Liz Local Peninsula - Summer 2022 Edition

THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2022 Creating A Pet Friendly Backyard Oasis Interior Design with Pets in Mind Smoke Barbecue Restaurant Peninsula SPCA Take Me Out To The Dog Park Moving With Your Family Pet

Happy Summer! A Message from Liz Emma The local real estate market has been a roller coaster so far this year. Interest rates have more than doubled since January, which has definitely put a damper on buyer activity. As a result, many buyers have either been priced out of the market or are choosing to sit on the sidelines and wait until things settle down. We’re seeing the supply of inventory and time on market begin to inch up, which are both telling signs of a market stabilization in the works. For sellers, most are seeing a more normal negotiating environment, with the return of home inspection, appraisal and even some home sale contingencies. Prices remain strong, and sellers are still benefitting from the incredible appreciation gains of the past 2 and a half years. Now, perhaps more than ever, you need the counsel of an experienced REALTOR® to help you navigate the changing market. We’re dedicating this issue of Liz Local to our four-legged, furry friends! At our house, our 4-year-old Irish Doodle, Emma, rules the roost. We hope you have a wonderful summer! Liz Moore, President

Congratulations! Contents We recently asked kids to draw their pet’s ideal house Creating A Pet Friendly Backyard Oasis and submit their completed work on Facebook. Interior Design with Pets in Mind Congratulations to Nishka, Bella and Pippa, Smoke Barbecue Restaurant who received the most votes for their age range. Peninsula SPCA Take Me Out To The Dog Park Moving With Your Family Pet NISHKA BELLA PIPPA SUMMER 2022 / LIZ LOCAL 3

Creating A Pet Friendly Backyard Oasis By Leslie Pearce Perhaps you are a new pet owner or just bought a house with an outdoor space? Read on for some helpful information about your pet and the outdoors. Perhaps you are a new pet owner or just bought a house with an outdoor space? Read on for some helpful information about your pet and the outdoors. Be sure your fence is sufficient to keep your dog from going over or under. Gardening chemicals should be kept away from pets. Don’t forget that cats can climb into or onto most anything! Keeping up to date with vaccines, flea, tick, and heart worm medicines is always a good idea. Some plants are toxic to animals like oleander, poinsettias, and others. Check the ASPCA website. “Lilies are very toxic to cats, even licking the pollen off their fur can cause damage,” said Heidi Garman, DVM at Colonial Veterinary Clinic. Perpetual water bowls or a water fountain are good as is a play area with shade. Dog runs and doggie door options are important for outside pets as well. Keeping these tips in mind will help you and your pet get the most enjoyment from your time outdoors this summer! 4 SUMMER 2022 / LIZ LOCAL

Interior Design with Pets in Mind By Leslie Pearce Spending quality time indoors with your pet is one of life’s great enjoyments. With that in mind here are some helpful tips to make sure both you and your pet are as happy inside as outside. A big question to think about, where are your pets going to sleep? Under the kitchen table? In a dog bed, kennel, sofa or with you? Your pet will appreciate a quiet place and their own bed where they can catch a quick nap before looking for their next adventure. Animals need plenty of toys to chew on, otherwise the remote and your glasses can be mighty tempting! If you like open windows, make sure your screens are secure. Give your cat an alternative to the couch such as a scratching post. Waterproof luxury vinyl and tile are the best options for flooring. Buy furniture with pet hair and claws in mind. Silk, velvet, denim, and woolen fabrics are magnets for animal hair. Leather and its alternatives are good choices. Rugs with non-skid pads are a must for safety. Cats love rubbing against something scratchy or lumpy so AVOID textured walls or embossed wallpaper. Cats and dogs play and drink in toilets, close lids. Chocolate, avocado, tomatoes, and other tasty snacks can be harmful to your dog or cat. Keep cords from blinds secure, a dangerous enticement for animals. Having a well thought out indoor environment for your pet is always a great idea! SUMMER 2022 / LIZ LOCAL 5

Pet-Friendly Places: Want to go? Smoke Barbecue Smoke Barbecue Restaurant and Bar By Karen Newton 10900 Warwick Boulevard Take your pup to Steve and Kathy Walters’ Smoke Barbecue Restaurant Newport News and Bar in Newport News once and chances are good that they’ll want to come back. 757-595-4320 Why? Not only does Smoke provide water bowls and Milk Bone treats smokenn.com to its four-legged guests, but they also offer something special: rawhide bones right out of the smoker. It’s the rare dog who won’t happily work on a meat-smoked bone while their parents settle in for some of Chef Forrest Warren’s old school St. Louis ribs, pulled pork or beef spareribs. The Walters had a catering business in Smithfield since 2008, finally deciding it was time to open a restaurant, from which they still do catering. If your dog is too dainty for a big old rawhide bone, Smoke also offers Doggie Parfaits made with the doggie-licious combination of peanut butter and bacon combined in a freezer cup. There’s not a dog in Hampton Roads who would turn down that combination. The staff at Smoke asks only that your fur baby be leashed or in a crate and stay by your table throughout the meal. And it’s not just canines that Smoke welcomes, either, but pets of all types. Regulars will tell you that there’s an occasional leashed cat and even a pet parrot who sits happily on its owner’s shoulder during a meal. When the barbecue’s this good, everyone wants to go. 6 SUMMER 2022 / LIZ LOCAL

Peninsula SPCA Peninsula SPCA 523 J. Clyde Morris Blvd By Karen Newton Newport News Mistiege and Princess, a pair of bonded, 4-year-old, 16-pound cats, 757-595-1399 arrived at Peninsula SPCA in July 2020. peninsulaspca.org More than a few visitors showed interest but adopting two large cats made them a tough sell. Then Mistiege developed a skin condition that took months of testing to diagnose. Turns out he was allergic to dogs. With time and treatment, Mistiege got better, with Princess by his side every step of the way. In December 2021, a couple who’d just lost their own two elderly kitties came in. It was love at first sight for all four. The mission of Peninsula SPCA is to find loving homes for every animal in their care and advocate for the humane treatment of all animals in the community. The Peninsula SPCA remains committed to a no-kill model, focusing on three core areas: the Adoption Center, the Humane Education Learning Center and Barnyard, and the affordable Veterinary Clinic for Preventive Care. They provide food, medical care, enrichment, training, and shelter annually for nearly 1,000 homeless pets as they await their forever families. The number one way to help the PSPCA? Adopt. “If you can’t adopt, foster. If you can’t foster, donate. If you can’t donate, volunteer,” says Jessica Geary, Marketing & Community Relations Manager. “Or simply attend one of our events to show support and have some fun. You can also spay/neuter your pet to help with overpopulation. There are lots of ways to help animals in our community.” SUMMER 2022 / LIZ LOCAL 7

Take Me Out To The Dog Park Dog parks are becoming more and more popular across Dog parks provide both mental and physical stimulation the country and our area is no different. Dog parks as they run and play and interact with other dogs. Parks provide a place where pups can run freely, off-leash and help eliminate energy for bad deeds proving true the old socialize with other dogs. These parks provide many saying “a tired dog is a good dog.” benefits to dogs and their humans alike. Dogs are highly social, pack animals, who enjoy running Dogs were born to lead very active lives. For thousands and playing with other dogs. At the park, your pup of years, dogs worked alongside man, hunting, herding not only gets to play with new and old friends, he also and protecting, while their wild ancestors spent their gets practice reading a variety of other dogs’ body days hunting, scavenging, and avoiding predators. language and using their own communication skills. Today, most dogs spend the majority of their time alone These valuable play and learning experiences help guard at home, napping on the couch or on their fluffy bed, against your dog developing fear and aggression around and eating and drinking from food bowls. other dogs. Many behavioral problems in dogs stem from lack of The fun isn’t limited to Fido! People enjoy dog parks just physical and mental stimulation. Many dogs become as much as their pups. They get to exercise their dogs bored, lonely, and overweight when left home all day. without much effort, meet new people and socialize No wonder they create ways to entertain themselves like with other dog lovers, bond and play with their pups, unstuffing couch cushions or chewing your shoes! practice off-leash training skills, and enjoy watching the frolicking dogs. 8 SUMMER 2022 / LIZ LOCAL

Are you and your pup ready for the park? Before taking your pup to play, visit the park alone and observe. Stop by on different days and at different times As parks are a place where dogs run freely and mingle of day if you can. Take note of the rules so you can together, their behavior and social skills are a top come prepared. Inspect the park for water, shade and consideration. Is your pup aggressive or anxious around security. Also observe who utilizes the park and if they other dogs? Is he fearful? You should work on social are actively supervising their pups and take note of busy skills in small groups and on the leash before entering times and days. A first visit might be most successful at the wide-open dog park. Your dog could become a less crowded time. overwhelmed and fearful and might even become Now that you’ve found the perfect park, prepare aggressive in that situation. yourself and Fido for a great time! Put together a dog- park kit with essentials like a leash, a water bowl and Make sure Fido is up to date on important vaccinations water for you both, bags for clean-up, toys, and treats. like rabies, distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus. Also, Dog parks can be wonderful places for exercise, play, depending on your area, the age of your dog, and the and socialization. With a little research and preparation, time of year, there may be other necessary vaccinations, you and your dog are sure to have a great time! such as leptospirosis, bordetella, Lyme disease, parainfluenza, or even canine influenza (“dog flu”). Fido Field Check with your vet to see what’s appropriate. 125 City Farm Rd, Newport News While all parks are different, there are some ideal (757) 886-7912 features to look for. Make sure the park is big enough for the dogs to run and socialize and have space to get away from the pack if they want. Overcrowding can lead to tension and fights can erupt. Even if your dog reliably comes to you when called, it’s safest to play in a dog park with fences. Even better are parks with “holding pens” or double gates to allow dogs and people to enter and exit without accidendy letting the other dogs slip out of the park. Before playing, inspect the fence for holes and sturdiness. All parks should have a clean-up station with bags and trashcans available. Always make sure to pick up after your pet! Water and shelter should be available, especially in our warmer climate. Exercising dogs need access to plenty of fresh water and shade. Look for parks with a separate area for smaller dogs. Small dogs need exercise and play time too, but they can be afraid and overwhelmed by much larger, faster dogs. Keeping the smaller pups separate allows them to run and play safely. SUMMER 2022 / LIZ LOCAL 9

Moving With Your Family Pet Moving can be very stressful, especially for our furry Crate Training family members. This stress can manifest in upset stomachs, lack of appetite, bald spots, potty accidents, With all of the impending changes, this might be a unusual behavior, and even aggression. With some good time to crate train your pet if they aren’t already. planning and a few easy steps, we can help make the If trained properly, a crate is a safe space where you pet transition easier for everyone. feels comfortable and is protected. To acclimate them to their crate, you can place their food or a favorite Showing your Home toy in an open crate to encourage them to enter. Also, developing a positive association with the crate, When showing your home, often your pet’s routine is like treats or play time after exploring the crate, will interrupted. Whether they’re placed in a crate, attend help your pet feel positive about their crate and more doggy daycare, or just walked at different times than comfortable in there. usual, these changes can stress your pet. It’s best to ease our pets into these changes gradually giving them time to acclimate. Keep as much routine as you can, don’t change brands of food or litter, keep their food and water in the same place, and try to keep their beds and scratching posts in the same place. 10 SUMMER 2022 / LIZ LOCAL

Choosing the Right Place Settling in Your New Home When selecting your new home, it’s important to make It’s tempting to just turn your furry friend loose in sure your pet will love it as much as you do. Take a walk your new home and let them explore, but such a large around the neighborhood and take note of unsafe areas new space can be very overwhelming for pets. Start and neighboring animals. Does the home have a fence by introducing your pet to just one room, this can be or an invisible fence? Are there receptacles around the their “home base” and will include their food and water neighborhood for pet waste while you’re on a walk? It’s dishes, toys, and a litter box for cats. When they seem also important to consider stairs and flooring, especially comfortable in this room you can gradually introduce for older pets with mobility issues. Knowing what your them to other rooms in your new home. You can also new pet care routine will look like in your new home relocate the litterbox to a more permanent location will help you be better prepared and make the transition gradually by moving it a few feet towards its final smoother. destination every day. Packing Up Your Old Home Medication Pets are very intuitive and will immediately be on high If your pet is still stressed despite your efforts, consult alert when you start bringing in big boxes and packing your veterinarian. They can prescribe medication to help away all of your belongings. To help ease their stress, with your pet’s anxiety during this transition period. consider bringing in the boxes early for them to sniff With some planning and patience, your cat or dog will and explore, cats will especially love this! It’s also helpful adjust to your new home in no time at all. to keep your pet in a familiar room while you’re packing and pack up that room last to keep them in a familiar environment as long as possible. Moving Day Moving day is always crazy. People coming in and out, the door constantly opening and closing, this is not only stressful for your pet but potentially dangerous as they could easily slip out the door and get lost. Keeping your furry friend in a crate in a quiet room, or behind a closed door in a familiar room, or even at a different location all together will ensure their safety and reduce stress for everyone involved in the move. Ideally, it’s best to keep your pet’s routine as normal as possible while moving, but their safety is paramount. Pet-Proofing Much like baby-proofing, it’s a good idea to petproof your new home before introducing them to their new home. Tuck away electrical cords, close off areas where they could get trapped, secure window screens, remove any poisonous houseplants, and confirm there are no poisonous pest-control traps anywhere in the home. SUMMER 2022 / LIZ LOCAL 11

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