on YouTube with live art drawings and illustrations

 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiN7YpI3EWRolsz-pHSb3ag

Revamping Our Style

Keeping it funky and fresh is one of the things we do best here at Furry Pawz & Clawz Pet Salon.

This past spring we decided to give the shop a minor facelift by making our signature colors more pronounced, adding larger images of our furry Friendz to compliment our high ceilings. And giving fashion boutique, Anallo Pet Couture its own display on our new chalkboard wall. These are just a few things we did to freshen up the shop.

At Furry Pawz & Clawz Pet Salon we are very particular about keeping a clean and inviting space. Thanks to our team for always keeping things so fresh and so clean; A very special thanks to Paul who made this all possible. He saw our vision for revamping Furry Pawz and he worked around the clock to get the job done. Thank you, Paul!! 

The results left some of our clients speechless and our furry Friendz wagging their tails just a little more;  the newly updated interior captures more of who we are.  Please come on in and see for yourself.

BEFORE PHOTOS:

AFTER PHOTOS:

Marketing & Advertising Your Business

Marketing and advertising your business is probably one of the hardest things business owners are faced with. It can cost a lot of money and it can be exhausting trying to find the right marketing strategy that works best for your business. When dealing with animals it is important for the pet owners to know who is handling their furry loved ones. This is why it is important that Furry Pawz & Clawz Pet Salon let our natural love for animals show through our marketing approach. Marketing the old school way, on foot, allows us to interact with potential clients. And it also gives the potential clients an insight of who would be handling their furry love ones.


When you have an awesome team who is enthusiastic about the business, marketing can turn into an eventful bonding experience. The Furry Pawz team took the day to explore the neighborhood and to meet some new furry friendz. Spending the day at Prospect Park's Smorgasbord; meeting some new potential clients, handing out goodie bags, flyers and sharing information about the services. As well as indulging in a few good bites to eat from the amazing food vendors :-)

Every dog should have a spa day and the only problem that every owner should have is their pets pulling them toward the shop every time they walk by.

Supporters of 'I Have Never Been That Girl' along with 'She's the First' Charity

Furry Pawz & Clawz Pet Salon are proud supporters of team, 'I Have Never Been That Girl' (IHNBTG) along with 'She's the First' Charity in their quest to provide scholarships to girls in low-income countries who will be first in their families to graduate from high school. 

Join us in our support for team 'I Have Never Been That Girl' in Running the 2017 New Orleans Marathon. 

Donate today https://www.crowdrise.com/team-i-have-never-been-that-girl/fundraiser/danajohnson6

She's the First is an award-winning international nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to girls in low-income countries around the world, supporting them as they become the first in their families to graduate from secondary school.

Their educational philosophy is that quality always trumps quantity.

Each scholar is given tools and resources to ensure her success, during and after her school years. Our scholars learn more than basic academics; they learn how to apply their new skills to the world around them, encouraged by support systems and mentors every step of the way. 

To read more about She's the First visit their website at https://shesthefirst.org/

What is Kennel Cough?

Just as human colds may be caused by many different viruses, kennel cough itself can have multiple causes. One of the most common culprits is a bacterium called Bordetella which is why kennel cough is often called Bordetella. Most dogs that become infected with Bordetella are infected with a virus at the same time. These viruses, which are known to make dogs more susceptible to contracting Bordetella infection, include canine adenovirus, canine distemper virus, canine herpes virus, parainfluenza virus and canine reovirus.

Dogs catch kennel cough when they inhale bacteria or virus particles into their respiratory tract. This tract is normally lined with a coating of mucus that traps infectious particles, but there are a number of factors that can weaken this protection and make dogs prone to kennel cough infection, which results in inflammation of the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe).

These factors include:

• Exposure to crowded and/or poorly ventilated conditions, such as are found in many kennels and shelters
• Cold temperatures
• Exposure to dust or cigarette smoke
• Travel-induced stress

 

Symptoms of Kennel Cough

The classic symptom of kennel cough is a persistent, forceful cough. It often sounds like a goose honk. This is distinct from a cough-like sound made by some dogs, especially little ones, which is called a reverse sneeze. Reverse sneezes can be normal in certain dogs and breeds, and usually only indicates the presence of post-nasal drip or a slight irritation of the throat. Some dogs with kennel cough may show other symptoms of illness, including sneezing , a runny nose, or eye discharge.

If your dog has kennel cough, he probably will not lose his appetite or have a decreased energy level. If your dog is hacking away or constantly making noises that make it sound like he's choking on something, he may have a case of kennel cough. Although kennel cough can sound terrible, most of the time it is not a serious condition, and most dogs will recover without treatment.

Treating and Preventing Kennel Cough

The NYC Department of Health requires the Bordetella vaccine every six months, not annually; as this vaccine is updated regularly for new strands of the bacteria, similar to the flu vaccine for humans. This is intended to prevent the bacteria commonly known as Kennel Cough. Please keep in mind that the Bordetella vaccine does not cover all the strands of bacteria connected to Kennel Cough and therefore it is likely for your furry friend to contract symptoms even if he is vaccinated. Additionally, the bacteria is air born and can possibly travel across a few city blocks, making it nearly impossible to pinpoint the source of the exposure.

Kennel cough is contagious. If you think your dog might have the condition, you should keep him away from other animals and contact your veterinarian.

Brushing Your Pet's Teeth

Dental care is crucial to maintaining your pet's good health. Dental disease is the most common problem seen in our pet today. More than 85% of all dogs and cats over 3 years of age presented to veterinarians are affected by dental problems.

Periodontal disease is the cause of your pet's bad breath and painful mouth , and may cause infections of the kidneys, liver, and heart. Daily dental care at home for your animal just like the rest of the family is recommended. It is best to begin at home at an early age (8-12 weeks), but visible tartar should be removed during a thorough dental cleaning. 

A toothbrush and pet toothpaste is all that's needed. Never use human toothpaste. Many human toothpastes are sweetened with xylitol, a sugar substitute also found in some sugar-free gum, throat lozenges, and chewable vitamins. Most human toothpaste include fluoride, which is extremely poisonous to dogs and It can also cause severe liver damage.

The plaque on those choppers takes 24 hours to begin converting to tartar (that hard brown stuff on the sides of the teeth), so you only need to brush them once daily. Chicken and beef flavored canine toothpastes are safe and even dental treats can help. If you find brushing impossible there are other products you can use to maintain good oral health. Greenies, bully sticks and other dental treats are available for dogs and cats. These are enzymatically treated to help remove bacteria before it builds up and turns to tartar that can not be removed with simple brushing. 

Remember to always give a small treat at the end of each session to make it rewarding.

Something you may not know about our groomer

Did you know that your favorite groomer at Furry Pawz & Clawz has her own pet clothing line known as, Anallo Pet Couture?

Andrea Lopez, native of Brooklyn NY is a fashion designer and pet care specialist. In 2001 she pursued her passion and studied fashion design. After nine years of being in the industry, she found a new passion with animals and pursued opportunities in the pet care business. Ms.Lopez served as a full time groomer at a small pet boutique. At this capacity she provided pet care services such as maintaining the pets’ physical appearances to managing daily operations of the shop while ensuring customers were satisfied with the service.

In 2013 she fused her fashion expertise and newly found pet industry knowledge to build a business where she can provide care services and custom clothing for pets. She then developed a brand known as ANALLO Pet Couture. She believes that pets should be as fashionable as their human or dressed even better. 

Her reason for starting a pet clothing line is because she wants to see pet fashion evolve onto the runway, magazines, and sold in more stores. She believes in using better quality and securely constructing it so its durable enough to last for years to come. Her tasteful designs are cheek, trendy, and edgy. Customize an outfit for your pet through her website www.anallodesigns.com or you can email her anallodesigns@gmail.com

Canine Catwalk

On Thursday, July 17th in Midtown Manhattan our very own groomer, Andrea, participated in the Canine Catwalk. This special evening came to life with animals of the North Shore Animal League America and Couture Fashion and was hosted by the Global Visual Group along with Trust In Us Catering, Calligrafist photography, Spitzflix media, Bleu Magazine, S.Pellegrino, Michaelivsey Hair Design and many more.

The evening was filled with cute puppies, amazing industry people, yummy h'or derves and sweet cocktails. This event helped raised money and found homes for the dogs and cats of North Shore Animal League. Be sure to check out some of our pictures from this event.

Do You Know What A Yellow Ribbon Tied On A Dog’s Collar Means?

You are out in the park with your family, playing, running, maybe even having a picnic.  Perhaps your dog is with you; however, off in the distance you see adorable dog approaching with their handler and your children immediately begin to run towards this adorable dog.  As the dog is getting closer, you see a yellow ribbon tied on the dog’s collar.  What goes through your mind?

A yellow ribbon around a dog’s collar is to help children identify that you need to proceed with caution. The dog may not be child friendly, may have fear or anxiety issues, or may be overly excited.  Either way, caution should be applied when approaching.

The Yellow Dog Project is a nonprofit organization that is a global effort to help raise awareness and education around dogs that require a little extra distance upon approaching.  Does this mean that the dog is aggressive or mean?  No, there are numerous reasons why a dog may have a yellow ribbon. It may mean the dog is new with the handler, is under medical care, or in foster care for instance.

The purpose of this project is to assist with the proper techniques to approach a dog. Children have a lot of energy and often to run up and pet a dog. Not all dogs understand this and can become fearful.  With proper education, all parties are put in a less stressful environment, which in turn reduces opportunities for an unforeseen accident.

Read more at http://www.theyellowdogproject.com/The_Yellow_Dog_Project/About.html

"The Great Gatsby

Gatsby was introduced to Furry Pawz & Clawz Pet Salon September 2013. He was a rescue from a puppy mill and Cheryl, a loving parent adopted Gatsby from a Brooklyn shelter. At first he was very timid and frightened by loud sounds, people and other pets. Cheryl’s main reason for bringing him for daycare was to have him socialized.

Over the past few months we have seen major improvements with his behavior and we can gladly say that Gatsby has become part of the Furry Pawz family. Every morning Gatsby looks forward to greeting the staff and clients. He has come a long way and will only continue to improve.

We are honored to know that we have been apart of Gatsby’s journey in becoming a sociable pup. Gatsby has an amazing personality, he loves to escort all dogs to the back of the salon for their grooming, he is very affectionate, knows how to fetch, and loves his hair being blown from the back of the vacuum. Gatsby is one lucky pup and Cheryl is the reason for it.

Black dogs are last to be picked at shelters because of the color of their fur

Black dog bias is a veterinarian and animal shelter phenomenon in which black dogs are passed over for adoption in favor of lighter-colored animals. Black dog bias is also known as "big black dog syndrome." Shelters often use the term BBD, or big black dog, to describe the type of larger dark-colored mixed-breed typically passed over by adopters.

Theory

The phenomenon may be due to a number of factors, including fear stigma against certain breed types, and the fact that large, black dogs are often portrayed as aggressive in film and on television.

Some people believe that during the pet adoption process some potential owners associate the color black with evil or misfortune (similar to the common superstition surrounding black cats), and this bias transfers over to their choice of dog. Additionally, many shelters feature photo profiles of their dogs on the shelter website. Because black dogs do not photograph well, lighter-colored dogs have an advantage with potential adopters browsing the site. A study done by the Los Angeles Animal Services challenges some of these claims, saying that a full 28% of adopted dogs are black. However, the bias theory simply asserts that predominantly dark animals take longer to be adopted than their lighter counterparts, and that large dogs take longer to adopt than small ones.

However, appearance in general does play a role in potential adopters' selection of shelter dogs. In a 2011 study by the ASPCA, appearance was the most frequently cited reason for adopters of both puppies (29 percent) and adult dogs (26 percent).

More Info:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2538920/Black-dog-syndrome-More-black-dogs-without-homes-color-fur.html

Victory......Puppy Mill Bill Signed!!!!

We did it! On January 10, the last day of his action deadline. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill to give local governments the ability to crack down on unscrupulous dog breeders and pet stores. 

The inability of local governments to exercise their home rule authority has had terrible consequences for dogs in substandard breeding facilities and pet stores. The pet industry, which profits from this lack of local regulation, tried desperately to prevent this landmark animal protection legislation from being signed into law. But they failed, and we prevailed—thanks to you. You deserve to be very proud of what you have accomplished. 

What You Can Do 

Please take a moment to thank Governor Cuomo for signing this humane legislation into state law. It is important that we let our elected officials know when we are pleased with their actions, rather than contacting them only when we want something. Thanking the governor for a job well done will make him more receptive to supporting pro-animal measures in the future. 

On behalf of the puppies, thank you for your help! 
 

Redemption's 10th Year of Success

Redemption is a youth-education and community empowerment not-for-profit organization.

It focuses on rebuilding the community and guiding the youth towards success.

Tiffany Tucker, along with four other board members believed they could make a difference. Redemption’s building blocks to grow a successful organization are reclaiming education, rebuilding the community, and redirecting the youth.

Redemption’s team is committed to working together to increase the educational advancement of under-served New York City youth between the ages of 13 and 19. It serves to enable teens that are at-risk of failing classes, dropping out of school and sabotaging their ability to excel academically and to become community leaders. Redemption encourages the educational advancement of youth by promoting intergenerational learning, community involvement, and self-advocacy.

Housed at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York, Redemption provides youth with an abundance of information and resources through: one-on-one mentoring, life skills workshops, the College-to-College Redemption Blueprint, support for valedictorians, tutoring, and its signature “Get Your Mind Right” Back to School Event. Redemption has served over 4,000 students and has a track record of giving young adults the necessary tangible resources to succeed.

On September 25th the organization celebrated its 10th year Anniversary Gala. A few supporters attended and spoke on behalf of the great work that has been done over the past few years. Furry Pawz & Clawz was honored to be part of this movement and is a proud supporter of Redemption. We strongly believe that it will continue to grow and better the future of our children. 

If you would like to be a supporter you can do so by visiting the website: www.RedemptionYouth.org.

Or you can mail a check to:

Redemption, Inc.

P.O. Box 22482

Brooklyn, NY 11202

Costume Contest …….. Trick-or-Treat

Do you have a super cute costume for your furry friend? Send us a costume picture of your pet by 11:59pm on October 28th for chance to win. 

We will post the pictures on our Facebook and Instagram pages and the pet with the most “Likes” will win:

1st Place - FREE GROOM;

2nd Place - a Blueberry facial with the purchase of a full groom or bath; and

3rd Place -  a free Teeth brushing with the purchase of a full groom or bath

Join us at our shop on Thursday October 31st from 4:00pm to 6:00pm where we will announce the winner of the costume contest as we celebrate Halloween with lots of goodies for our four and two legged friendz 

See ya soon <3

BCS Million Step Challenge 9-22-13

The Brooklyn Community Service (BCS) Million Step Challenge was a success. There were 347 donors and we all helped to raise $26,781.50 Yeah!! All proceeds raised from the Million Step Challenge benefit BCS programs and services. The program helps early childhood, education, family counseling, case management, job training, placement assistance, mental health programs, and services for adults with disabilities.

Furry Pawz & Clawz participated in the walk for a better Brooklyn and it was a wonderful experience <3

 https://secure.qgiv.com/hobnob/event/19066

Rutminster Dog Show // Rutland Road Block Party 9-21-13

The Rutminster dog show is an event that happens every year in the Fall. All dogs from Rutland Road participate and are judged by the neighborhood children. We had a few winners this year that competed for the titles of the cutest dog, oldest dog, miss congeniality, and best in show.

It was a delightful event with delicious bbq food and an awesome Dj that had everyone jamming including the dogs. We are very honored to be part of this annual event and hope to continue to support our Furry neighborhood friends. 

The Q at Parkside: Dogs R Us

The Q at Parkside is a blog that covers topics in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens area of Brooklyn. We had the opportunity of being featured on the blog.

Check it out:

 http://theqatparkside.blogspot.com/2013/09/dog.html

Brooklyn Community Service Million Step Challenge

Furry Pawz & Clawz Pet Salon is proud to be a sponsor of the Brooklyn Community Service Million Step Challenge.

The BCS Million Step Challenge is going the distance for a better Brooklyn this September 22nd, at Prospect Park, Grand Army Plaza.  The Million Step Challenge is a one-mile walk to raise awareness and funds to support the important work of BCS.  The goal is to bring 500 participants together to each walk one mile (2,000 steps) to reach the one million step challenge.  In addition to bringing people together, pets are also invited and automatically entered into the Most Philanthropic Dog in Brooklyn Contest ! The dog (and their human) that raises the most funds for BCS will win great prizes.

All proceeds raised from the Million Step Challenge benefit BCS programs and services that provides early childhood and child and youth education, keeps families together through counseling and case management, provide job training and placement assistance, mental health and wellness programs and services for adults with disabilities.

If you would like to be part of the Furry Pawz & Clawz team and take the million step Challenge with us you can register under our name at

www.millionstepchallenge.org