Not a very good neighbor

From PIX11:

In a disturbing video posted on Facebook, a pack of dogs are seen running scared in a yard in Far Rockaway, Queens.

Their owner appears to verbally and physically abuse them on-camera, in broad daylight. It’s a scene too disturbing to show on television, but residents tell PIX11 it’s just another day at the Thursby Avenue home.

“He started beating all the dogs, I saw that the dogs were very skinny and bleeding,” Tamara Demkoff, a local animal advocate, described to PIX11.

Demkoff shot the disturbing video on her cell phone back in February. According to her, she’s one of many from the community who has pleaded with the dogs’ owner, identified as Terrance Alexis, to surrender the animals after receiving numerous complaints from neighbors.

“Everybody knows about this guy, but no one does anything about it because everybody is afraid of him,” she said.

Months after that video was taken, it appears the problems on the property have gotten worse.

Where the most selfish dog owners live

From Brick Underground:

...a report from RealtyHop, which looked at 311 poop complaint data for New York City and other cities. With over 84,000 registered dogs in the city (which the city's Department of Health estimates is just 20 percent of the total dog population), there were 2,458 poop complaints logged in 2017, a decrease from the prior year.

Worst neighborhoods by borough
Average yearly complaint per 10,000 households in 2017

Soundview-Bruckner (the Bronx) 46
Ozone Park (Queens) 20.3.
Cypress Hills-City Line (Brooklyn) 19.1
Mariner’s Harbor-Arlington-Port Ivory-Graniteville (Staten Island) 18.0
Hamilton Heights (Manhattan) 11.5

Cleanest neighborhoods by borough
Average yearly complaint per 10,000 households in 2017

Stuyvesant Town-Cooper Village (Manhattan) 0.8
Brooklyn Heights-Cobble Hill (Brooklyn) 1.0
Co-op City (the Bronx) 2.1
Springfield Gardens North (Queens) 3.1
Grymes Hill-Clifton-Fox Hills (Staten Island) 6.9

Scoop the poop at condo and co-op complexes

From DNA Info:

The city plans to close a loophole in its “pooper scooper” law that some say allowed negligent dog owners to avoid fines if they failed to clean up after their pooch in private common spaces — namely huge complexes like Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has introduced an amendment that would close a loophole in the city Health Code by making it a violation for dog owners to allow their pets to “make a nuisance” — fail to pick up after them — on privately-owned sidewalks, lawns and gardens that are used by the public.

That includes housing complexes like Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, where property rules already require cleaning up after your pet, but where the loophole may have made it difficult to actually fine a negligent dog walker the $200 fine a dog owner could get for not cleaning up on a public sidewalk.

Dogs to combat rats?

From Epoch Times:

In the last two years, the city’s complaint hotline has received a record of more than 48,000 calls reporting rat sightings. But fear not—a diverse group of New Yorkers has found a natural way to combat the disease-laden rodents. Instead of rat poison, they let loose a pack of furry terriers into New York City alleyways.

A terrier smells a rat and leaps into a heap of garbage. A second terrier runs and dives in too. A rat scrambles out. A third terrier catches the rat and bites. The rat’s limp body falls to the ground. The dog owner picks up the dead rat with gloves and drops it into a garbage can.

This appears to be a natural solution since rat-hunting is what terriers do best.

Ridgewood dog abuser arrested

From the Daily News:

A Queens man who let his pet Boxer get skeletally thin and suffer huge sores all over his body after months of neglect was arrested Monday, police said.

The pooch, named Brewster by rescuers, weighed just 25 pounds — half of his target body weight — when he was discovered by a good Samaritan curled up in a Ridgewood field last week, officials said.

Owner Anthony Esteves, 25, who lives in the neighborhood, allegedly deprived the dog of food, water and veterinary care between July 1 and Oct. 13, cops said.

Brewster has been recovering with a foster family since the leaving the vet.

Guy blames dogs for being a squatter

From WPIX:

I’ve never met a squatter like Michael Lindner.

For years, Lindner rented from Lena and Bill Sakirsky in Bayside. They decided to sell their rental property and thought they’d seen the last of their old problem tenant after they paid him to leave by July 1st.

“He got the money, $12,000 for moving out,” Lena told me. “We have a notarized letter.”

Lindner moved out. But when the Sakirsky’s real estate agent went to do a final walk through in the house, she couldn’t open the door. The locks had been changed. And guess who was living there.

First responders helped 3 animals yesterday

From the Daily News:

An abandoned poodle, a kitten trapped in a construction fence and a cat stuck in an engine block were all rescued by kindhearted cops and firefighters Friday.

Members of Engine Co. 268 in the Rockaways, Queens, took in an abandoned poodle found wandering on Rockaway Beach Blvd. at about 5:30 a.m. Friday, firefighters said. After a good Samaritan took the 8-year-old pooch to their firehouse, firefighters took the dog to an area vet to get checked out and groomed. Firefighters footed the vet bill.

Firefighters from Engine 260 in Long Island City were flagged down about 1:50 p.m. by workers at a construction site on 12th St. where a kitten was trapped inside a construction fence. Smoke-eaters took apart the fence to rescue the kitten.

Police Officer John Passarella freed a small cat trapped in the engine block of a minivan on Brighton 4th St. in Brighton Beach about 4:30 p.m.

Fair warning

This sign was spotted on Eliot Avenue. The fact is that this has been going on for decades, yet people still let their dogs outside unattended. Worse, they tie them up outside stores while they go inside. Please don't.

Audit finds major problems at animal shelters

From NBC:

Operators of New York's animal shelters are administering expired drugs to dogs and cats, failing to maintain safe conditions and neglecting their financial records, according to an audit conducted by the city comptroller's office.

"Animal care and control is running an operation that could make your stomach turn," Comptroller Scott Stringer said Sunday in a news release. "We found expired drugs, harmful conditions and vaccines stored next to frozen remains."

Auditors examined conditions at animal shelters from March to November of last year. A records review revealed 499 occasions in which expired drugs were given to animals and that 92 bottles of expired drugs -- some as old as 13 years -- had not been removed from shelves, the auditors reported.

Animal Care & Control, a non-profit corporation, has a five-year, $51.9 million contract with the city to operate animal shelters in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island. It also operates animal receiving centers in the Bronx and Queens.

Flyer overkill

"As we take our daily walk, we’ve noticed the sudden appearance of these “Lost Dog” flyers all over the neighborhood. There were literally dozens posted on street lamp posts and trees. Although we support the effort to find a loved lost pet, we do not endorse this illegal activity, specifically flyers on public property. This effort has polluted many Queens neighborhoods with these flyers. This “Find Mary Tyler” campaign has gone too far. It is being promoted on FaceBook and a “Fund Me” website is soliciting money and volunteers to plaster additional neighborhoods with these flyers. They have gotten several businesses involved, such as Petco, UPS, local pizzerias, etc. to help distribute these posters!

There’s even a map on Facebook boasting of hundreds of current locations where people have put up these illegal flyers! There are also meet-ups at businesses such as Petco to distribute more flyers on our streets (latest one at Petco, Woodhaven Blvd, Sat,4/4 @ 10am).

There are much better and legal ways to advertise searches for lost pets: neighborhood bulletin boards, local Queens newspapers, blogs, local TV stations like NY1,local churches & social clubs, etc. I know there is a NYC law prohibiting personal postings on public property. Is anyone taking any responsibility to oversee the removal at some future time?

Our questions are:

1) How long is this “campaign” going to last? It’s already been a month since the dog was lost. Are we going to see the continued proliferation of posters throughout Queens (and probably other boroughs) over the near future?

2) Why is the NYC Department of Sanitation not enforcing their laws or at least contacting the people responsible for overseeing this “project”

3) Is someone taking responsibility to REMOVE these posters after the lost dog is found or after a certain time lapse (3 months, 6 months, 1 year)? Suggestion: post a request to those who volunteered to put the flyers to also take them down. Lost dog owner: please request that on your Facebook page! You also stated that you have receipts of the monies spent from public donations. Please post them on your Facebook page so everyone knows this is not a scam.

4) Will the companies “helping” this effort also take responsibility to clean up our neighborhoods once the dog is found or after a certain time?

5) What happens to the excess money that’s collected and not spent? How about a commitment to donate it to a reputable animal organization (e.g. ASPCA, North Shore Animal, etc.)?"

- Anonymous

ASPCA & NYPD form animal cruelty unit

From NBC:

For years, when the ASPCA received a report of animal cruelty, their own enforcement unit, composed mostly of former police officers, would investigate. That's all changed now that the ASPCA has teamed up with the NYPD -- now current cops do the investigating and the ASPCA does the veterinary work. Andrew Siff has an exclusive look inside the new unit.

Sunnysiders complain about complainers

From Sunnyside Post:

One resident who lives next to Lou Lodati Park says he can’t sleep at night due to the excessive noise caused by park goers well past 11pm.

Demosthenes Chrysan, a resident of 42nd Street, says he hears dogs barking from the dog run, kids skateboarding, people playing basketball and teenagers drinking.

So last Friday, Chrysantook to the streets and put up about 20 posters around neighboring streets telling residents who have similar issues to call the 108 Police Precinct, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer’s office and 311 to complain.

The park is supposed to be closed at night but he said the Parks Department is doing nothing to stop anyone from gaining entry. He said there are no gates and yet there are three entrances into the park—one via Skillman Avenue and two smaller entrances on 43rd Street—which people are using day and night.

Now, this fellow is 100% correct to complain, but check out the idiotic comments posted on the blog. According to them, he should move, he should shut up and people should be allowed to trespass and make noise all night because "this is New York City" and it's a summer tradition. I can't help but wonder where the phenomenon of people beating up on others for justifiably complaining came from. It would make an interesting psychological study.

Rockaway beachgoers whine about fines

From the NY Post:

The NYPD is taking aim at Rockaways beachgoers — cracking down on minor infractions such as drinking beer, walking dogs and climbing on rock jetties, The Post has learned.

During the Memorial Day weekend, cops issued 152 “quality-of-life violation” summonses — three times more than the same period last year.

“It sucks! They’re targeting families who are just trying to enjoy themselves at the beach — people who might drink one or two beers in a red cup,” said the manager of a popular Rockaways restaurant, who asked that her name and establishment not be revealed.

“We’ve had cops drive past us on the beach and ask to see what’s in our coolers.”

She added that cops recently ticketed her husband for walking his dog on the beach, against the rules.

“There are a lot of areas around here, where there is real crime. They should put more time into that!”

And maybe you shouldn't drink in public or walk your dog where it's not allowed. Other summonsable offenses mentioned in the report: public urination and littering. Oh, those are terrible things to give summonses for!

From IBZ property to luxury condos

From Crains:

Two apartment buildings boasting amenities including a rooftop dog walk are set to rise on the gritty border of Bushwick in Brooklyn and Ridgewood in Queens, further proof of the area's transformation.

The brick-and-glass buildings, both designed by architect Ariel Aufgang, are planned for 83 Bushwick Place in Brooklyn, and 176 Woodward Ave. in Queens. Together they will have a total of 108 units.

The 88-unit Ridgewood project, on the corner of Woodward Avenue and Starr Street, is currently in a manufacturing zone, but the developer, Slate Property Group, is seeking permits from the city to recast the parcel for residential use. The four-story structure was designed to look like an assemblage of smaller properties, according to Mr. Aufgang, and may feature amenities like a rooftop dog walk, as well as a gym, a garage and ground-floor retail.

Mr. Schwartz said while the buildings will have luxury-level finishes, he sees them commanding market-rate rents and creating an option for people being priced out of units farther east.

A rooftop dog walk? I guess Skylar and Dakota from Peoria and their purebred don't want to mix with the exotic hoi polloi out with their pit bulls. See previously. I also guess that the IBZ didn't entice this owner to keep the property one for manufacturing.

Crap cleanup campaign to launch in LIC

From LIC Post:

Elected officials are taking steps to help rid Long Island City of its dog poop problem.

Joe Conley, chairman of Community Board 2, said he has received numerous complaints from Hunters Point residents about the amount of dog poop that litters the sidewalks.

He said the community board is in the middle of composing a letter—that spells out the rules and regulations regarding dogs—and sending it to all the major building owners in the Center Boulevard and 5th Street area.

“We will be asking the building owners to notify their residents about the rules,” Conley said.

In the past, Conley said that he has worked with the Department of Sanitation to send agents to dog-poop trouble spots and tickets were issued. He said he does not have plans to do that yet, but may have to if people’s behavior doesn’t change.

Meanwhile, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer has plans to promote a public awareness campaign in Hunters Point through school children.

Van Bramer said he will be holding a “curb your dog” poster competition—where children learn that dog owners are required by law to pick up after their dog and how it’s the considerate thing to do.

Talkin' trash (and poop)

From CBS New York:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said its pilot program to reduce trash in the subway system is working and it will remove refuse cans at an additional 29 stations.

The agency launched the program in October 2011 in an effort to reduce the subway rodent population and the amount of refuse pick-up in the stations.

The agency first removed trash bins at the Main Street station on the No. 7 line in Queens and the other in Greenwich Village at Broadway and Eighth Street.

The MTA expanded the program a year later, making eight more stations – two each in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens — trash can free.

The MTA said it has resulted in a 66 percent reduction in the number of bags collected.

The expansion calls for the removal of refuse cans in 29 stations along the J and M lines.

Perhaps they may want to replace the trash cans with commodes to prevent the following:



And speaking of poop, one street in LIC is just FULL of it.

Meanwhile, Astoria wants more trash pickups. (And there's a doozy of a photo at that link as well.)

Anti-scofflaw signs coming down

From the NY Post:

The city is scooping up its curb your dog signs.

All reminders to pick up after your pooch are being taken down by the DOT, which has dumped 1300 signs this year—saying they are mostly faded and illegible.

The Sanitation Department, who owns the signs, says they won’t be replaced—since the agency stopped putting up the new signs ten years ago due to budget cutbacks.

Methinks her dad protests too much

From the NY Post:

Disgraced City Councilman Dan Halloran preyed upon the “naive” staffer with whom he carried on a yearlong affair — and should rot in jail, the woman’s father told The Post yesterday.

“He took advantage of a naive 19-to-20-year-old girl,” Meaghan Mapes’ dad, Walter Mapes, said of the pol, who is charged with trying to bribe state Sen. Malcolm Smith’s way onto the GOP mayoral ticket.

“What [Halloran] did to the public is nothing like what he did to me and my family,” Walter said outside the family’s home in Howard Beach, Queens.

The Post reported yesterday that Halloran, 41, spent about two nights a week shacking up with Meaghan at her Queens home near St. John’s University, where she attended classes while serving as Halloran’s deputy chief of staff.

“I was completely unaware of it,” said Walter, 48. “I knew nothing more than [Meaghan] was the deputy chief of staff and that they worked together; that was all that I knew.”

So dad had no idea what was going on?

His comments on this Facebook thread from September 2011 (since deleted) are very interesting, then.

(The photo has been omitted to protect the innocent canines.)

That's right, Queens pols. I'm watchin' ya!

Happy ending for tossed puppy

From Eyewitness News:

A little dog was stuffed into a garbage bag and very close to being dumped at a landfill.

An eagle eyed sanitation worker saw the bag move and opened it to find a big surprise.

She found Victoria, a little Shih Tzu inside.

Now, police are searching for the owner.

For Vicky Roman it's almost too painful to talk about.

She was picking up trash in Astoria, Queens and found a tiny, purebred Shih Tzu stuffed in a garbage bag.

"I reached for the bag and something moved and I found her inside the bag. If she had not moved, she would have been in the back of that truck, most definitely," Roman said.

The dog was caked in her own filth. Her eyes were matted-shut and her fur was so tangled-up in her overgrown nails she could barely stand.

The dog was taken to BARC, an animal shelter in Williamsburg, where vets and volunteers are astounded by her recovery.

Sandy pet shelter to close soon

From NBC:

Owners of almost 300 dog and cats have to pick up their pets that have been calling a makeshift shelter home since Sandy struck. News 4's Roseanne Colletti has the story.