We have a message from Ramen Cromwell, owner of 1-1/2-year-old Shiba Inu Lili, who tells us she has been returned to her appreciative owner. Lili slipped from her collar Tuesday night, February 7, while out with her walker.

Ramen shares the tail, uh, tale, that led to Lili’s return: A couple saw her in the neighborhood and pursued the shy critter to come to them. They were unsure of the dog’s owner, since her collar was missing, and believed she might have been abandoned. Meanwhile, Ramen says, “ We spent two long nights putting up signs and registering with every dog finder site and organization we could find. A big tip came in when someone who saw a flyer reported he had seen a dog matching Lili’s description appear in his building.”

Ultimately, when the couple that had possession of Lili took her to One Love Animal Hospital—“now fully attached and hoping to clear her for themselves”—the vet discovered her chip, which led Lili back to her rightful owners.

Ramen offers to all: “Much thanks to everyone who helped and gave us their support and especially the couple who chased her down, which reunited us.”

Last night, February 7th, at about 9 pm my dog Lili slipped out of her collar while being walked by her walker on Court street and Livingston. She was last seen moving toward Smith street. Once I was informed of the situation l joined the search and walked the streets until 8 am this morning. I am exhausted but hopeful that Lili will turn up. Lili does have a chip but she isn’t wearing a collar so I would greatly appreciate any help spreading the word that there is a lost dog out there and two parents who miss her very much. Lili is a year and a half year old Shiba Inu who is about 23 lbs. with a golden brown coat and white face. Any help in finding her will be greatly appreciated and there is a reward for her safe return.

The photo is not Lili but a representative photo of the Shiba Inu breed. Ramen Cromwell can be reached at blackwaterfilms@gmail.com

In Our Hands Rescue, with the North Shore Animal League, is sponsoring four pet adoption events over the next three weekends in the Heights. They’ll have dozens of small pooches, mixed breed pups, rescued cats and kittens looking for homes.

Look for the big van, from noon to 6 p.m.: Friday February 3: in front of TD Bank at 205 Montague Street (and Court Street); and Sunday February 5, Sunday February 12 and Saturday February 18: in front of the Regal Movie Theater, 108 Court Street (and State Street).

Application, references, ID and donation are required. You can apply online for pre-approval at inourhandsrescue.org, and take your new friend home the same day.

In Our Hands is a 501c3 not-for-profit and donations are tax-deductible. (Your BHB reporter also stands by these guys; I adopted my beloved mini schnauzers Abby & Spencer from IOHR in 2010. Yes, that’s them in the pic.)

This in from reader Kate, who has found a cat (not BeeBop):

For the past two nights, a large white and gray/black striped cat has visited our back yard (on Pierrepont, between Willow and Columbia Heights). S/he has dense, short hair and an unusually shaped face. We have given this sweet cat lots of food, but have been unable to capture him/her to being him/her inside. However, we managed to get the attached picture.

This cat definitely seems to us to be domesticated, and while s/he has no tags, we suspect that s/he could be lost. We expect that s/he will return for more food tomorrow evening, and we would love to help reunite this cat with his/her
family! Please let us know ((917) 628-9665) if you recognize this cat.

Thank you very much!

This news from the folks at Rocco and Jezebel [89 Pineapple Walk]:

Rocco
June 12, 2004 – January 5, 2012
We announce with heartfelt regret that Rocco of Rocco and Jezebel For Pets
lost his fight with bone cancer on January 5, 2012.

Rocco was found abandoned on the streets of Brooklyn in June 2004, weighing just 74 pounds. He had been starved, kicked and beaten down to a broken dog who could hardly keep his massive head off the ground. It took time for Rocco to feel safe, to not jump at every sound and run away. We worked every day with him to make him feel loved, secure and happy. Jezebel was his eyes and ears in teaching him to trust humans again, until he would lean on you to be petted, jump up on the bed and come to you when called. He became the most incredible, loving and gentle dog, even after all the torture he endured. We will miss him terribly.

NY Daily News:“Losing your cat is a new level of pain,” Sheehan said sobbing. “I want him back. I won’t give up.”

Sheehan last saw 2-year-old BeeBop on June 28 when she was moving out of her old apartment at 38 Columbia Place. BeeBop jumped out of a back window before she could stop him.

“Everyone was looking for him,” said Sheehan, who now lives in Maine caring for her ailing 88-year-old dad.

A few readers tipped us over the weekend to the fact that the Heights Veterinary Hospital at 59 Hicks Street has closed. A sign in the window refers pet patients to Dr. Greenberg at 85 Atlantic Avenue, 718-797-0070.

Each year, Brooklyn Heights Blog identifies ten people we feel have made a positive impact on the neighborhood. This year’s list is an eclectic mix of the fascinating personalities who make Brooklyn Heights a very special place.

And now the BHB Ten 2011.

Photo: Nation Parks Service

10. Lois Rosebrooks – Plymouth Church Historian: Since 2002, Ms. Rosebrooks has been the official historian of Plymouth Church. A self-taught historian, Ms. Rosebrooks single-handely keeps the church’s history alive – from the legendary Henry Ward Beecher, its role in the Underground Railroad to Dr. Martin Luther King’s 1963 “American Dream” sermon.

9. The Lost (and sometimes found) –  From the abandoned yorkie who found a home thanks to a BHB reader to the still-lost Willowtown cat Beebop or the shaggy poodle a reader reunited with his owner or  that errant Blackberry  still looking for its owner, the Lost (and sometimes found) earn a spot on the BHB Ten.   And who can forget “Otis” the one-armed something lost in Brooklyn Heights. Thanks to two big hearted BHB readers he was reunited with Luna his loving owner who had posted fliers around the nabe in her frantic search (photo).

8. Joe and Mary Merz – Architects, Willowtown Visionaries :  In 2010, the Willowtown Association honored Joe and Mary (who we lost in 2011)  by dedicating its annual fair to the couple.  In its announcement of the event the association wrote:  ”Fifty years ago this year Joe Merz and his wife Mary started an architectural firm in their carriage house on Grace Court Alley in Brooklyn Heights. They met at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute, from which they both earned degrees in architecture. They soon became the owners of four lots on Willow Place in the nearby Willowtown neighborhood. The city had razed the original deteriorated structures on the lots. The three new houses they designed and built there in “international style,” one of which became their own home, sensitively blended the new with the old while respecting the nature and scale of the historic community.

Throughout their meritorious careers Joe and Mary Merz pursued a similar vision even as they did the same for Willowtown and the wider community.”

7. Ron Chernow – Author:  Does winning a Pulitzer Prize get you on the BHB Ten?   Totally.  Mr. Chernow won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for biography for his Washington: A Life.

6. Tony Manheim – Activist:  Mr. Manheim a pioneer advocate of Brooklyn Bridge Park continues to jump into the moshpit decades after he began fighting for the park.  In 2010 he was  named to the Community Advisory Council of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation.

5. Julie Feinstein – Urban Wildlife Expert:  A Brooklyn Heights resident for over 20 years, Feinstein is also a collections manager at the Museum of Natural History.  In 2011, she published A Field Guide to Urban Wildlife and gave BHB’s Julie Kanfer a super-fantastic tour of wildlife at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier One.

4. Dan Horan – Five Acre Farms: Montague Terrace resident Horan sells milk to grocers from farms within 275 miles of New York City with a personal touch. Each bottle is labeled with the name of the farm and farmers who produced the milk.   Read our profile of Horan here.

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade from Karl Junkersfeld on Vimeo.

3. Henrik Krogius – Brooklyn Heights Press Writer/Historian:  Like Martin Schneider and Otis Pearsall, among others, Krogius lived and fought through the battle with Robert Moses to save Brooklyn Heights.  Last year, Schneider shared his story in Battling for Brooklyn Heights.In 2011, Krogius writes about the twisted history of The Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

2. Kenn Lowy – Owner, Brooklyn Heights Cinema: After former owner Norman Adie’s sordid dealings came to life, it appeared that the Brooklyn Heights Cinema’s days were numbered. But the theater was saved by new owner journalist/computer guy/musician/activist Kenn Lowy. Under his watch, the theater is serving up a mix of important indie and major motion pictures as well as adding live music to the BHC calendar. Who knows what’s next – maybe some tasty snacks and bevvys?

1. Jerry Morin and Michael Davidson – Overtures: After 30 years, Morin and Davidson are closing their Hicks Street shop. Sad for all of us who loved shopping there but a very happy occasion for them. After decades together, neighbors familiar with the couple say they will marry (now that it’s legal in New York State) and travel the world. So, goodbye Mr. Morin and Mr. Davidson and thanks for all the gifts.

Note:  The Yorkie has been placed with a new family.  Read Paul’s update here.

We’ve created a flyer to get the word out. We’re asking our readers to responsibly (and legally) post around the area. Download it after the jump.

BHB: Is this your Yorkie flyer [PDF]

BHB reader Paul sends us the dispatch:

found this Yorkie this morning on the corner of Garden Place and State Street wearing a collar but no ID tags. Any help locating the owner would be greatly appreciated.

Update from Paul this afternoon:

As of this moment, no one has stepped forward as the actual owner. The Yorkie was taken to a vet and it is not micro-chipped.

Update: Paul comments:

I’m the guy who found the lost Yorkie and to everyone who has responded, thank you very much. As of Sunday morn, the owner has not come forward. My suspicion is that this beautiful Yorkie is a throwaway as unspeakable as that thought may be to animal lovers. The dog does not respond to the names of Thriller or Coco. I found a loving foster family for our Yorkie in Cobble Hill and that home could be permanent if necessary. Thanks again to everyone at Brooklyn Heights Blog for your help.

Markowitz noted at the Nov. 7 opening, “Pets are so important in people’s lives; they become their lives,” then joked, “What took you so long to get here?” as he displayed a photograph of his own African Grey Parrot “Beep” and shopped with his wife for bird food.

Store manager Scott Marcus told BHB that the new PetSmart brings 30 jobs to the neighborhood, and that he hopes to prove big-box retailers can offer the same care and customer service as local vendors: “The range of pets that our staff has owned and taken care of is amazing. Our people really care about animals and are knowledgeable about every product in the store.”

The Atlantic Avenue location is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. A second new Brooklyn PetSmart in Canarsie is at 8725 Avenue D. In all, the chain has 1,200 North American stores.

The ninth annual Howl-o-Ween dog parade, sponsored by Perfect Paws, with after-party presented by Vinegar Hill Veterinary Group, took place today on the Promenade under sunny skies, though with a fall nip in the air.Over fifty contestants showed up in a great variety of costumes, including Wellington (photo), held by owner Stacey Mankoff, and dressed as Chef Cora of Iron Chef. More photos and a video after the jump.

Pan Am captain and cabin crew, ready for takeoff.

Moxie came as a groupie…

…and Lily as a punk rock star. These two should have gotten together.

BHB contributor Matthew (“Off with his head!” said the camera) Parker restrains “Napoleon” from attacking “Marie Antoinette.”

The 99% were represented…

…as were the 1%, both human…

…and canine.

A distinguished panel of judges considered each entrant carefully. And the first prize winner was…

…Matthew Parker’s “French Revolution” entry. Allons enfants…

This coming pre-Halloween weekend will be a busy one for the neighborhood. The Junior Committee of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy will host the second annual All Hallows Bash Saturday evening, October 29, from 8:00 to 1:00 a.m., at One Brooklyn Bridge Park (360 Furman Street). This year’s theme is “Heroes and Villains”; there will be prizes for the best costumes. You must be 21 or older to attend. There’s more information here, and you can buy tickets ($50 in advance; $60 at the door) here. There’s also the Kids’ Halloween Parade Saturday morning, and, of course, the Howl-O-Ween Parade Sunday afternoon.

Dog owners and those that love them:  A reminder that the 9th Annual Heights Doggie Howl-o-Ween Parade and Costume Contest is this Sunday, October 30th at 1pm.   Contestants and onlookers meet at the Remsen Street entrance to the Promenade and stroll in Halloween Costume regalia to the north end to face a panel of celebrity judges.  Tickets to register your pooch are $25 and should be purchased in advance at Perfect Paws (102 Hicks Street, corner of Pineapple).  All proceeds donated to animal charities.

Fun, prizes, and the fabulous afterparty where winners are announced down the hill sponsored by Vinegar Hill Vet at 57 Front Street.

The forecast is for ideal weather and fun.  Come on down, it’s free to watch.

Dog obsessed Brooklynites: You know what time it is!

The 9th Annual Howl-o-Ween Charity Doggie Costume Parade and Contest has been scheduled for Sunday, October 30th from 1-3pm on the Promenade.

If you’d like to enter your dog in the parade/costume contest, you’ll need to pre-register at Perfect Paws, 102 Hicks Street (corner of Pineapple). The cost of entry is $25/dog, all of which is a  tax deductible charitable donation and all of which will be distributed among three animal-related charities:

• Sean Casey Animal Rescue in Windsor Terrace, Bklyn
• Friends of Hillside Dog Park right here in Bklyn Heights
• Blue Rider Stables near Great Barrington, Massachusetts

Fabulous prizes awarded in many categories.  If you’re participated in previous years, you know how much fun this is and if it is your first time, come on down!  If you don’t have a dog in this race, it’s free to be an observer and cheer on the contestants.  Last year several hundred bemused locals and tourists watched over 70 parade participants strut their stuff for fun and glory.

Dr. Sara Neuman and the gang over at Vinegar Hill Vet are hosting the catered after party immediately following the contest judging–now three years running (yea Dr. Sara!).  Contest winners will be announced around 4pm at the after party. You won’t want to miss this!

Local Businesses Owners:  Get your business in front of hundreds of locals and support animal charity at the same time. You can sponsor a table at the parade/contest, or donate items for the contest goodie bags.   Call Tom at the above number 501(c)(3) certificate on file if you need a copy for your business.

See you there!  May the best costumes win!

Today was the Feast of St. Francis, and Grace Church celebrated with a blessing of the animals at the 5:00 p.m. service. Here the Rector, the Rev. Stephen Muncie, administers a blessing–holy water delivered via a dogwood sprig–to Wellington, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, held by proud owner Stacey Mankoff. More photos and text after the jump.

Calico kitty Samantha receives her blessing impassively, while “big sister” looks on appreciatively.

Annabelle, a French bulldog, seems to find the blessing blissful.

The Holbrookes’ Hicks Street hens were on hand, but this year no eggs were laid.

Apart from some baby chicks that accompanied the Holbrooke hens, the smallest creature blessed was Aloysius Mahoney, a.k.a. Little Bird.

Karl is on hand with cam to catch all the action, from opera by Martha Cardona Theater to the BHA’s Dog Show to palmistry to yoga to great photos at Summer Space on Montague Street, then to the Brooklyn Book Festival on Borough Hall Plaza, starting with literary troubadours covering the 1961 Tokens hit “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and ending with a talk about erstwhile Heights resident Truman Capote by Evan Hughes, author of Literary Brooklyn.

Jack the Dog has been found! Pet parent “Cheryl” tells us:

Hello! This is Jack’s owner. He is safe thanks to some folks with a few Frenchies and 2 NYPD officers who caught him, Monster Mutts in Cobble Hill, and a host of Mobile Mutts and other walkers and searchers.

He’s limping a bit and his paw pads took a beating, but he seems fine. A tremendous thank you to all the people who took some time to look, post here, or stop one of the searchers with a sighting.

And she sent BHB this photo of JtD chillaxin’ after his odyssey today.

The drama began this afternoon when we received this urgent dispatch just in from “Cheryl”:

Our dog Jack got away from his walker today. A pic is attached. He is 50 lbs, medium brown with a white belly and black muzzle. His collar is dark green. He’s a shepherd/ large hound mix. He does know the command “come here” and also sit and stay.

Jack is a rescue and can be fearful, so I recommend trying to put him on a leash if possible, as opposed to hauling him away by collar alone (and he may try to wiggle backwards and out of his collar if scared).

we live on clark and his general routes cover Middaugh – Joralemon, the Brooklyn Bridge Park walkway and the promenade, also Monroe ST. He regurlarly goes to Cheeky Dog, the Clark St. pet store and his vet is Vinegar Hill.

If you’ve seen Jack comment below or email us: webmaster at brooklynheightsblog dot com

The Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition will be hosting Kitten Palooza, a cat and kitten adoption event, today and next Saturday (8/20) from 11am – 4pm at Pet Emporium [103 Montague Street]. View the flyer [PDF] here. See a video of an available cute, cuddly kitty after the jump. And see more at the BBAWC YouTube channel.

This just in – the Brooklyn Heights Association will hold its second annual dog show on Sunday September 18 from 1pm – 3pm. The BHA is also looking for applications from potential judges. Details after the jump.

BHA Dispatch:
When: Sunday, September 18 from 1-3 PM

Where: Montague Street (in front of Key Food and Pet’s Emporium). Montague Street will be closed to traffic on the two blocks between Hicks & Clinton Streets.

Only three (3) Judges will be chosen. All applicants will be screened as follows:

Qualifications: Love for dogs and yet NOT a dog owner, ability to recognize tail wagging prowess, BIG opinions on canine hair styles, resident of Brooklyn Heights, great attitude and looking to have FUN.

Disqualifications: Party poopers need not apply. Judges may not have a dog entered in the competition.

Serious applicants for the position of of 2nd Annual Dog Show Judge should send an email to bhadogshow@gmail.com, indicating 3 qualifications for the position.

Please check the BHA website homepage at http://www.thebha.org for more updates on the show.

I was just running on the footpath between Piers 1 and 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park and saw a cat near the rocks/water between where Pier 2 & 3 will be. I thought that the cat looked dark gray but could have been black, and I think had a white face – based on the photo on the Brooklyn Heights blog, I’m not 100% sure that it is BeeBop, and I apologize if it isn’t!

Despite a month of searching, Brooklyn Heights cat BeeBop is still missing. Have you’ve seen him? Owner Cathy explains:

He was last seen cornered in the basement of the Heights Players where he was suppose[d] to be kept over the long weekend. One of the “performers” did not want him there and allegedly left the door open. I have heard from my former super, the super at the Hts. Players and 2 different neighbors that somebody on Willow Place took him in. I can’t prove anything but … they say a young girl was ripping my signs down and throwing out the cans of food that were left for him. I miss him dearly. I’ve had him since he was 4 weeks old when he was a feral baby hiding in a tree. He could still be hiding under somebody’s bed. He’s an immature 2yr old male, neutered and with polydactyl paws.

If you’ve seen BeeBop or know of his whereabouts, you can contact Cathy at csfindbeebop714@craigslist.org.

Doggie—the cat whose disappearance brought us all together, as we huddled around the radio awaiting news—has been found. Apparently he (she?) was discovered in a neighbor’s attic, by workers who saw its tell-tale paw prints. You may all resume your regularly scheduled lives.

On Saturday, June 11, between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Animal Planet will be doing a casting call for dogs and owners for a show called “It’s Me or The Dog” (for incorrigible dogs testing their owners’ patience) in front of our store, Rocco and Jezebel for Pets located at 89 Pineapple Walk in Brooklyn Heights. Also during that time, Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition will be having an adoption event between the hours of 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

So act now! You have five days to teach your dog “sit,” “play dead,” or “To Be or Not To Be.” For more information, call 718.855.8686

Reader Melissa Curry tells us that, last Wednesday, she took her nine pound Pomeranian, Munchie, to Clark Pet.com (photo) on leash. While in the store, Munchie was attacked by a forty pound pit bull-rat terrier mix named Pandora, and sustained deep puncture wounds, two of which required extensive stitching. According to Ms. Curry, Munchie did nothing to provoke the attack and Pandora, who was off-leash, gave no warning. Pandora belongs to pet adoption and rescue agency A Tail at a Time and, at the time of the attack, was under charge of the agency’s co-founder, Kathleen Goward. Ms. Goward later apologized for the attack, and A Tail has agreed to pay Munchie’s vet bills. Ms. Goward also said Pandora had not previously attacked another dog. Ms. Curry was concerned that Pandora was still being shown on the Petfinder website as adoptable, but a check today shows she is not on A Tail’s page on that site any more, nor is she on the list of adoptables on A Tail’s own website. A Tail seems oriented toward cats, showing 22 adoptable felines and only two dogs, both female pit bull mixes.

Your correspondent visited Clark Pet this afternoon and asked the employee present if he knew anything about this incident. He said he did not.