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Soft Paws: More dog first-aid kit tips

In Columns, Columns - Greenville, The Greenville Pioneer
August 17, 2023
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By Charlene Marchand

For Capital Region Independent Media

Ziggy is a 2-year-old neutered male Domestic Shorthair mix, pictured with CGHS Kennel Technician Beverly Tompkins. Ziggy is a highly affectionate cat. He follows our staff members around in the room and will flop onto his back so he can get belly rubs! He is OK being picked up; his young bones just get squirmy after a while. Additionally, he seems to do well with the other cats in the room and hasn’t shown any negative signs towards our dogs. Come and meet Ziggy between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Contributed photo

EXTRA EXTRA! All animals cared for by our CGHS/SPCA shelter will be FREE to adopt during the month of August!

Continuing with Laura Manchester’s first-aid hiking list from last column:

  • SprayShield: If a threatening animal gets too close to you or your dog.
  • Emergency blanket (those small, compact silver ones for keeping in car or for hikers): Not only will this keep your dog warm if it’s a cold day, after the sun goes down, or if he starts to go into shock, but it can also be used by you and another person as a “sling” to transport an injured dog. In extreme cases, the reflective surface could be used as a flash signal to summon help.
  • “Cheater” glasses: If you need glasses to read, you will need them to treat a wound or remove quills or splinters. Don’t be caught with all the proper emergency supplies — and not be able to use them because you can’t see!
  • Dog ID tag: Even though my dog has a microchip, I always keep his physical ID tags on when we are out so if we get separated and someone picks up my dog, she can call me immediately, without going through the process of having a vet or shelter reading the chip. By using a two-sided tag, I can have my home contact information on one side and common “while visiting phone numbers” on the other. (Tip: forgo putting dog’s name on tag, and use the additional engraving line for a helpful number or address.)
    • Water: Although this isn’t an emergency supply, it is important to remember to provide water for your dog. Unless you are fully confident that there is a ready supply of fresh, clean water on the trail — and that your dog is comfortable drinking from streams or ponds — carry water for him. Bring either a collapsible water dish that will fit in your fanny pack and share your supply with him, or bring a “Gulpee,” a water bottle that has an attached drinking tray for the dog.

If travelling with dog, keep in car:

  • Copy of recent vet records: In case you have to make an emergency visit to a new, out-of-town vet, have a list of recent shots, any allergies, and any health issues a vet should be aware of.
  • Copy of microchip info: In case you and your dog get separated, it is good to have this info for quick reference.
  • Recent photo of dog: If you get separated, it might come in handy. Photo should be recent and show distinguishing marks/features (no, not a photo of Pooch dressed up as a pumpkin for Halloween!).
  • Seat belt/harness/crate for traveling; that’s probably another story!

I know the current trend in running, hiking and biking is to “Go Lite,” but sometimes it is worth carrying a little extra weight for the safety of our buddies.

Carrying supplies shouldn’t be limited to only out-of-the-way or lengthy hikes — even when close to home, it is a good idea to carry a first-aid kit. A mile is an awfully long distance when trying to maneuver a wounded or sick dog to safety.

There are some lessons we don’t want to learn the hard way, and being out in the woods with an injured dog and no way to help him is near the top of that list. Believe me, an extra pound in your pack lightens the burden of responsibility for another creature that sits heavily on your shoulders.

Feel free to call us with any questions at 518-828-6044 or visit our website at www.cghs.org.

Charlene Marchand is the Chairperson of the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA Board of Directors and may be contacted at cghsaaron@gmail.com. Laura Manchester is a CGHS/SPCA volunteer.

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Police blotter

In News, News - Greenville, The Greenville Pioneer
January 2, 2024
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Editor’s note: A charge is not a conviction. All persons listed are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges can be amended or dismissed.

STATE POLICE

  • Angelo Theodoropoulos, 37, of Medusa, was arrested Dec. 10 at 2:37 a.m. in Catskill and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08% and driving while intoxicated, both unclassified misdemeanors. Theodoropoulos was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Peter Harry Wilson, 52, of Ravena, was arrested Dec. 11 at 4:06 a.m. in New Baltimore and charged with driving while intoxicated and aggravated driving while intoxicated with a blood-alcohol content over 0.18%, both unclassified misdemeanors. Wilson was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Ammar Ali, 33, of Binghamton, was arrested Dec. 12 at 3:39 p.m. in Cairo and charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree grand larceny, both class D felonies. Ali was held with no bail.
  • Martin Lopez, 24, of Mount Marion, was arrested Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. in Coxsackie and charged with first-degree unlawful dealing with a child/alcohol, a class A misdemeanor. Lopez was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Hardev Singh, 58, of Saugerties, was arrested Dec. 13 at 6:15 p.m. in Cairo and charged with first-degree unlawful dealing with a child/alcohol, a class A misdemeanor. Singh was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Camille Faccio, 38, of Delmar, was arrested Dec. 13 at 8:04 p.m. in Coxsackie and charged with operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs, an unclassified misdemeanor. Faccio was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Ryan Lepage, 41, of Coxsackie, was arrested Dec. 13 at 9:18 p.m. in Coxsackie and charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, a class A misdemeanor. Lepage was released on his own recognizance.
  • Andrew Reinisch, 54, of Catskill, was arrested Dec. 15 at 6:09 p.m. in Coxsackie and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. Reinisch was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Ashley Carter, 34, of Hannacroix, was arrested Dec. 15 at 9:41 p.m. in New Baltimore and charged with tampering with physical evidence and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, both class E felonies; seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and manufacture of drug-related paraphernalia, both class A misdemeanors; and operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs, an unclassified misdemeanor. Carter’s arrest status was not reported.
  • Natasha Law, 40, of Catskill, was arrested Dec. 16 at 12:29 a.m. in Catskill and charged with driving while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08%, both unclassified misdemeanors. Laws was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Jeivan Castro, 36, of Schenectady, was arrested Dec. 16 at 1:15 a.m. in Cairo and charged with driving while intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor. Castro was released on their own recognizance.
  • Hertford Mann, 41, of the Bronx, was arrested Dec. 16 at 11:14 p.m. in Catskill and charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug, a class C felony; second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor; and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, an unclassified misdemeanor. Mann was held with no bail.
  • Osvaldo Constanza, 28, of the Bronx, was arrested Dec. 19 at 6:30 a.m. in Lexington and charged with third-degree rape of a person less than 17 years old, a class E felony. A bail bond was issued in the amount of $10,000.
  • Samanth Ashley Decker, 26, of Claverack, was arrested Dec. 19 at 1:10 p.m. in Catskill and charged with four counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and manufacture of drug-related paraphernalia, both class A misdemeanors. Decker was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Richard Jarvis, 34, of Accord, was arrested Dec. 21 at 7:05 p.m. in Catskill and charged with criminal contempt and aggravated family offense, both class E felonies. Jarvis was issued cash bail in an undisclosed amount.
  • Rauf Chowdhury, 29, of Long Island City, was arrested Dec. 22 at 5 a.m. in Cairo and charged with criminal possession of stolen property, a class C felony, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. Chowdhury was released on their own recognizance.
  • Kannan Tandavarayane, 35, of Astoria, was arrested Dec. 23 at 2:07 a.m. in Windham and charged with driving while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08%, both unclassified misdemeanors. Tandavarayane was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Simone Bennett, 31, of the Bronx, was arrested Dec. 24 at 12:15 p.m. in Coxsackie and charged with second-degree introducing contraband into a prison, a class A misdemeanor. Bennett was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Aiden Michael Becnel, 21, of Saugerties, was arrested Dec. 26 at 2:58 p.m. in Catskill and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08% and driving while intoxicated, both unclassified misdemeanors. Becnel was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Joslen Glover, 36, of Catskill, was arrested Dec. 26 at 8:10 p.m. in Athens and charged with criminal mischief with intent to damage property, a class A misdemeanor, and petty larceny, a class B attempted misdemeanor. Glover was issued an appearance ticket.
Headshot of a man named Dick Brooks.

Whittling Away: Financial savvy

In Columns, Columns - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald
November 2, 2023
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By Dick Brooks

For Capital Region Independent Media

Headshot of a man named Dick Brooks.

Watching the news over the past few weeks has me wondering if I followed the wrong career path during my working days. 

I chose to go into the field of education, which I have never regretted, but now I see that maybe I should have gone into the area of finance. When I retired from teaching, I was presented with a nice shiny brass school bell for my desk; it’s lovely, but with things the way they are now, I think one of those “golden parachutes” they seem to be handing out to everyone in the financial field might be more useful.

Looking back, I see that the signs of a natural aptitude in finance were apparent. As a small child, I never saved any money, spent it as fast as I could get it. If a stray quarter came my way, I spent it as soon as I could get to the nearest store. 

My tries at deficit spending were thwarted by my siblings, who were unwilling to lend me any of their allowance. I did manage to convince them that because I was the oldest, I owned the family dog. I then sold them shares so they became part owners and could have petting rights. 

I invested some of my allowance in a small brown bag of penny candy, which I purchased at Mr. Avery’s store. I then smuggled my small sack of contraband into school where on the playground, I could sell the contents for as much as a nickel apiece, thus practicing the law of supply and demand at an early age.

Having reached adulthood, I did make some investments. I even took a jaunt or two into the arena of stocks and bonds. I still have the Betamax and Edsel stock I purchased at the time.

The Princess and I have a large amount of money invested in her Beanie Baby collection. I remember standing in line for hours for the privilege of paying an outrageous sum for the newest ones to appear on the market. I haven’t checked their value lately, but they must be worth a fortune by now!

I think all of the above shows a certain natural talent in the financial area. I think I could run a large corporation into the ground with the best of them. In fact, I think I could do it better, faster and cheaper than most. 

One of the items on the news talked about a corporate head that had been on the job for three weeks and qualified for an $18 million buyout. I feel fairly confident that I could have ruined the company in under two weeks and would have only charged them $10 million. 

Another item in the news concerned a large insurance company that the government had to bail out; as soon as they got a boatload of cash from Washington, they had a $400,000 party. I bet I could have had the party for at least $10,000 less and have kept the amount spent on spa treatments down by not allowing pedicures. 

I think I would have been a natural talent had I gone into the financial world, too bad we’ll never know.

Actually, I’m really ticked off about the whole mess. Greed is an ugly word. Given the weight of gold and its aerodynamic qualities, it might be good for the country if some of these guys took their “golden parachutes” to a very high place and tried to put them to use.

Thought for the week — Exceptions always outnumber the rules.

Until next week, may you and yours be happy and well.

Reach columnist Dick Brooks at Whittle12124@yahoo.com.

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